Bayu

When Bayu was younger, she tended to be the quieter and more cautious of the tapirs in her habitat. As she has matured, however, she has become increasingly curious and confident.

She regularly explores her environment using her highly sensitive nose and frequently investigates activity around neighbouring spaces, including checking on her companion Dian through the den partitions overnight. Much of her behaviour now appears driven less by caution and more by steady curiosity about absolutely everything nearby.

Bayu has also developed a reputation for experimenting with her environment in unexpected ways. On one occasion, she stepped onto a plant and appeared to realise that flattening it made browsing considerably easier.

She is also known for entering the deeper parts of the pool with remarkable enthusiasm. During husbandry sessions, she participates calmly in hoof checks and belly inspections and has occasionally become so relaxed during brushing sessions that she falls asleep mid-session.

The Malayan tapir is classified as Endangered by the IUCN, threatened by deforestation and road collisions as their forest habitat shrinks across Southeast Asia.

We have successfully bred the species and participate in exchange programmes with zoos worldwide, strengthening the population of tapirs under human care. Bayu is a living argument for why the forests that made her must be protected.