Drayton Manor Park, based in Staffordshire, threw a special party this week for one of its residents who celebrated her 21st birthday.
The park’s oldest South American tapir, Inca, celebrated in style, complete with a birthday cake and balloons.
Inca is one of three tapirs who live at Drayton Manor Park’s 15-acre conservation zoo, which partners with the Instituto de Pesquisas Ecologicas in Brazil to help conserve the endangered species.
Inca celebrated her birthday with her closest friends and family, which included her best friend Fifi and son Obi, also celebrated his second birthday this year.
Chris Mitchell, Head of Zoo Operations at Drayton Manor Park, said: ‘Inca is our oldest South American tapir so we’re thrilled to be celebrating her 21st birthday this week.
‘Conservation is a huge part of our programme at Drayton Manor, so being able to watch our fascinating tapir family grow up knowing we are helping to boost the numbers of a vulnerable species, is fantastic.
‘The birthday cake didn’t last long, and Inca had an early night after all the celebrations – we think she’s looking forward to birthday number 22 already!’
If you fancy giving Inca her very own birthday gift, the zoo also offers a tapir feeding experience so that you can get up close with her.
You’ll get to take a selfie with Inca and to give her a bite to eat, with prices starting at £12.50 a person.
But no, you won’t be able to sneak any birthday cake in there for her – you’ll have to stick to the food on the feeding platform.
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