Species · GBIF taxon 2440899
Mountain Tapir
Tapirus pinchaqueAlso known as Andean Tapir, Woolly Tapir, Pinchaque
Mountain tapirs navigate the steep, misty slopes of the high Andes, wrapped in a thick, woolly coat that insulates them against freezing mountain nights. These solitary herbivores are easily recognized by their prominent white lips and a flexible, prehensile snout used to strip leaves and twigs from alpine vegetation. As vital seed dispersers, they play a crucial role in maintaining the health of fragile cloud forests and paramo ecosystems.
AlpineSolitaryHerbivore
Licensed reference(c) David Sifry, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
- diet
- Leaves, twigs, ferns, bromeliads, and high-altitude shrubs
- family
- Tapiridae
- threats
- Habitat fragmentation, agricultural expansion, poaching, and climate change
- life Span
- 25 to 30 years
EN
Shy and non-aggressive, but can charge or bite if cornered; observe quietly from a safe distance.
Endangered due to severe habitat loss, fragmentation, and a very small remaining wild population.
Never approach, feed, or attempt to track them off-trail, as human presence can disrupt their feeding.- Keep your distance: Maintain a respectful distance of at least 20 meters to avoid startling them.
- Watch for tracks: Look for their distinct three-toed footprints in muddy mountain trails.
- Listen closely: Listen for high-pitched whistles, which they use to communicate in dense fog.