CBBC star tapir arrives at Newquay Zoo

A familiar face to young wildlife fans has arrived at Newquay Zoo, as a ten-year-old female Brazilian tapir settles into her new home after travelling from Hertfordshire Zoo. Tamara, who has featured on the CBBC series One Zoo Three, arrived on Monday 27 April, making the cross-country journey in a specialist animal trailer.

Dan Trevelyan, Head Keeper at Newquay Zoo, said:

“We’re really pleased to have Tamara here with us - she’s settled in so quickly and already seems very relaxed in her new surroundings. She’s a lovely, gentle animal, and we’re looking forward to people getting to know her over the coming weeks."

Tamara has taken up residence in the South American habitat, formerly home to the zoo’s previous tapir, Al, and his capybara companion Johnson, who both passed away earlier this year. Although tapirs are generally solitary, they are known to coexist successfully alongside other species. Newquay Zoo plans to further develop the habitat, including the return of capybaras as a proven compatible pairing. 

Native to the rainforests and wetlands of South America, Brazilian tapirs are classified as Vulnerable, with wild populations under pressure from habitat loss and hunting. Her arrival forms part of an international breeding programme coordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), which works to maintain healthy populations of threatened species across Europe. 

In time, the zoo hopes Tamara may be introduced to a male as part of these conservation efforts. In the meantime, visitors can watch her settle in and observe the behaviours that make tapirs so distinctive, from using their flexible, trunk-like snout to explore their surroundings to spending time in the water.

Dan added:

“It’s a really rewarding species to spend time with. If you pause for a few minutes, you start to notice these unique behaviours. That’s when you really get a sense of her character.”

Visitors can see Tamara in the South American habitat as she continues to settle into her new surroundings. Her arrival forms part of a wider period of development at Newquay Zoo, with further updates on future plans expected in the coming days.