The many canals feeding water to the rice fields at Fazenda San Fransico hold a diverse flora and fauna, and in a blink of an eye you may see a lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) – in the middle of the day!
It was most likely feeding off the juiciy flora around the canals when we passed by. It didn’t seem panicked at all as it didn’t run, but I guess it was more annoyed with the noise of the car, and thus was seeking refuge in the water. It’s an excellent swimmer, so in an open landscape like this rice field it felt more secure submerged.
Also called South American tapir, Brazilian tapir or anta.
Last updated on 27 June 2024