These mammals from S. America are related to horses and rhinos. They can actually get pretty large -- 6 to 8 feet and weigh up to 600 lbs. And as an herbivore, their biggest concern is blending in to avoid predators (anacondas / jaguars). Their nose is mobile, like an elephant shrew, and they tend to graze and swim quickly, despite its large size.
They don't attack people, with only a few exceptional cases. In those instances, they give pretty nasty bites, apparently.
Also, they're not social creatures -- makes it harder for them to hide. The only social interactions outside of breeding is when mother takes care of offspring.
If you're ever out in San Diego, they have some of these at their zoo.
No comments:
Post a Comment