Endangered Baird's Tapir Born At San Diego Zoo

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego Zoo has welcomed a new baby animal. An endangered Baird's tapir was born June 3 at the zoo.

The female calf, who is not yet named, and her mother, Luna, can now be seen at Elephant Odyssey, sharing a space with the capybaras.

Luna is bonding with her calf by vocalizing to her, licking her and keeping a close eye on her at all times, according to the San Diego Zoo. The calf is starting to get "zoomies" and likes to mouth and play with leaves and food even if she's not eating it. They spend their time grooming, nursing and laying together.

Native to Mexico and Central America, the Baird's tapir is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. They are hunted for sport in Costa Rica. They also face habitat loss due to farming, cattle grazing, and palm oil and rubber plantations, which ultimately reduces their food supply.

• Also see: 4 Capybaras Born At San Diego Zoo