Keepers at Port Lympne Reserve in Kent are helping Malayan tapir Kingut celebrate a milestone birthday.

The animal turns 40 on Saturday, which they say makes him the world’s oldest tapir of his kind.

Kingut smiles for the camera (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Kingut is being spoiled with lots of back scratches and his favourite edible treats – carrots, apples, bananas and raisins – incorporated into a special cake.

Enjoying his 40th birthday cake (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Keepers made the cake from his favourite fruits (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Kingut was born in 1978 at Ragunan Zoo in Jakarta, Indonesia and was transferred to Port Lympne Reserve from sister park Howletts in 2008.

Malayan tapirs are the largest of the five species of tapir and are classified as endangered.

Ben Cosgrove from the reserve said: “Even at the age of 40 he’s still active, although it takes him a little while to get up in the morning and he’s not quite as fast as he used to be.”