Back from the shadows”: Rare mammal returns after 111 years in Brazil’s forests

Deep in Brazil's Cunhambebe State Park, hidden cameras uncovered a surprise. A mother tapir and her calf were walking peacefully, the first to be seen in the forest since 1914.

Why is this rediscovery significant?
The footage, recorded in early 2025, showed several South American tapirs. Their return signals not only survival but also the possible existence of an undetected population. Experts call it a rare ecological discovery.

Distinguished as "forest gardeners", tapirs seed widely. Diets high in fruit enable degraded environments to naturally regrow. They also clear paths in dense cover, benefiting other diminutive animals. Tapir dung improves soil health, dispersing nutrients throughout the forest floor. With only approximately 4,600 individuals remaining in the world, each verified population is significant.

Did these animals recolonise—or never leave?
Scientists are still debating whether the Cunhambebe tapirs are newcomers. Some may have migrated from nearby Serra do Mar State Park, where populations remain stable. Others may represent a hidden group that endured quietly for decades. Local signs, including footprints and scat, suggest more than three animals exist. Genetic studies now underway should reveal their origins.