VIDEO: Rare Baird’s tapir twins at Tufts slowly recover; one travels home to meet mom
A male Baird’s tapir remains under oxygen at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine while its female twin has returned to meet their mother at the Franklin Park Zoo.
The male and female pair, born to mother Abby at the zoo, are believed to be the first twins born in captivity to a Baird’s tapir, an endangered species and the largest land mammal found in South America.
The twins were born developmentally premature on September 29 and transferred to the Tufts University veterinary school in Grafton The male is the weaker of the pair and developed severe pneumonia at two weeks. Since he was placed on a ventilator, he has had “incremental improvements,” according to an update from the zoo.
Staff are monitoring the bone development of both twins.
As of October 23, the female and mother Abby have only seen each other through a barrier.
“The female will receive radiographs weekly to monitor her development and determine when she’s ready for increased exercise and a reunion with Abby, before they make an exhibit debut together – likely several weeks away still,” the zoo posted on its website.
