Giles Laurent · CC BY-SA 4.0Lowland tapir
Tapirus terrestris · mborevi
The country's largest land mammal, a strong swimmer and a planter of forest seeds.
What it is
Sturdy, with a short, flexible snout like a small trunk, the tapir (mborevi in Guaraní) can weigh more than 200 kg. It lives near water, swims very well and feeds on leaves, shoots and fruit. It disperses a great many seeds, so it plays a key role in forest regeneration. In Paraguay it suffers from hunting and habitat fragmentation.
Did you know…?
Calves are born with pale stripes and spots, a camouflage they lose within a few months.
Where
Forests near water in the Mbaracayú Reserve, San Rafael, the Pantanal and the Chaco (Defensores del Chaco). It is nocturnal and usually detected by its tracks in the mud.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 2 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.