Baby Tapir draws in Easter crowds

A new arrival at a Devon zoo has been delighting children over the Easter holiday weekend.

Coco, a five-week old Brazilian tapir, is the fifth success for Paignton Zoo's tapir breeding programme.

Coco's mum and dad Misha and Ryan have had to wait 13 months for their baby to arrive. She has a brother, Quito, who was born in January 2005.

Coco was born with a striped coat for natural camouflage, but her stripes will disappear in about six months.

Tapir facts Shy and solitary creatures Good sense of smell Use their long noses to pull leaves off the trees Good swimmers who spend most of their day in the water

Tapirs live in wet forest and grassland and use their short trunk-like noses to pick out grasses, leaves, buds and fruits.

Tapirs, which can live up to 30 years, are under threat in the wild from the destruction of their natural habitat.

Big hit

Helen Wade, a trainee keeper at the zoo, said Coco is proving to be a big hit with visitors.

She said: "The public love her. You can always tell when she's out because of all the 'oohs and aahs'.

"The kids think she's wonderful and they're always asking questions about her."