Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) welcomed a special new baby to its family over the weekend.
A rare and endangered Malayan tapir calf was born there on Sunday, weighing an estimated 20 pounds. The event marked only the second tapir birth in the zoo’s 120-year history.
“The newborn, covered in distinctive white spots and stripes that resemble a tiny, walking watermelon, is considered healthy,” PDZA said in a news release.PHOTOS | While bonding and nursing with its mother, the calf will remain out of public view in the zoo’s Asian Forest Sanctuary, where it will be monitored by the zoo’s veterinary and animal care teams.“We’re thrilled to witness this incredible moment and watch the calf grow,” said curator Telena Welsh.
According to the zoo, tapir calves usually nurse for about six months and stay with their mothers for 12 to 18 months.The baby’s name and sex will be announced at a later date. Visitors to PDZA can expect to see the calf sometime this spring. Often fondly compared to watermelons, tapir calves have a unique blackish-brown color with white stripes and spots, which help them blend into their surroundings.For updates on the calf, visit
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