The section at Flamingo Land, near Malton, is now home to a baby Brazilian tapir called Eddy who is just 11 weeks old.

Little Eddy has proved popular with visitors and has been growing in confidence according to the park's keepers.

Ross Snipp, zoo manager, said: "He's doing really well and is very confident. He went swimming within the first two weeks and isn't afraid to leave his parents' side.

"He's very independent and definitely has his own personality already!"

Mr Snipp added that by the age of nine months, Eddy's spots and stripes will have faded leaving him with a plain brown coat like his parents.

And in around 18 months, Eddy will have to be transferred to a new home because, as a male, he will be seen as threat to his dad, Woody, in the group's pecking order.

Tapirs are related to horses and originate from the rainforests of Brazil. They are currently classed as vulnerable rather than endangered, but could disappear within just 50 years without the help of breeding programmes.

Staff at the park are hoping to hear the patter of tiny tapir feet again next year.

They are also keeping their fingers crossed for some Rhea chicks as a male bird is currently incubating four eggs.

It is hoped that the flightless birds will hatch out some time during the next month.

The South American enclosure was completed in March last year and is also home to alpaca, cavies and Kafue Lechwe – a type of antelope.



Brazilian Tapir fact file

* The tapir is related to the horse and rhinoceros.

* They have lived on Earth for about 35 million years.

* The tapir has blackish-brown fur, grows to a length of 160cm and shoulder height of 90cm, and weighs about 270 kilos. They stand about the size of a Shetland pony, have hooves and a long flexible snout which resembles a short trunk.

* The tapir has four toes on its fore feet and only three on its hind.

* Tapirs in water will swim, sink to the bottom and walk along the river bed to feed!