National Animal of Belize

The national animal of Belize is the Tapirello Bairdii, also known as the Tapir or Mountain Cow. It is the largest land ammal in the American tropics. It is a sturdy animal with short legs, about the size of a donkey, and weighing up to 600 pounds. It is a dusty brown color with a white fringe around the eyes and lips, white tipped ears, and sometimes white patches of fur on the throat and chest. It is related to the horse and the rhinosceros. It is a vegetarian and a strong swimmer, and it spends most of its time in water or mud. Hunting the tapir is illegal because as the national animal, it is protected by the wildlife protection laws of Belize.