Tapir Joins Zoo's Ranks

APPLE VALLEY, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Zoo has a new animal on display.

The Malayan tapir named Jon-hi is now on exhibit at the zoo's Tropics Trail. The 1-year-old tapir came from the Omaha Zoo and will be on exhibit in the mornings.

Zoo officials will eventually breed him with the zoo's female tapir, Bertie.

The Malayan tapir is an endangered species. Tapirs look like anteaters or pigs, with short fleshy snouts that help them sniff through forests and pull leaves into their mouths.

The zoo says tapirs live in grassy areas near lakes and rivers in the rainforests of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

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