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TAPIR TALK Digest 1 May 2000 - Vol. 4, No. 21
The Tapir Preservation Fund
The Tapir Gallery: http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/
Tapir Talk Archives and Info: http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/tt.htm
E-mail: tapir@tapirback.com
__________________________________________________________________
Contents of this issue
1. Tapir dentition question and one reply
2. Sharon Matola: pair of T. bairdii seen on Raspaculo River
3. Sharon will speak on Chilillo Dam project in Cambridge
4. Carol Langford reports on zoo visits in Netherlands
5. Unusual white markings on T. indicus
6. Rotterdam Zoo contact requested
7. Intro new Tapir Talk member, Rana Bayrakci
Return-Path: <falco@iglou.com>
X-Sender: falco@iglou.com
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 22:19:59 -0400
To: tapir@tapirback.com
From: Bob Herndon <falco@iglou.com>
Subject: Tapir Dentition
Hello All,
Is there anyone out there in the world of Tapirs that could give me
information on a tapirs dentition. At what age to they get their permanant
teeth? Or do the teeth replace themselves? We have a 5 year old female
the lost a front upper tooth. It looked as tho another tooth replaced it
but it seems to have recessed after almost fully growing out. Any ideas?
Jane Herndon
falco@iglou.com
Keeper II/Trainer
Louisville Zoo
=====
Note: Hi Jane, The lowland tapir I raised started losing and replacing his
incisors at about 19 months. I didn't record whether the canines were
present in the juvenile complement, but I observed that the canine spaces
were empty at 2 years. At about 25 months, the lower canines came in, and 28
months the uppers were just starting. I'd be very interested in other
observations. ~ Sheryl tapir@tapirback.com
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Return-Path: <belizezoo@btl.net>
From: "The Belize Zoo" <belizezoo@btl.net>
To: "Tapir" <tapir@tapirback.com>
I just got off the river. We observed a pair of adult tapirs browsing
together in the riparian vegetation zone, which is interesting, they
definitely acted as a two-some, so another account that they may not be as
solitary as we have been believing them to be.
I am giving a talk in Cambridge, UK, on the Chalillo Dam project and its
impact on Belizean endangered species, in particular, the tapir and scarlet
macaw, on 29 May for Flora and Fauna International.
Thanks for your interest. Sharon Matola
=====
Note: Sharon is an excellent speaker. I urge anyone in the area to attend.
Tapirs will be highlighted. You will learn a lot and I'm sure will enjoy the
event. I had the privilege a couple of years ago - well worth the drive to
Denver for me. Contact FFI for details. ~ Sheryl
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Return-Path: <ratntapir@home.com>
From: "RatnTapir" <ratntapir@home.com>
To: <tapir@tapirback.com>
Cc: <ratntapir@home.com>
Subject: tapirs in the Netherlands
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 17:30:35 -0400
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Dear Sheryl
Hi there. Matt and I just got back from the Netherlands and I am writing in
to report on the tapir sightings we had. I had to go over there on business.
Fortunately Matt was able to take some time off and we took some vacation
days which of course had to include tapirs. We visited three zoos.
Artis zoo in Amsterdam is a older zoo but they are doing gradual renovations
(a wonderful small mammal house) which are very nice. We saw one Malayan
male there. He had a large enclosure with trees and a pond and was very
active running around late in the day.
Burger's zoo in Arnhem is a very nice zoo that has a number of endangered
species. We saw three Brazilian tapirs there. One of the females was in a
separate enclosure from the other two (male and female) and someone who
worked there told us they were hoping she might be pregnant ! They have a
part called Burger's Bush which is a rainforest environment. The tapirs are
not in this area but they have these amazing hot air blowers at the entrance
designed to clear peoples glasses that are shaped like tapir heads - the
warm air comes out of their snouts ! They are wonderful - I wish all wall
mounted air blowers could look like this. We of course took pictures and if
they come out I will send you a copy - one must see these to believe them.
Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam zoo). During World War II, Rotterdam was
completely destroyed and has been rebuilt as a largely industrialized port
city, so I really wasn't sure what to expect of the zoo - but it is truly
beautiful. The zoo was placed in the middle of a garden and has been
extensively landscaped so that the animal enclosures are tucked away along
little paths. The tapirs are in a section called the "Taman Indah" (which
the guide book says in Malay means "beautiful park") where they also have
elephants, rhinos, and exotic rainforest squirrels. The tapirs have both an
indoor and outdoor running areas both of which have ponds to swim in. We saw
a mother Malayan tapir and her 7 month old daughter named Tess. She had lost
her spots and stripes but had some unusual white markings along her neck
which we have not seen before. This was not hair loss but actually looked
like white hair in a very symmetrical pattern along both sides of the neck
and up the middle. As we have not seen other Malayan youngsters with this,
we did not think this was a usual "growing up" pattern but I don't know if
you've seen this before. We heard another tapir squeaking in the back so
they have at least one other (maybe the father). This is a beautiful zoo and
I would highly encourage anyone in the Netherlands to take the train to
Rotterdam to see it - well worth the trip.
Hope all has been going well with you.
Take care
Carol
=====
Note: Carol and I discussed this when I got her letter. I saw unusual white
areas on the head and neck of an adult T. indicus at the zoo in Rotterdam in
1972. At the time I wondered if they were related to age, but this youngster
is only 7 months old. My photo can be seen here:
http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/tapir045.htm
Looks like I'll have to change the caption, as it seems to have nothing to
do with the age of the tapir. Carol said the one they saw had a slightly
different look, and she's sending a photo. Does anyone have a contact at
Blijdorp Zoo who might be able to give us a pedigree and tell us a bit about
the unusual coloring?
Thanks.
Sheryl
tapir@tapirback.com
=========================================================
From: Rana Bayrakci <sciurid@hotmail.com>
To: tapir@tapirback.com
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 14:14:43 -0700
Hello!
My name is Rana Bayrakci. I am a zoo keeper at Woodland Park Zoo in
Seattle, and I work with the Malayan tapirs (I work with other animals
around the zoo as well.) They are wonderful & fascinating animals to work
with (a statement with which I'm sure many of you will agree!)--including,
of course, our 2-week old male calf! I work with Heidi Frohring, who
informed me about the Tapir Preservation Fund, and I have since joined the
club. I'm looking forward to learning even more about Malayan and other
species of tapirs. My current research project (outside of my zoo work) is
on the western gray squirrel, a threatened species in Washington State.
Thank you!
Rana
sciurid@hotmail.com
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Sheryl Todd ~ The Tapir Gallery
President, Tapir Preservation Fund
TPF is a 501 (c) (3) charitable corporation
http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/ tapir@tapirback.com
Tapir Talk info & archives: http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/tt.htm
IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group
Deputy Chair, Tapir Specialist Group / Co-Editor TSG Newsletter
P.O. Box 1432, Palisade, CO 81526 USA
Phone (970) 464-0321 Fax (970) 464-0377
"Information and funding to assist conservation of tapirs and their habitats"
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