The Curragh’s Wildlife Park is celebrating an unexpected ‘arrival’ this Christmas – a baby Brazilian tapir that was a surprise birth last week.
 
New mum Louka moved to the park from a zoo in France in July to join the resident male, Thackery.
 
Kathleen Graham, General Manager of the park in Ballaugh, said: ‘When the keepers noticed Louka was a bit rotund, we guessed she may be pregnant but we were not expecting a Christmas baby, as the gestation period is 13 months.
 
‘We now realise she must have been in the earlier stages of pregnancy when she arrived.’
 
Tapirs are large, herbivorous mammals with distinctive snouts that inhabit forest areas.
 
The Brazilian, or lowland tapir, is from the Amazon rainforest and is considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
 
‘We are really pleased to have a new baby tapir as they are just delightful and are popular with visitors,’ Kathleen said.
 
‘At this age, they have spots and stripes and are a different colour from their parents. By the time the tapir is a year old, he will be the same grey colour as the adults.
 
Tony Tongue, the tapirs’ keeper, said: ‘We haven’t given the new arrival a name yet but I am sure it will have a Christmas theme.’

The park is open daily during the school holidays with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Opening hours are 10am to 4pm (last admission 3pm) and tickets can be booked in advance via the website www.curraghswildlifepark.im/ or purchased at the gate.
 
After the school holidays the park reverts to its winter opening days, Friday to Sunday.