Baird's tapir is a large herbivorous mammal that inhabits forests with water, such as tropical rainforests, mangroves, and swamp forests, from Central America to northwestern South America. Using its long, flexible snout it feeds on vegetation from the ground up to higher foliage and contributes to seed dispersal of about 200 plant species. It is nocturnal or crepuscular and primarily solitary; breeding occurs before the rainy season, and after a gestation of about 390–400 days a single young is born. Populations have declined due to habitat destruction and hunting, and it is listed as Endangered I B.