Introduction Letter As Chair of the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group for the past eleven years, most people would expect me to be dedicated to tapir preservation. I am. But it goes much deeper than that. My commitment to tapir conservation began sixteen years ago in a chance encounter with this remarkable animal while studying primates deep in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Seeing this large, seemingly prehistoric animal move so gracefully and quietly through the forest, I could only marvel at their adaptive qualities and resourcefulness. Since that day, studying this secretive animal and understanding its role in the environment it inhabits has become my life’s work and passion. In order to advance scientific knowledge and promote the conservation of this widely spread but seriously imperiled large mammal, I have worked alongside the amazing IUCN Tapir Specialist Group members to establish an unprecedented global initiative of tapir research and conservation programs. This is even more shocking knowing that the TSG is made up entirely of volunteers - we are a multi- faceted group of tapir experts, including field biologists, environmental educators, captivity specialists, academicians, researchers, veterinarians, governmental authorities, politicians and other interested parties; all drawn together to help save tapirs. TSG researchers have learned some astonishing things about tapirs over the years but one truth remains constant: all four species are in trouble. Habitat encroachment, fragmentation, hunting and logging are threatening their existence on this planet. It is my hope that this information packet will not only inform readers about tapirs, but that it will inspire them with the same passion I have for the species: inspire them to write about tapirs, to teach about them, to further research them; to find away to help them. It is only through such individual efforts that the four tapir species will find a way to survive into the future on our shared planet. Patrícia Medici, IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group Chair 1 Backgrounder Tapirs are large browsing mammals, with short prehensile snouts, which are used to grab leaves and used as a snorkel when swimming. The four subspecies of tapir live in the jungles and forest regions of South and Central America and Southeast The Tapir Specialist Group, a unit of the IUCN Species Asia and are all classified as either vulnerable or Survival Commission, strives to conserve biological diversity endangered. The tapir’s closest relatives include horses and rhinoceroses. Tapirs are disappearing by stimulating, developing and executing practical programs from the wild in large part due to hunting to study, save, restore and manage the four species of tapir pressures, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and their remaining habitats in Central and South America and encroachment into protected park areas by subsistence farmers and illegal logging operations. and Southeast Asia. Our strategies: a.) Frequent review, status determination and publicizing of tapirs and their needs; b.) Promoting and supporting research and distributing materials; c.) Promoting the implementation of conservation and management The Four Living Species of Tapir programs by appropriate organizations and governments; and, (See individual fact sheets in this kit for more information) d.) Establishing strong and effective relationships among tapir conservationists to stimulate communication and cooperation. The Tapir Specialist Group (TSG) was founded in 1980 as one of the 120 specialist groups of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Baird’s Tapir Mountain Tapir Survival Commission (SSC). The IUCN/SSC-affiliated TSG is a global group of 92 biologists, zoo professionals, researchers and advocates from 25 countries worldwide The Baird’s tapir’s range extends from The critically endangered mountain tapir is southern Mexico through Central America the smallest and furriest of the tapir species, dedicated to conserving tapirs and their habitats through strategic action planning in to the western side of the Andean mountain but the largest mammal in the tropical Andes. countries where tapirs live, information sharing, and through educational outreach that range in Colombia. The Baird’s tapir can Mountain tapirs live in the montane forests and shows the importance of the tapir to local ecosystems and the world at large. grow to five feet and 550 lbs. The major páramos in Colombia, Ecuador and northern conservation threats to this endangered Peru at between two and four thousand species are habitat destruction and meters elevation. The major conservation fragmentation and hunting throughout its threats to this species are warfare and range. There are estimated to be fewer than habitat loss due to poppy farming and growth 5,500 Baird’s tapir remaining in the wild of ranching and agriculture. The current (2006). population of mountain tapir is around 2,500 individuals and numbers are decreasing. Lowland Tapir The lowland tapir’s range is the rainforest Malayan Tapir and wetlands of South America. The lowland The endangered Malayan tapir is the largest tapir can grow to six feet and 550 lbs and of the four tapir species and lives in a range has a distinctive mane or crest from shoulder that extends from southern Thailand and to forehead that distinguishes this species Myanmar through the Malayan peninsula from other tapirs. The major conservation and on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. threats to this vulnerable species are habitat The major conservation threats for Malayan loss due to deforestation, hunting for meat tapir are habitat destruction and fragmentation and competition with domestic livestock. due primarily to illegal logging and palm oil Although there is not enough information production. There are estimated to be 1,500 available to accurately estimate the lowland to 2,000 individuals remaining in the wild and tapir population, it is known that population numbers are decreasing. numbers are in decline. 2 3 Points of Pride Points 1980 2004 – Keith Williams appointed as the – Second International Tapir Symposium, founding Chairperson of the Republic of Panama Tapir Specialist Group – Mountain Tapir PHVA Workshop, 1990 Colombia – Sharon Matola took over as 2005 Chairperson of the TSG. – Baird´s Tapir PHVA Workshop, Belize She wrote the first issue of Tapir Conservation 2006 – Third International Tapir Symposium, 1996 Argentina – First Tapir Red List Assessment – ISIS/TSG Physiological Data Reference 1997 Values for Tapir Species published – First Tapir Action Plan published 2007 2001 – Lowland Tapir PHVA Workshop, Brazil – First International Tapir Symposium, – TSG Tapir Field Veterinary Manual Costa Rica published 2003 2008 – Malayan Tapir PHVA Workshop, – Fourth International Tapir Symposium, Malaysia Mexico – TSG Guidelines for Tapir Re-introduction and Translocation published 4 5 Questions Asked Frequently What are tapirs? How are tapirs doing? Tapirs are large herbivorous mammals, with short prehensile snouts, which are used to Where are they particularly grab leaves and used as a snorkel when endangered? swimming. The four species of tapir live in Where are they doing okay? the jungles and forest regions of South and Tapirs are becoming rare in their occurrence Central America and Southeast Asia and are areas--the forests of Central and South all listed as either vulnerable or endangered. America, and Southeast Asia--mostly due The tapir’s closest relatives include horses to habitat destruction and poaching. The and rhinoceroses. Tapirs are disappearing IUCN Red Book lists the four species of from the wild in large part due to hunting tapirs as either vulnerable or endangered. pressure, habitat destruction and The Mountain tapir, T. pinchaque, is one of fragmentation, and encroachment into the most endangered large mammals in the protected park areas by subsistence world.The Baird’s tapir, T. bairdii, is the largest farmers and illegal logging operations. land mammal in the Neotropics and also endangered. The Malayan tapir, T. indicus, is the only Old World extant species and is Why are tapirs important? also endangered in Sumatra and mainland Tapirs play a critical role in shaping and Malaysia. The lowland tapir, T. terrestris, is maintaining the biological diversity of now either completely absent or its distribution tropical ecosystems. The tapir is one of the is extremely fragmented across much of its first species in its habitat to be adversely historic range, with the northern Amazon and affected by human disturbance because of the remaining Pantanal (Bolivia, Brazil and their size, and because of their sensitivity Paraguay) becoming important strongholds to habitat changes. Local extinction or as southern, eastern and northwestern population decrease may trigger adverse populations decline rapidly. effects in the habitat, causing disruptions of some key ecological processes (e.g. seed dispersal, nutrient recycling), and eventually compromising the long-term integrity and biodiversity of the ecosystem. 6 7 What threats do tapirs face? you make travel arrangements through What do tapirs eat at the zoo? Do tapirs have hooves a reputable local agency or guide who • Hunting pressure from humans on tapirs Tapirs eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, specializes in wildlife-watching tours and like horses? throughout their ranges such as carrots, lettuce, apples and a eco-sensitive travel. Some places where No. Tapirs have three and four-toed feet. zoo kibble diet formulated