Protected from the cold by its thick coat, the mountain tapir of the northern Andes will often climb up to the edge of the permanent snow in search of succulent foliage. Like all tapirs it forages by night, moving from bush to bush and never staying in one place for more than a few minutes. If it is alarmed it will sprint for the nearest cover and bury itself in the dense vegetation, or dive into water and stay submerged until the danger is past.