Amid frigid temperatures and blinding snow, Thursday brought a heartwarming announcement from the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston.

In a statement, a public relations firm representing the zoo said a massive South American mammal known as a Baird’s tapir — the largest land mammal on the continent — gave birth to a calf at the facility on New Year’s Day.

“The calf was born at 3:06 p.m. on January 1 to Milton, a 28-year-old male, and Abby, a 13-year-old female,’’ the release said. “This is the fourth offspring for Milton and Abby. The calf, not yet named, had her first examination [Wednesday]. The exam included blood work and a general physical. The calf weighs 20.5 pounds and appears to be in good health.’’

“We are thrilled to share this wonderful news,’’ John Linehan, president and chief executive officer of Zoo New England, the group that operates the zoo, said in the statement.

“Given the small size of the North American captive population, this is a very important birth for this endangered species. Zoo New England is committed to tapir conservation and has supported important field work being done on behalf of Baird’s tapirs in Nicaragua.’’

The release said Baird’s tapir calves “are distinctly marked with watermelon like white stripes and spots, which help to camouflage them in the dappled light of the rainforest. The stripes begin to fade between five and six months of age.’’

Baird’s tapirs reside in the Tropical Forest section of the Franklin Park Zoo, the statement said.

The calf born to Abby and Milton is scheduled to debut for visitors in the coming weeks.

Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.