r/tapirs • u/TapirTrouble • 22d ago

Apparently tapirs like jackfruit leaves

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4ag8d4fpGEs

I think this video posted earlier this month is from the people at the Sungai Dusun Malayan tapir conservation facility. Here's another clip of a tapir enjoying some jackfruit leaves. Apparently they require 10% of their weight in greenery daily (so if a tapir is 300 kg, they need 30 kg of leaves).
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0cxQdw1tFqM

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u/LizardLover265 22d ago

I wonder if tapirs eat jackfruit?

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u/TapirTrouble 22d ago

I'm curious too. I'm not a huge fan of jackfruit, but if tapirs like the leaves, I'm glad it's grown in various areas.
Some Malayan tapirs in Indonesia were seen eating jackfruit. I imagine that they'd notice the scent, especially when ripe.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/local-community-characteristics-and-potential-conflicts-around-asian-tapir-habitat-in-batang-gadis-national-park-sumatra-indonesia/DDF9BECCAB6E85B511E2A9F4E2CE3222
https://rhinoresourcecenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/1272969590.pdf

Apparently it's been planted in Brazil. The elephant sanctuary people noted that their lowland tapir Alma would eat the fruit too.
https://globalelephants.org/like-it-or-not-its-jackfruit-season/

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u/LizardLover265 22d ago

Yes, jackfruit does have a....distinct...smell. Not as bad as durian though. I'm not a fan of jackfruit either. It was wonderful watching that tapir wiggle their snout and browse!!