In the zoo located near Ubud in the Gianyar area, there is a new addition. Before the start of the Muslim holiday of Lebaran, they brought in a new animal. It's an Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus).
Zoo visitors can observe the new exotic animal known for its loud and piercing whistle-like voice. The tapir, whose body shape resembles that of a rhinoceros or a giant pig, is endangered and listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) "Red List." This species is protected by Indonesian Regulation No. 7 of 1999.
The black-and-white tapir can still be found in the wild, roaming in the jungles of Sumatra Island. These are solitary individuals, ranging from two to two and a half meters in length. They stand about one meter tall and can weigh up to 320 kilograms. The animals feed on leaves and fruits, and their nose resembles a small trunk, similar to that of an elephant. Now, a female named Yuni will join a family of over 600 animals of 54 species living in the Balinese zoo. In addition to the new resident, several improvements have been made to the zoo area – new ticket booths have been added, and the parking lot has been expanded. It can accommodate over two hundred cars, around fifty motorcycles, and several dozen tourist buses. The entrance ticket prices remain the same: 140,000 Indonesian rupiahs for local citizens and KITAS visa holders, and 100,000 for their children, and 395,000 Indonesian rupiahs for foreign tourists, with 280,000 for children.
In the Balinese zoo, you can spend half a day; there are various cafes and a playground. If you are on the island, be sure to visit this interesting place. And we will tell you interesting facts about the new resident. Tapirs play an important role in tropical forest ecosystems, dispersing plant seeds through their bodies and maintaining biodiversity. Besides the Asian tapir, there are also the lowland and mountain tapirs. These animals lead a nocturnal or crepuscular lifestyle. They can swim and even sleep in water. While bathing, a tapir uses its trunk like a snorkel. By submerging itself, it leaves its nose on the surface. This way, the tapir can hide underwater to wait out danger while calmly breathing through its trunk.
Sources: medcom.id, antaranews.com
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