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Fresno Chaffee Zoo Asks Public to Name First Malayan Tapir Calf Born at Zoo
ANTHONY SITE PHOTO
By Anthony W. Haddad
Published 12 minutes ago on
July 31, 2026

Fresno Chaffee Zoo is celebrating the birth of its first-ever Malayan tapir calf and is inviting the public to help choose the endangered animal's name. (Fresno Chaffee Zoo)

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Fresno Chaffee Zoo is celebrating the birth of its first Malayan tapir calf, a milestone for the zoo, and is asking the public to help choose the calf’s name.

The male calf was born Saturday, July 11, to Malayan tapir Ulan, according to the zoo.

“This is the first Malayan tapir calf that has been born at Fresno Chaffee Zoo, so this is a very special birth for our community,” General Curator Nicole Presley said in a statement. “Ulan and her calf are taking this time to rest and bond behind-the-scenes. They are doing well and will continue to be monitored by the Zoo’s Animal Care and Veterinary teams.”

The calf is Ulan’s second offspring but the first born with male Malayan tapir William at Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

Zoo officials said the birth is significant not only as a first for Fresno Chaffee Zoo but also for conservation of the species. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, Malayan tapirs are considered endangered in the wild.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, an organization that promotes sustainable palm oil harvesting to help protect the natural habitats of Southeast Asian species, including Malayan tapirs.

The zoo is inviting the public to help name the calf by voting for one of three names: Winston, Ube, or Winchester through an online survey shared on its social media platforms.

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Anthony W. Haddad,
Multimedia Journalist
Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and attended Fresno State for a MBA, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.
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