An unlikely star of Apocalypto: Scooter the Tapir

The picture really says it all, but here's a little bit more to convince you to read the story [Google cache]: Not since a brief opening scene in Stanley Kubrik's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, has a tapir made a memorable screen appearance, albeit brief--if you blink, you miss it. An unprecedented opportunity presented itself with Mel Gibson's film Apocalypto, an epic and action-packed film which depicts a moment in Mexico's Mayan cultural history. Scooter, an agreeable and charismatic male Baird's tapir from Zoo Leon in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico may just become the (animal) star of this film. Zoo Leon General Curator Richard Sheffield and veterinarian Jesus Barroso describe how their zoo's beloved tapir became a cast member of this much anticipated movie. [Read More! - Google cache] Thanks to AW Reader Antonius Bloch for the tip! Update: The page appears to have been taken down, but you can still read the Google cached version here or above at the links provided.