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Tapirs

Meet Costa Rica’s gentle giants; peaceful, curious, and amazing swimmers!

Text 'THE TAPIRS' in yellow and green block lettersGentle, shy, and a little funny: tapirs are the rainforest’s gardeners! At Diamante, you can see them up close as they wander around, splash in the water, and munch on their favorite fruits. With their funny noses and babies that look like little watermelons, tapirs are some of Costa Rica’s cutest and most special animals.

FOREST GARDENER

Silhouette of a tapir with seeds falling, growing a plant.Tapirs are known as the gardeners of the forest! As they wander through the jungle eating fruits and leaves, they spread seeds in their droppings, helping new trees and plants grow. Thanks to them, the forest stays lush, diverse, and full of life.

HABITAT

Map showing historic and current range of a species in the Americas with light and dark green shading.

CAMOUFLAGED BABIES

When baby tapirs are born, they’re covered in white spots and stripes that make them look like little watermelons! These markings help them blend into the dappled light of the forest floor until they grow up and lose their patterns.

SCENT SEEKERS

Silhouette of a tapir with yellow abstract lines near its mouth.Tapirs are amazing smellers! They often walk against the wind so they can catch scents of fruits, water, or other animals carried through the air; a clever trick for life in the wild.

LEARNING FROM MOM

Adult tapir with a young tapir in a forest setting.Baby tapirs stay close to their mothers for about a year, learning where to find food, how to swim, and how to stay safe. Even as they grow independent, they often explore near their mother’s range.

MINI SNORKEL

Close-up of a tapir's face with leafy background.That long, wiggly nose is more than cute: it’s useful! Tapirs use their flexible snouts like snorkels when swimming, letting them breathe easily while cooling off or hiding underwater.

GENTLE GIANTS

Cartoon anteater meditating with a halo and closed eyes.Tapirs are the largest land mammals in Central and South America. Adults can weigh up to 250 kilograms (550 pounds) and are powerful swimmers, runners, and climbers; even with their size, they’re gentle and calm plant-eaters.

NIGHT WONDERERS

A tapir walking in a forest at night, captured in black and white on a trail camera.Tapirs are mostly nocturnal. They spend the day resting in shady spots and come out at night to explore, swim, and search for their favorite fruits and leaves under the moonlight.

ENDANGERED FRIENDS

Yellow road sign with black tapir face and the word 'TAPIR'.Tapirs are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. Protecting forests and rivers is the best way to help these gentle giants survive. Every tree planted and every wild area preserved gives tapirs a better chance at a safe future.

WATER WANDERERS

Tapir swimming in a blue river surrounded by jungle vegetation.Tapirs love spending time in the water! They swim, dive, and rest in rivers and lagoons to stay cool and escape predators. They’re so good at swimming that they can even use the water to reach food growing along riverbanks.

SUPER LISTENERS

Silhouette of a tapir with yellow arrows and sound icon around it.

Tapirs have excellent hearing! Their large, movable ears can turn in different directions to catch sounds from all around the forest, helping them stay alert for predators or other animals.

Text 'CAN YOU HEAR IT?' in green and yellow on a transparent background.

Tapirs are shy and mostly silent creatures, but if you listen closely, you might hear soft squeaks, whistles, or snorts. These quiet sounds help them talk to their babies or warn others when something’s nearby: a gentle voice in the rainforest.

MUD-WORTHY MOMENTS

Observe our gentle tapirs enjoying the serenity of the forest. From peaceful dips in the river to quiet walks through lush greenery, each image captures their calm strength and timeless grace — the forest’s true gentle giants.