Malayan tapirs are endangered megafauna increasingly found in zoo breeding programs, with specific welfare needs related to their semi-aquatic lifestyle and shy temperament.
Malayan tapirs in zoo care require careful attention to their semi-aquatic nature. Access to deep pools for swimming is not a luxury but a behavioral necessity — tapirs swim daily in the wild and show significantly elevated activity and reduced stereotypies when pool access is provided. Their shy temperament means that high visitor noise and proximity cause chronic stress detectable in fecal cortisol measurements. Many institutions now use protected contact management rather than direct contact with keepers, improving both keeper safety and tapir welfare. Diet should include a wide variety of browse species alongside commercial feed, as browse manipulation provides important cognitive stimulation. Pair compatibility assessment is essential before any social housing attempt.