The pitter patter of tiny spotted feet was heard at Dublin Zoo today when a Brazilian tapir calf made his first appearance.
While he may be just three weeks old, little Diego was happy to show off his camouflaged coat to the delight of visitors.
But those hoping to see the distinctive creature shouldn't hang about, it will be transformed into a light brown colour by the time he turns four months old.
The 16th calf born to proud parents Hillary and Marmaduke, Diego hasn't taken long to carve out his own personality, according to team leader Eddie O'Brien.
"Diego is quite the character, he's very nosy and wants to know everything that's going on," he said.
"He also likes going around the place with his father.
"He is super, very outgoing and enjoying everything."
Zoo keepers christened him in honour of his South American roots where the species are found around water in rainforests.
The warm climate has been recreated in a heated house and indoor and outdoor swimming pools to make the tapir trio feel at home.
"Tapirs adapt to our climate, but they don't like too much rain so they can keep warm and dry inside," he said.
While tapirs are often confused with ant-eaters due to their long-noses, they are actually very closely-related to horses, sharing the same digestive system and love of sugar cubes.
And although he will grow up big and bulky, Diego will be quite athletic as the mammals are excellent swimmers, divers and land runners.
The species' spotted coat allows young Tapirs to blend into the dappled sunlight on the forest floor during the first crucial few months.
Dublin Zoo director Leo Oosterweghel said the latest arrival was great news for the zoo.
"This is a very important birth," he said. "It is wonderful to welcome our newest edition to Dublin Zoo. I am always particularly delighted when a new birth relates to an endangered species."
The species is in decline as poachers often hunt them for their meat while destruction of rainforests has caused a food shortage.
The keepers hope Diego will follow in the footsteps of his brothers and sisters who are in successful breeding programmes at a number of European zoos.
PA