It was caught on tape-ir.

After more than a hundred years of being declared locally extinct, recent footage from Brazil has revealed the presence of the South American tapir, appearing healthy and thriving.

During January, hidden cameras managed to capture not just one, but three of these unique creatures moving through the Atlantic forest region in the country, as reported by DiarioAS.

A representative from Rio de Janeiro’s State Environmental Institute (INEA) emphasized the significance of protected areas and conservation initiatives in the successful resurgence of iconic species like the South American tapir, underscoring their crucial role in maintaining biodiversity.

Before then, the last time one of these herbivores — which are the largest terrestrial animal in South America — had last been spotted in Rio de Janeiro state was in Serra dos Órgãos National Park in 1914, IFL Science reported.

They’d reportedly been increasingly threatened by urbanization, deforestation and illegal hunting, among other factors, and were eventually believed to have been extirpated from the area– until now.

The 108 photos and videos showed the mother tapir and her two calves walking through Cunhambebe State Park (PEC), a unit conservation project of 38,000 hectares established in 2008 to help save species on the brink.

Footage uploaded to the park’s Instagram account shows the large-shnozzed critters snuffling up to the camera trap at night.

The re-emergence of these veritable “unicorns” has thrilled ecologists and conservationists, who see this as a landmark moment in the history of wildlife conservation.

“The spontaneous return of the tapirs is a sign that the forests of Rio de Janeiro are capable of sustaining large mammals again,” Marcelo Cupello, a biologist with INEA, told g1. “This demonstrates functional ecological connectivity, as these animals are using natural forest corridors.”

He added, “In other words, the local fauna still maintains a certain capacity for movement and dispersion.”

Growing up to 700 pounds, the South American tapir, or lowland tapir, is a vital member of rainforest ecosystems.

These cartoonish critters become known as “forest gardeners” due to their propensity for removing plants with their prehensile trunks and then dispersing seeds via their feces, according to tapirs.org.

They can also reportedly use their “Alf”-evoking appendage as a snorkel while swimming.

South American tapirs are one of four species of tapir alongside the Baird’s tapir, mountain tapir and Malayan tapir, all of which are classified as endangered.