A CBBC Star Has Just Moved Into Newquay Zoo

She has already charmed the nation on television, and now she is calling Cornwall home.

Tamara, a ten-year-old female Brazilian tapir, has arrived at Newquay Zoo after making the journey down from Hertfordshire Zoo in a specialist animal trailer. The ten-year-old is a familiar face to younger viewers, having featured on the CBBC series One Zoo Three.

She arrived on Monday 27th April and has wasted little time finding her feet.

A gentle new arrival

Dan Trevelyan, Head Keeper at Newquay Zoo, said the team are delighted to have her on site.

“We’re really pleased to have Tamara here with us, she’s settled in so quickly and already seems very relaxed in her new surroundings. She’s a lovely, gentle animal, and we’re looking forward to people getting to know her over the coming weeks,” Dan said.

Tamara has taken up residence in the South American habitat, the same enclosure that was previously home to the zoo’s tapir Al and his capybara companion Johnson. Both animals passed away earlier this year.

Capybaras set to return

Although tapirs are generally solitary creatures, they are known to live happily alongside other species. The zoo has confirmed plans to further develop the habitat, which includes bringing capybaras back as a proven compatible pairing.

Brazilian tapirs are native to the rainforests and wetlands of South America and are classified as Vulnerable, with wild populations facing pressure from habitat loss and hunting. Tamara’s move to Cornwall is part of an international breeding programme coordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), which works to maintain healthy populations of threatened species across Europe.

In time, the zoo hopes she may be introduced to a male as part of those conservation efforts.

Quirks worth pausing for

For now, visitors can watch her get used to her new surroundings and pick up on the behaviours that make tapirs such an unusual species, from using their flexible, trunk-like snout to explore their habitat to spending plenty of time in the water.

“It’s a really rewarding species to spend time with. If you pause for a few minutes, you start to notice these unique behaviours. That’s when you really get a sense of her character,” Dan added.

Tamara’s arrival is part of a wider period of development at Newquay Zoo, with the zoo hinting that further updates on future plans are expected in the coming days.

Visitors can plan a trip and book tickets at newquayzoo.uk.