The Malayan tapir is a very unique looking animal, with a rather funny but strange little trunk. They grow between 1.8 m to 2.4 m or 6 to 8 feet in length and stand 90 to 107 cm or 3 to 3.5 feet tall. The weight of a tapir is between 250 to 320 kg or 550 to 700 pounds. There are different types of tapirs; the Malayan tapir is the largest of the species.
A Malayan tapir (tapirus indicus) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
They have very poor eyesight, but their sense of smell and their hearing are excellent, and they use these senses rather than rely on eyesight. They carry their young for around 390 days, after which a single offspring is born. The baby looks totally different to the Mother, the coat of the baby is covered with white strips and spots, and this is to resemble the dappled light of the forest and is a protection. When older of course they then have the 2 tone colouring, and when asleep these animals can resemble rocks, which may protect them.
They are unfortunately an endangered species.
Baby Malayan Tapir, one month old (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The baby Malayan tapir that was born at Belfast zoo is called Marjorie, and she was born on the 4 March 2012.
Her Mum “Gladys” came to the Belfast Zoo in 1994 from the Toronto zoo, and her Father “Elmer” came from the Mulhouse Zoo in France in 1995.
You can learn more about Marjorie at the Belfast Zoo’s web site.
The Zoo also has free desktop wallpaper of some baby animals including one of the baby tapir if anyone is interested for the kids or themselves. 
The video below is of a baby tapir born at the Woodland Park Zoo back in 2007, sorry I couldn’t find a video of Marjorie from the Belfast Zoo, but Marjorie is exactly the same as this baby below.
Love love love!
Hi Zen and Genki,
They are cute looking animals.
We are regular visitors to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, and we love to see the Tapirs there. I was a fun surprise to see our tapirs in your video!
Hi Naomi,
I also love going to zoos to see all the different animals, they look to have a nice enclosure there at the Woodland Park Zoo.
Yes, Tapir (or ‘Tenuk’ as some call it in Malaysia; my home country) is indeed a very unique looking animal.
Hi iz1photos,
I think they are gorgeous, there is something about them, even though a rather large animal they always look very gentle.
Marjorie, Gladys, and Elmer — I love it!
Hi Laurie,
You just have to love the names, what a family.
Both are beautiful.
Hi Lynn,
They are definitely gorgeous.
Very beautiful creatures…i always get a lovely lesson from you all the time, which is always plesantly received by my heart! Thanks!
Hi Wendell,
They are beautiful creatures, so very different looking, I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Oh dear Mags, they are so lovely, especially the baby tapir. In our zoo I saw them too, but not same colour with these tapirs… Black and white… amazing. Thank you so much, I learned more about them now… With my love, nia
Hi Nia,
Yes there are few different types of tapir, this one is the largest, but they are beautiful.
OMG, the cuteness factor on this post was very high!
Loved the tapirs… it’s a damned shame that they’re endangered..like so many others..
Hi reb,
Oh yes definitely a cuteness factor, they are just so unusual the baby’s, so very pretty with the stripes and spots. It is great that there are zoos the world over that are breeding these animals, at least that way the next generation of children will still be able to see them.
Is a Malayan tapir born in Belfast still a ‘Malayan’ tapir?
Hi Greg,
Most definitely.
They are a strange looking animal, but still cute in their own way,,
The baby looks strange being born with those markings, but I can see how it would be a protection for it in the wild. Isn’t nature wonderful?
Great post Mags!
Hi barb19,
Oh yes nature is wonderful, and I agree they are very cute in their own way.
Awwww!
Hi This Sydney Life,
Awwww! is spot on.
Hi Doraz,
That they are.
Other than being able to identify a tipar, other than that I admit not knowing much. Many thanks for the info. Not sure if our zoo has one, but now I will be on the looking for it.
Hi Frank,
Not all zoos have them unfortunately, but do keep a look out, they are beautiful animals, strange looking, but they seem very gentle animals.
I really like their coloring! I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before. Thanks for the great post!
Hi megtraveling,
There colouring is very unusual in the vast difference from baby to adult, you would not realize they were the same animal.
Oh wow it looks like they could not decide on whether they wanted to look like an elephant or pig so chose both
loved it 
what a cute video
Wish you a great weekend
Hi Soma,
Yes they do look like a cross between those two animals, glad you enjoyed the video.
You also have a great weekend.
very cute animals. .love the post.
Hi A diamond uncut,
They certainly are.
wonderful post! Made me smile
Hi mimo,
Thank You, I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
http://photographyofnia.com/2012/04/20/tagged/
You got tagged, with my love, nia
Hi Nia,
Thank You very much.
I had to laugh at the start of the video! So cute the way their noses go up in the air. Adorable the marking remind me of some cows here black and a large white stripe.
Hi starlaschat,
Yes they do have a funny nose, it is a strange little trunk. Yes we have a lot of those black and white cows here as well.
I saw one of those tapirs when I was at the Miami Metro Zoo — it was amazing! There were a couple of them, I think. And at first, I thought half of their bodies were in the shade! Because they were standing among a lot of trees. Then I realized, wow, that is just their natural coloring. Truly something to see.
Hi happykidshappymom,
They are truly an amazing looking animal, from the time they are born to when they are adults. The way the colour is on the body is a protection thing, and when laying down, they can resemble a rock.
What an interesting animal they are and one which I know next to nothing about. The coloring is fascinating and when asleep they resemble rocks! Now that’s what I call tricky! I wonder if they are related to elephants? They are certainly elephant like. HA! I always learn something new and interesting on your blog Mags!
Hi Linda,
I don’t know if they are related to an elephant, it is the first animal I think we all associate with because of the small truck on the tapir. They certainly are a very unique animal.
I’ve never seen one of these tapirs before, Mags. The fact that they are black and white reminds me of pandas which are Asian too. I wonder what that means. If anything.
Hi Lady Marilyn,
That is a very interesting thought, and your right both animals are native to Asia, it does make you think.
They are curious looking animals but cute, nonetheless. I love how the baby’s nose keeps twitching. Such a shame they are endangered.
Hi Selma,
They do look strange, but they are very gentle animals, and the baby is very cute, and your right about the baby’s nose.
What an unusual, adorable creature! Amazing how the stripes turn into two blocks of color!
Hi Barbara,
I agree, very unusual, the baby is just so different from the colouring that it will become.
Wow I have never ever seen this animal, beautiful. Thank you for sharing and teaching me something new.
Hi Donkey Whisperer,
They are a gorgeous animal, and you can’t help but love the baby, I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
I pray I can go back to Woodland Park Zoo one day one of my favortite things to do. Love all the animals. You made me smile… Thank you much!
I learned about this animal when I was in primary school. My teacher told me that they are bred in Sulawesi, an island in my lovely country.
But I didn’t see any of them when I was there in 2010. I guess a big portion of the population has now gone extinct.
Subhan Zein
Hi Subhan,
Unfortunately these beautiful animals only exists in small areas of Asia now, most other areas they are no longer there, it is a shame as they are a beautiful species.
That’s right! That’s why I couldn’t see them why I went to North Sulawesi.
Subhan Zein