A fine pair of shabrack (Tapirus indicus) and another pair of American
tapirs (Tapirus americanus) constitute the chief attraction of the
house devoted to pachyderms in the Zoological Garden at Breslau, and
interest in this section of the garden has recently been greatly
enhanced by the appearance of a healthy young shabrack. This is only
the second time that a shabrack tapir has been born in captivity in
Europe, and as the other one, which was born in the Zoological Garden
at Hamburg, did not live many days, but few knew of its existence;
consequently, little or nothing is known of the care and development
of the young of this species, although they are so numerous in their
native lands. Farther India, Southwestern China and the neighboring
large islands, where they also do well in captivity. The tapir was not
known until the beginning of this century, and even now it is a great
rarity in the European animal market, and as the greatest care is
required to keep it alive for any length of time in captivity, it is
seldom seen in zoological gardens; therefore, the fact that the
shabrack tapirs in the Breslau garden have not only lived, but their
number has increased, is so much more remarkable.
[Illustration: SHABRACK TAPIR WITH YOUNG ONE (FIVE DAYS OLD) IN THE
BRESLAU ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN. FROM DRAWING BY ERICH SUCKOW.]
Our engraving shows that the five days old tapir resembles its mother
in form, although its marking is quite different. Its spots and
stripes are very similar to those of the young of the American tapir,
several of which have been born in captivity in Europe. They shade
from yellow to brown on black or very dark brown ground, and the spots
on the legs take a whitish tone. This little one's fur is longer on
the body than on the head and extremities, and is soft and thick, but
has not the peculiar glossiness of the full grown animal. Its iris is
a beautiful blue violet, while that of the old one is dark violet, and
its little hoofs are reddish brown, while those of the mother are horn
gray. When standing, the new comer measures about two feet in
length and one foot two inches in height, having gained about one
inch in height in five days. Its fine condition is doubtless due
partly to the great care given it and partly to the healthy
constitution of the mother, and it is the pet of its keepers and
of the public.--Illustrirte Zeitung.
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