Tapir's food

Solitary by nature, no more than two or three tapirs are ever seen together. The tapir is a nocturnal animal, spending much of its time feeding on water plants and brownsing on twigs, leaves, grasses and fallen fruit. The compact streamlined shape of the tapir's body is ideal for pushing through the dense undergrowth of the forest floor.

In the wild, all species of tapirs prefer wooded or grassy areas with places to shelter during the day and a lake, river and a lake, river, or pond for taking a dip at night. Tapir have been observed to eat around 40 kilograms (85 pounds) of vegetation in one days. Tapir will spend many of their waking hours foraging along well-worn trails, snouts to the ground in search of food. Since they live in the forest and around streams, tapirs eat small braches and leaves as well as fresh sprouts. They pull the food from trees using their teeth and their mobile snout. They also eat fallen fruit and water plants.

Tapirs eat a variety of plant food, including ferns, grasses, leaves and fallen fruits. Scientists studying tapirs have notices that they follow a zigzag through the forest, taking only a few leaves from any one plant. This method of eating keeps food plentiful. If foods are out of reach, they will reach up, with hind feet planted firmlly on the ground and front feet pushing against rocks or other natural objects. Lowland tapirs have been reported eating stranded fish in the Amazon. Tapirs tend to eat before the sun rises and after it sets.

Besides that, tapirs like to spend lots of time in the water, eating aquatic plants, cooling off, or washing away skin parasites. They can stay under the water for several minutes. Even youngster is able to swim when just a few days old. When frightened, tapirs can take to the water and breather with their snout poked above the surface like a snorkl. When tapirs mate, and female gets pregnant the male brings food for them.