NORFOLK, Virginia — Virginia Zoo staffers were proud to announce the birth of the first-ever Malayan tapir at the park.
The tapir baby was born shortly after 8 p.m. on Jan. 20. Zookeepers named the male calf Luther since he was born on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Parents Haddie and Rosco conceived Luther. They were brought together as part of a breedig recommendation from the Malayan tapir Species Survival Plan.
Luther weighed a little more than 15 pounds when he was born. Since his birth, staffers have noticed that he's nursing well, vocalizing and interacting with his mother. Currently, he weighs more than 44 pounds and still nurses from Haddie. His diet at this time consists of banana, produce, grain, hay and alfalfa.
Malayan tapirs, which look like a cross between an elephant and pig, are a unique species closely related to rhinos and horses that can be found in moist grasslands and tropical rainforests in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
In the wild, a calf’s coloration would help them blend into their surroundings to avoid becoming prey, but their pattern changes to the signature black and white or gray coats as they mature into adults.
They are endangered species with only 2,500 individuals of this species left in the wild. They're dying off due to large-scale deforestation and an increase in hunting.