Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

Do you still remember “Rimuru ”, the Malayan tapir born at Taipei Zoo in July 2024? At birth, Rimuru weighed only 7 kilograms and looked like a small, brown watermelon. Now, after nearly nine months of growth, he has transformed. His fur is black and white, and he weighs over 180 kilograms. While he hasn’t quite reached the size of his mother, “Mali”, he’s already a strong, healthy, and stylish young tapir.

We invite everyone to visit the zoo and watch Rimuru’s growth. On April 27, we will celebrate World Tapir Day, an annual event supported by wildlife conservation groups worldwide. From April 15 to 30, the zoo will give small gifts to visitors who complete the "Tapir Pact Challenge" in the Tropical Rainforest Area. On April 27, a surprise appearance will be made by the "Malayan Tapir (mascot) conductor" at the visitor train station. The conductor will quiz visitors on their tapir knowledge.

When Rimuru was born, his body was covered in dark brown fur with vertical white stripes. His face and legs had white spots, resembling the dappled shadows of trees. In essence, he looked like a small, brown watermelon. By the time he was two months old, the fur on his back began to lighten, forming a soft brown gradient. Over time, the white fur spread across his entire back, and the spots on his face and legs faded.

At four months old, Rimuru fully shed his spotted baby coat and adopted the black-and-white pattern of an adult tapir, just like his mother. Now, at nine months old, Rimuru has grown to over 180 kilograms. He’s still not as large as his mother, but he’s quickly developing into a strong and healthy tapir. Despite his size, Rimuru remains playful. He loves exploring and often snuggles up to his mother, Mali. Visitors are encouraged to come observe and document Rimuru’s growth.

The remaining tapirs in the world are in urgent need of human protection. Among them, the Malayan tapir is the largest of all tapir species and the only one found in Asia. Listed as endangered (EN) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the primary threats to their survival are habitat loss and fragmentation due to human activities, such as illegal deforestation and land clearing for agriculture.

Taipei Zoo is actively involved in ex-situ conservation of the Malayan tapir, establishing a satellite population through a breeding program and participating in international, interregional, and inter-zoo collaborations to help protect the species. The zoo also encourages visitors to take environmentally friendly actions in their daily lives. For example, help protect rainforests by choosing products certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Additionally, visitors can indirectly help maintain the health of tapir habitats by using reusable items, cutting down on single-use products, and taking public transportation.

Taipei Zoo currently houses Malayan tapirs in both the Tropical Rainforest Area and next to the Pangolin Dome. To celebrate World Tapir Day on April 27, Taipei Zoo invites everyone to learn more about the endangered Malayan tapir. From April 15 to 30, the zoo will host the "Tapir Pact Challenge" in the Malayan tapir exhibit (near the clouded leopard exhibit in the Tropical Rainforest Area). Guests can pick up a learning sheet at the visitor center and complete the ecology clue challenge by using information from the educational signs posted in the exhibit. After finishing the challenge, participants can exchange their sheets for a special reward at the Animal Arts Workshop near the Education Center.

On April 27 (World Tapir Day) at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM, a special event will take place with a Malayan Tapir (mascot) conductor on the zoo’s visitor train. Lucky visitors that day will have a chance to ride the same train as the Malayan Tapir conductor and take part in a prize quiz about tapir knowledge when they get off.

“Tapir Pact Challenge” Activity 

Date: April 15 to 30, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

Worksheet Pickup: Visitor Center or Tiger Gift Shop in the Tropical Rainforest Area 

Activity Location: Malayan Tapir exhibit in the Tropical Rainforest Area (next to the leopard exhibit) 

Prize Redemption: Animal Art Workshop at the Education Center exit (Redemption hours: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM) 

Friendly Reminder: Reading the signs in front of the Malayan Tapir Exhibit will help you complete the challenge!