# COVID, debates, Police Shootings, Forest Fires -- We need a Baby Tapir Break **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 2, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061 "2020-10-02T18:29:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/1 "2020-10-02T18:29:08Z")
Sometimes you just need a mindless break from the Bad News. Franklin Park Zoo in Boston just released footage of their new Twin Baby Tapirs. They think they’re the first Tapir Twins born in Captivity. Who cares? the point is, it’s twice the Squee! > **[Franklin Park Zoo makes history with twin tapir tots](https://www.universalhub.com/2020/franklin-park-zoo-makes-history-twin-tapir-tots)** > > The Franklin Park Zoo reports that Abby, one of its Baird's tapirs, gave birth Thursday to twin babies, something that's never before been reported at either a zoo or in the wild. Read more. > **[Baird's Tapir | Franklin Park Zoo](https://www.zoonewengland.org/franklin-park-zoo/our-animals/mammals/hoofed/bairds-tapir/)** > > Learn more about Franklin Park Zoo's Baird's Tapir. > **[ZooBorns](https://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/franklin-park-zoo/)** > > The Newest and Cutest Exotic Baby Animals from Zoos and Aquariums Around the World! > **[Zoo Babies: Franklin Park Zoo Welcomes Incredibly Rare Twins Dubbed 'Tapir Tots'](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/franklin-park-zoo-welcomes-incredibly-rare-twins-dubbed-tapir-tots/)** > > Franklin Park Zoo is celebrating two new and rare additions. “Tapir Tots” ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2020, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/2 "2020-10-03T01:40:51Z")
I hope they do well, and I didn’t realize they would be striped. Our zoo used to have a tapir, and it was solid gray. Are there different species I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/3 "2020-10-03T01:42:22Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I hope they do well, and I didn’t realize they would be striped. Our zoo used to have a tapir, and it was solid gray. Are there different species I wonder? - Just like a fawn is dappled, it’s camouflage. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/4 "2020-10-03T02:45:19Z")
To expand a bit (because I thought there was only one tapir species) per Wikipedia there are four species, and in all > Baby tapirs of all types have striped-and-spotted coats for camouflage. > **[Tapir](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapir)** > > Tapirs (/ˈteɪpər, ˈteɪpɪər, təˈpɪər/ TAY-pər, TAY-peer, tə-PEER) are large, herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Tapiridae. They are similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile nose trunk. Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South and Central America and Southeast Asia. They are one of three extant branches of Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates), alongside equines and rhinoceroses. Only a single genus, Tapirus, is currently extant. Tapirs migrated into South America duri... ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/5 "2020-10-06T00:53:59Z")
I’ll see your Tapir Tots and raise you some Red Pandas! > **[r/aww - Momma red panda and her baby at the Oregon Zoo](https://www.reddit.com/r/aww/comments/j3v66w/momma_red_panda_and_her_baby_at_the_oregon_zoo/)** > > 11,362 votes and 78 comments so far on Reddit ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/6 "2020-10-06T04:02:20Z")
I just loved that wiggly little nose at the 1-minute mark. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/7 "2020-10-06T12:49:37Z")
It’s tapiring to a cute little point. Like a moot. > **[Moot Points: Deranged Drawings: Duffy, J. C.: 9780201039689: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Moot-points-Deranged-drawings-Duffy/dp/0201039680)** > > Moot Points: Deranged Drawings \[Duffy, J. C.\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Moot Points: Deranged Drawings ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/8 "2020-10-14T02:34:09Z")
Okay, enough baby tapir. How about a baby Pygmy Hippopotamus from Boston’s FRanklin Park Zoo > **[It's a boy! Franklin Park Zoo welcomes pygmy hippopotamus](https://www.wcvb.com/article/its-a-boy-franklin-park-zoo-welcomes-pygmy-hippopotamus/34361125)** > > Zoo New England says the tiny male calf is the first pygmy hippo born at the zoo. > **[CBS Boston - Breaking News, Sports, Weather, I-Team Investigations](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/)** > > Latest breaking news from WBZ-TV CBS Boston. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2020, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/9 "2020-10-14T02:44:33Z")
Baby hippos, savagers of noses. [![](https://i.imgur.com/nhjw31j.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/nhjw31j.png) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2020, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/10 "2020-10-14T03:03:41Z")
Speaking of animals encountering noses: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/t5MQVBaqVkA/hqdefault.jpg "Baby Elephant Searches for Girl's Nose") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5MQVBaqVkA) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2020, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-debates-police-shootings-forest-fires-we-need-a-baby-tapir-break/922061/11 "2020-10-14T03:41:22Z")
Doxie the Dog has resumed running. Maybe only a half-mile, but Dammit, he’s doing it! And making the rest of the Crew follow him.