The Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii), also known as the Central American tapir, is a species of tapir native to Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America. [4] It is the largest of the three species of tapir native to the Americas, as well as the largest native land mammal in both Central and South America. [5]

The Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii), also known as the Central American tapir, is a species of tapir native to Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America. It is the largest of the three species of tapir native to the Americas, as well as the largest native land mammal in both Central and South America.

What is a Baird’s tapir? Baird’s tapirs are large, long-nosed mammals that may look like they’re relatives of elephants, but they're actually closer kin to horses, donkeys, zebras, and...

The Baird’s Tapir is the largest species of tapir. The tapir has a short tail and a long snout, which it uses like a snorkel to hide under water. Tapirs are named for W.M. Baird, an American naturalist who identified the animal while on a Mexican expedition in 1843.

The Baird’s tapir is found in Oaxaca Province in Mexico through parts of Central America, including the western side of the Andean mountain range in Colombia (the Darien). Baird’s tapirs live in rainforests, lower montane forests, deciduous forests, flooded grasslands and marsh areas.

The Baird’s tapir is the largest native mammal in Mexico and Central America and has been roaming on earth since millions of years. Yet, it is silently disappearing. This calls for a coordinated effort across the Mesoamerican region to apply conservation actions at the local level in order to have a meaningful impact at the global scale.

– Baird’s tapir is primarily nocturnal (active at night) – Infant Baird’s tapirs are hidden in secluded locations while their mothers forage for food and return periodically to nurse them – The largest native land mammal in both Central and South America

Baird’s tapirs are the largest na­tive ter­res­trial mam­mals in the Neotrop­ics and the largest of the four liv­ing tapir species. About the size of small don­keys, Baird’s tapirs typ­i­cally weigh be­tween 150 to 300 kilo­grams.

The Baird’s Tapir Survival Alliance (BTSA) facilitates collaborative action among local conservationists to preserve Baird’s tapir populations throughout Mesoamerica.

These large, stocky herbivores may look unathletic, but don’t let appearances fool you! Baird’s tapirs excel at wading, swimming, diving and running.