A few days ago, a Costa Rican tour guide named Dionisio Paniagua stumbled upon an interaction between two unlikely wild friends that stopped him in his tracks.
Paniagua watched in silence as a curious caracara, a type of falcon, approached a hungry tapir. The two animals may seem completely different — the stocky tapir munching his way through the Central American rainforest and the caracara typically flying overhead — but one act has bonded the two species forever.
“Normally, when one of the tapirs goes to the beach or some exposed palace, the caracara stands on top of him and begins removing ticks,” Paniagua said in an Instagram Reel. “It’s a relationship that has developed over a long time between these two species.”
You can see a tapir up close here:
The tapir Paniagua encountered was doing just that. While enjoying the lush vegetation lining the ocean’s shore, the tapir received a visit from a caracara who seemed just as hungry.
“This tapir seems to be quite clean of parasites, but when there are a lot of them, the tapir lies down and lets the caracara do its work,” Paniagua said.
From Paniagua’s perspective, the tapir seemed generally free of ticks, but the caracara wasn’t convinced.
“He’s inspecting the tapir,” Paniagua said. “It’s as if they’re talking to each other.”
You can watch their interaction here:
The tapir bowed his head and allowed the caracara a closer look. They may not have used words, but Paniagua’s assumption that the two species communicated was likely correct, according to The Peregrine Fund.
“It is said that when tapirs hear black caracaras nearby, they emit a call that attracts the birds in to feed,” The Peregrine Fund wrote on their website.
You can see another tapir and caracara couple here:
It didn’t take long for the caracara to find the ticks hidden in the tapir’s ear, and he soon began feasting on the pesky bugs annoying his friend. The tapir was relieved and gave the caracara access to every nook and cranny where a tick could hide.
“Now, the caracara is just waiting for the tapir to lie down,” Paniagua said. “They lie down so [the bird] can clean between their legs, which is where ticks hide most often.”
In an impressive display of symbiosis, the tapir eventually settled onto his side, enjoying the soothing feeling of having each tick removed one by one. Minutes later, the caracara flew away with a full belly and a deeper appreciation for his tapir friend.
Unsplash/William Warby
While other birds enjoy ticks, from Paniagua’s experience, caracaras are the best species for the job.
“The caracara has a hook-like beak. So it makes it easier to remove the ticks,” Paniagua said. “I’ve also seen herons try to remove ticks, but the tapir doesn’t like it because the heron’s beak is kind of pointy, and it only hurts.”
Paniagua has encountered countless wildlife while exploring Costa Rica, but there’s something about witnessing a tapir and caracara interact that feels extra special. The two unlikely friends continue to leave a lasting impression on everyone lucky enough to see them.
“It’s so beautiful to be able to witness this type of relationship between two species where they mutually benefit,” Paniagua said.
To keep up with Paniagua’s wildlife encounters, you can follow him on Instagram.
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