The only zoo in the country with an animal found in the jungles of South America, has had to put one of them down.

Hamilton Zoo says it needed to end the suffering of Mr Branco - a 25-year-old tapir.

He was one of the zoo's most popular animals.

Zoo staff say they were becoming increasingly concerned as his health deteriorated.

Mr Branco had problems with arthritis, his kidney and his liver and his quality of life was being affected.

The zoo's other tapir - Mrs Branco - will stay at the zoo but there are no plans for Mr Branco to be replaced.

Importing the animals, which are the size of a common pig, is no longer allowed.