Meet Dudley Zoo's new baby

Meena and Luna Credit: Dudley Zoo

Dudley Zoo is celebrating its newest addition - a baby Brazilian tapir. But how did they choose her name? Watch the video from Dudley Zoo to find out...

Mum Meena gave birth to Luna on 28 May after a 13 month long pregnancy. They have spent the last few days tucked away in off-show dens.

Staff at the zoo decided to get Luna's dad Chico to choose her name. Keepers came up with suggestions which they placed onto apples. Chico picked his favourite apple, and Luna was the winner.

What is a tapir?

  • A tapir is a herbivorous mammal, similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile nose trunk.

  • They live in the jungle and forests in South America, Central America, and Southeastern Asia.

  • Baby tapirs are born with distinctive spotty and striped patterns, gradually begin fading when they reach around six months.

  • The stripes help babies camouflage themselves from predators against the rainforest foliage, but they won’t disappear altogether as all tapirs retain stripes somewhere on their body.