Tapirs are odd-toed ungulates related to horses and rhinos. Their welfare in zoos requires access to water, appropriate browse, and management of their timid, largely solitary nature.
Tapir welfare in zoos centres on providing their specific physiological and behavioural needs within captive constraints. Regular water access is essential for thermoregulation, play, and natural behaviour - tapirs in the wild spend significant time in water and rivers. Browse diversity is important as tapirs are selective browsers in nature. Their naturally timid temperament means noisy, high-visitor-traffic environments cause chronic stress. Quiet, naturalistic exhibits with hiding areas enable stress-appropriate management. Conservation value is high as all tapir species are threatened, and zoo breeding programmes contribute to genetic management. Malayan tapir welfare is particularly important as the species has the most limited wild population.