How big is a Malayan tapir?
The Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) is the largest of the five living tapir species. A full-grown adult is a genuinely heavy animal, closer in bulk to a small pony or a young rhino than to anything you would expect to meet in a forest at night.
Length, height and weight
- Length: roughly 1.8-2.5 m from snout to rump.
- Shoulder height: about 0.9-1.1 m, around waist height on an adult human.
- Typical weight: 250-320 kg for most adults.
- Maximum weight: the largest individuals approach around 540 kg.
To put that in perspective, a heavy Malayan tapir can outweigh a fully grown male lion several times over, yet it moves quietly and is rarely seen.
Why is it the biggest tapir?
The four American tapir species, including the lowland, Baird's and mountain tapirs, generally fall in the 150-300 kg range depending on species. The Malayan tapir sits clearly above that band, which is why it holds the title of largest tapir. It is also the only tapir found outside the Americas, so the heavyweight of the family is also its lone Asian member.
Are females or males bigger?
In tapirs, females tend to be slightly larger and heavier than males, the reverse of the pattern in many mammals. Both sexes share the same black front-and-rear with a pale saddle across the back.
How fast and strong is an animal this size?
Despite the bulk, Malayan tapirs are surprisingly agile. They can run when startled, climb steep banks, and are powerful swimmers that submerge and walk along riverbeds using the snout as a snorkel. A cornered adult is strong enough to defend itself, which is one reason wild tapirs should never be approached.
For the full set of measurements, lifespan and diet, see our Malayan tapir species guide. Keeping animals this size alive depends on keeping their lowland forest intact, which is the focus of the partner rescue teams our work in Indonesia and Malaysia helps fund.
Read the full Malayan tapir wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.
