Baby pictures! Rare Baird’s tapir twins recovering at Tufts
Chances are, no one at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine has ever treated patients like these — a rare set of Baird’s tapir twins, born September 29 at the Franklin Park Zoo, are in the ICU at the Tufts University Grafton campus.
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.
“In preparation of this highly unusual birth, we prepared for many different scenarios and consulted with colleagues at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University throughout the pregnancy. We were prepared to transport the twins if needed, and quickly made the decision early yesterday evening to do this out of concern for the twins’ health,” said Dr. Eric Baitchman, Zoo New England Vice President of Animal Health and Conservation. “The twins were stable this morning thanks to the absolutely heroic efforts by the Tufts’ team last night. I remain hopeful for their survival and eventual ability to thrive, but we have a very long way to go.”
The twins have greatly improved since transferring to Tufts.
“They’ve been improving each day, are stable and feeding well,” the Franklin Park Zoo wrote on October 6. “The female is off of IV fluids and no longer needs the extra oxygen support. She is still in the oxygen enclosure to be with her brother, who has pneumonia and continues to need this supportive care. The twins have made very good progress, but will continue to need a lot of support as they grow and try to catch up on their development.”
Please update on Baird’s twins. Been too long.
Thank you.
Your wish will be granted! An update is going up Tuesday morning — with video!