Seattle — A 10-week-old Malayan tapir died this afternoon at Woodland Park Zoo despite medical treatment. After displaying colic-like symptoms yesterday, with progressive signs of weakness and deterioration, the 104-pound male calf was under 24-hour expert care by zoo veterinary and animal management staff. A necropsy and pathology tests will determine the final cause of death.

Since birth, the tapir calf had remained off public view in a heated barn due to the temperature needs of newborn tapirs. “He was thriving very well under excellent maternal care and the attentiveness of our staff,” noted zoo Associate Veterinarian Dr. Darin Collins. Zoo-goers were able to enjoy the mother and calf on a closed-circuit monitor at the tapir shelter in the Trail of Vines exhibit, as well as video and images on the zoo’s Web site, www.zoo.org.

The calf marked the third birth for the 8-year-old parents. “The death of the tapir calf is a significant loss to the North American zoo population,” said zoo General Curator Nancy Hawkes. “His genetic line is underrepresented and Malayan tapir births in zoos are infrequent,” added Hawkes. Only about 55 Malayan tapirs exist in North American zoos with an estimated 900 to 3,000 remaining in the wild.

Tapirs are among the most primitive large mammals in the world, changing little in appearance in the past 15 million years. A newborn tapir looks much like a watermelon on four legs - a reddish-brown coat dappled with white and cream-colored spots and stripes. At first glance this prehistoric-looking animal looks like a massive pig with a long snout. However, its closest relatives are the horse and rhinoceros. The average weight for adult Malayan tapirs is 750 pounds, although they can weigh up to 900 pounds.

Woodland Park Zoo, nationally renowned for its excellent animal care, award-winning exhibits and conservation programs, will continue participating in the Malayan Tapir Population Management Plan (PMP). Under the auspices of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), PMPs are cooperative breeding programs that work to ensure genetic diversity and demographic stability in North American zoos and aquariums. AZA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation, with more than 210 zoos and aquariums as members.