Tapir calf rescued with broken leg in São Paulo

A 15-day-old female tapir was rescued in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil, after being found with a fractured hind leg. The animal was located near the Planalto do Sul district, between the SPV-031 and SPV-035 vicinal highways.

Following the rescue, the tapir was taken to the Environmental Military Police headquarters in Teodoro Sampaio and handed over to the manager of the Morro do Diabo State Park. The animal was subsequently transferred to the Associação Protetora dos Animais Silvestres de Assis, where specialized veterinarians provided first aid.

Once fully recovered, the tapir is expected to be reintroduced into its natural habitat. The species, Tapirus terrestris, is the largest land mammal in Brazil and plays a vital ecological role by dispersing seeds. The species is currently classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).