Latest news with #Ume
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
3-month-old ‘walking watermelon' set to make debut at Washington zoo. See her
An endangered baby animal that looks like a 'walking watermelon' has spent months with her mom learning new skills at a Washington zoo. Now, the public will finally get a chance to see her in person. Ume, a Malayan tapir calf, will make her debut Friday, May 16, at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, the zoo said in a news release. Visitors can see her in the Asian Forest Sanctuary as she explores the enclosure with her 10-year-old mom, Yuna. 'Viewing times may vary depending on the pair's daily routine, so guests are encouraged to be patient—mom and baby might be napping or taking a break out of sight,' the zoo said in the release. She was born Feb. 2 with bright white stripes and speckles, quickly winning over the hearts of social media users, McClatchy News reported. The zoo said she couldn't make her public debut until she learned how to swim. Ume then spent time splashing away until she 'passed swim class with flying colors!' the zoo said in a May 14 Facebook post. As Ume gets older, her stripes and dots will fade completely. What to know about the Malayan tapir The Malayan tapir is the largest of the four tapir species, according to the Tapir Specialist Group. This species is found in Asia in southern Myanmar and southern Thailand. Tapirs are herbivores and have long and flexible noses for snagging leaves and fruit, the zoo said. When they are babies, they are born with white stripes and dots to blend in with their environment. The 'mostly nocturnal' animal typically lives alone but may live in a pair. Zoo officials said the tapir is endangered due to disappearing forests, farms, logging and being hunted by humans.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
3-month-old ‘walking watermelon' set to make debut at Washington zoo. See her
An endangered baby animal that looks like a 'walking watermelon' has spent months with her mom learning new skills at a Washington zoo. Now, the public will finally get a chance to see her in person. Ume, a Malayan tapir calf, will make her debut Friday, May 16, at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, the zoo said in a news release. Visitors can see her in the Asian Forest Sanctuary as she explores the enclosure with her 10-year-old mom, Yuna. 'Viewing times may vary depending on the pair's daily routine, so guests are encouraged to be patient—mom and baby might be napping or taking a break out of sight,' the zoo said in the release. She was born Feb. 2 with bright white stripes and speckles, quickly winning over the hearts of social media users, McClatchy News reported. The zoo said she couldn't make her public debut until she learned how to swim. Ume then spent time splashing away until she 'passed swim class with flying colors!' the zoo said in a May 14 Facebook post. As Ume gets older, her stripes and dots will fade completely. The Malayan tapir is the largest of the four tapir species, according to the Tapir Specialist Group. This species is found in Asia in southern Myanmar and southern Thailand. Tapirs are herbivores and have long and flexible noses for snagging leaves and fruit, the zoo said. When they are babies, they are born with white stripes and dots to blend in with their environment. The 'mostly nocturnal' animal typically lives alone but may live in a pair. Zoo officials said the tapir is endangered due to disappearing forests, farms, logging and being hunted by humans. Baby baboon is first born at California zoo since 2019. See Defari snuggle mom Hiker hurls possibly rabid fox into cactus during relentless attack at TX park Spikey red sea creature appears across Indian Ocean for first time. Take a look
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
This fuzzy rare creature is uplifting viewers with her ‘cute antics,' WA video shows
A 'fuzzy watermelon'-looking animal in Washington is winning over the hearts of people on social media. Ume is a white striped and speckled Malayan tapir calf that was born Feb. 2 at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma. Her name means plum blossom and apricot in Japanese. Since then she has been bonding with her mom Yuna, and now has a new tooth, the zoo said in a Feb. 20 Facebook post. The zoo shared a video of the endangered tapir calf 'mouthing' at hay in her enclosure. This latest video prompted nearly 200 comments from adoring Facebook users. 'They are the strangest looking things, but she is utterly adorable,' one person commented. 'Please tell her i love her and that she is the cornerstone of my mental health at the moment,' another person wrote. 'Thank you for sharing these adorable video clips of lil' Ume. Her cute antics are uplifting,' someone else commented. The Malayan tapir is the largest of the four tapir species, according to the Tapir Specialist Group. This species is found in Asia in southern Myanmar and southern Thailand. Tapirs are herbivores and have long and flexible noses for snagging leaves and fruit, the zoo said. When they are babies, they are born with white stripes and dots to blend in with their environment. The 'mostly nocturnal' animal typically lives alone but may live in a pair. Zoo officials said the tapir is endangered due to disappearing forests, farms, logging and being hunted by humans. 'Rare' silver creature spotted in snowy Colorado wilderness. See the striking photo River creature 'with tiny scales buried beneath' its skin discovered as new species 'Unusual' creature with 'reddish' eyes found at cave in Thailand. It's a new species
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Fuzzy watermelon'-looking endangered baby animal named after another fruit, WA zoo says
A rare and endangered baby animal that looks like a 'fuzzy watermelon' has a new name, and it's also a fruit, a Washington zoo said. The white striped and speckled Malayan tapir calf was named Ume, the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma said in a Feb. 11 Facebook post. In Japanese, Ume means plum blossom and apricot, the zoo said. The 20-pound baby girl was born Feb. 2, making her the second tapir to be born at the zoo in its 120-year history, McClatchy News reported. 'Mom and baby are thriving behind the scenes, and we can't wait to share more updates soon,' the zoo said in the post. Her mom is Yuna, and she's 10 years old and weighs nearly 900 pounds, zoo officials said. Her dad is Baku, and he's also 10 and weighs 800 pounds. Yuna means kindness and superiority in Japanese, while Baku references a dream-eating creature. The Malayan tapir is the largest of the four tapir species, according to the Tapir Specialist Group. This species is found in Asia in southern Myanmar and southern Thailand. Tapirs are herbivores and have long and flexible noses for snagging leaves and fruit, the zoo said. When they are babies, they are born with white stripes and dots to blend in with their environment. The 'mostly nocturnal' animal typically lives alone but may live in a pair. Zoo officials said the tapir is endangered due to disappearing forests, farms, logging and being hunted by humans. 'White specks' seen in Alaska waters are endangered sea creatures. 'Not a drill' 'Shy' aquarium pet — with 'bright red' teeth — discovered as new species from Brazil Oldest rhino in the US — mom to 10 — dies after 'extraordinary life' at Tennessee zoo
