Endangered species known for masterful camouflage gives birth at CA zoo. See the baby

Luna, a Baird’s tapir at the San Diego Zoo, is a new mom.

In a video recently released by the zoo, Luna follows her curious calf — a female, born June 3 — as she explores her habitat. The stocky twosome, with long inquisitive snouts, can now be seen at the zoo’s elephant compound, sharing space with the capybaras, zoo officials said in a June 25 news release.

The calf, who is not yet named, has the distinct markings of a typical newborn Baird’s tapir, according to the zoo. Baird’s tapirs are born with camouflage that hides them while their mothers are foraging for food, the zoo said. In the zoo’s video, the baby explores the area. She has a brown coat with white stripes, while Luna, on the other hand, has a black coat., The baby’s will darken to her mother’s coloring in time.

In addition to their impressive camouflage, Baird’s tapirs are also stewards of biological diversity in tropical forests in their home of Mexico and Central America, zoo officials said.

“As essential seed dispersers, they contribute significantly to their ecosystems by helping fertilize the forest floor,” the zoo said. “This process promotes the growth of new plants, which in turn provide food and shelter for a variety of other species.”

Baird’s tapirs, which were named in honor of the American naturalist Spencer Fullerton Baird, are endangered. According to the zoo, Baird’s tapirs face a number of adversaries, including hunting for sport, and loss of habitat and food supply due to cattle grazing, palm oil harvesting, and rubber plantations, the zoo said. There are only 4,500 Baird’s tapirs left, according to National Geographic, making each birth — including this one — a triumph of conservation for the species.

While Baird’s tapirs have thus far defied extinction, they also ”defy time,” according to One Earth. Baird’s tapirs are among the few creatures whose bone structure is nearly identical to what it was 35 million years ago. The animal’s enduring sameness has earned it the nickname the “living fossil.”

This story was originally published July 1, 2024 at 1:49 PM with the headline "Endangered species known for masterful camouflage gives birth at CA zoo. See the baby."