Rawa, the female Malayan tapir from Bioparc Fuengirola, one of the park's most iconic animals, has died.

Bioparc Fuengirola has announced the death of Rawa, a female Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), an endangered species and one of the most emblematic animals of the park, located in the municipality of Fuengirola, Malaga.

Her loss represents a particularly emotional moment for the human team that has accompanied her over the years and that, in recent months, has dedicated all its efforts to ensure her quality of life after being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, as indicated by Bioparc Fuengirola in a statement.

Thus, they recalled that several months ago, the team began to notice a progressive weight loss in Rawa. Faced with this sign, a thorough veterinary protocol was activated that included various diagnostic and analytical tests. The results confirmed kidney failure, a complex pathology with difficult progression in this species, which in most cases has an irreversible outcome.

"Over all these years, the preventive checks performed on Rawa always reflected an excellent state of health. These types of pathologies can appear suddenly and, sometimes, evolve quickly despite regular monitoring," the technical team highlighted.

Continuous Monitoring

From the outset, the priority was clear: to ensure Rawa's maximum well-being for as long as the disease allowed. To achieve this, clinical monitoring was intensified and coordination between veterinarians and caregivers was enhanced, reinforcing daily care, adapting her diet, and adjusting treatments to maintain her stability as long as possible.

One of the most relevant aspects of this monitoring was the continuous observation of the specimen thanks to the advanced veterinary training developed over years with Malayan tapirs. This prior work allowed for tests such as ultrasounds, X-rays, analytical controls, or blood pressure measurements without the need for anesthesia or stressful situations, something especially important in large and sensitive animals.

Concurrently, environmental and quality controls that are part of the usual management at Bioparc were reinforced, with the aim of ruling out any external factors that could be influencing the progression of the disease.

As explained by the veterinarians, a high percentage of deaths recorded in Malayan tapirs are associated with kidney pathologies, which suggests a possible predisposition of the species.

This type of information is key to continue improving medical knowledge and care protocols for an animal still little studied.

The entire process was coordinated with the European Endangered Species Program (EEP) of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), contributing to expanding the knowledge base about the Malayan tapir. The experience accumulated by Bioparc Fuengirola in the management and reproduction of this species has consolidated it as one of the reference centers in Europe. As a result of this work, last year saw the birth of Tari, the offspring of Rawa and Mekong, a milestone that represented great hope for the conservation of this species.

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Significant Loss

The death of Rawa represents a significant loss at the conservationist level. However, the monitoring carried out during these months will allow for the extraction of valuable information that will contribute to improving the care and protection of the Malayan tapir in the future.

"Since the diagnosis, our priority was to ensure the best possible quality of life for Rawa. The monitoring we have carried out will also allow us to advance care protocols for a species still little studied. We reinforce the care and conservation of the Malayan tapir," they pointed out.

The Malayan tapir is listed as an endangered species mainly due to the rapid loss of its habitat in Southeast Asia. Deforestation and ecosystem fragmentation are drastically reducing its wild populations, making the joint work between institutions for its conservation more necessary than ever.

From Bioparc Fuengirola, they have valued "the dedication and sensitivity of the veterinary and caregiving teams, whose daily commitment not only provides the maximum well-being to each animal but also generates knowledge that helps protect the most threatened species on the planet."