The oldest Tapir in the world has died aged 42.

Keepers at Port Lympne Reserve in Folkestone say that Kingut, a beloved member of the reserve's community, was "friend and family, and completely irreplaceable".

The Malayan mammal, who was a "firm favourite" at the reserve, was born in Jakarta in January 1978, living most of his life at Port Lympne after moving there in 1992.

He entered the record books last year as he collected the Guinness World Record for 'oldest tapir in captivity'.

Captive tapirs typically live for 25 to 30 years, an age that Kingut exceeded by more than a decade as he reached the ripe old age of 42 years, five months and nine days old.

Alice Elliot, deputy head keeper of the Hoofstock section said: “The hoofstock section are all deeply saddened by the loss of Kingut.

"He was a very special tapir, not just for the remarkable age he reached, but for his affectionate and mischievous personality.

"To the many keepers who have worked with him over the years he was more than just an animal in our care, he was friend and family, and completely irreplaceable.”

Malayan tapirs are the largest of the five species of tapir, as well as the only species of tapir found in Asia.

They are recognisable by their distinctive black and white markings, which act as camouflage in the rainforests.

In the wild, tapirs- which are classified as endangered- are found in southern Thailand, Myanmar, the Malayan peninsular, and on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

They are most commonly found in dense primary rainforests where they eat grass, aquatic plants, leaves, buds, soft twigs and fruits on low growing shrubs.

They can grow up to six feet long, with females weighting up to 400kg and males up to 350kg.

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