Tapir Conservation

Influence of Large Herbivores on Neotropical Forests

The Houston Zoo works closely with Patricia Medici, Chair of the IUCN Tapir Specialist Group in supporting a Lowland Tapir Project in Brazil's Morro de Diabo State Park to assist researchers in determining the Influence of Large Herbivores on Neotropical Forests. By excluding such animals (e.g., tapirs, brocket deer and peccaries) from fenced forest plots, researchers at four Neotropical sites are gathering data related to the absence of these large herbivores from natural tropical forest ecosystems, attempting to document the specific environmental effects related to the ecological roles of these species. Brazilian field biologists are now documenting overall seedling densities, plant height, percent vegetation cover, and plant species diversity.

Analyses of data collected from this study will allow biologists to quantify the influence(s) that large herbivores exert on forest structure and species diversity, knowledge that is essential to developing management plans for existing and proposed protected areas.  In order to simulate the removal of these selected mammal species from the forest (as might occur as a result of over-hunting), exclosure plots have been constructed at several study sites to prevent foraging in fenced areas.  Data collection is already underway at one site, but additional exclosure plots must still be constructed at the remaining sites to ensure a fully comprehensive and comparative experimental design.  The study was initiated in 2004 and will ultimately be conducted at four sites: El Rey National Park, Argentina; Morro do Diabo State Park, Brazil; Los Nevados National Park, Colombia; and Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. 

By showing the importance of large herbivores in maintaining the ecological processes of plant communities, wildlife managers, researchers and park personnel will be able to evaluate their own areas and better justify the implementation of specific management programs designed to prevent the disappearance of large forest herbivores. 

Tapirs: Lowland Tapirs as Landscape Detectives for the Atlantic Forest: A New Conservation Approach

This long-term study investigates the conservation status of lowland tapir populations in Morro do Diabo State Park and surrounding Atlantic Forest fragments, State of São Paulo, Brazil.  Specifically, population demography, dispersal pattern information, genetic status, and health status are evaluated and continuously monitored.  The major goal of this project is to use all this information to analyze the viability of the tapir sub-populations and metapopulation at the Pontal do Paranapanema Region, and facilitate the implementation of two management plans critical to the long-term conservation of tapirs and also of the Atlantic Forest ecosystem itself: 1.) Metapopulational management of tapirs (e.g. promotion of genetic exchange between reduced or fragmented populations), and 2.) Restoration of main wildlife corridors to improve biological diversity in fragmented rural landscapes.  Specific objectives include:

Ecological/Biological Component:

• Description and mapping of home range size and territorial behavior of tapirs in Morro do Diabo State Park and surrounding Atlantic Forest fragments;
• Estimation of population size in Morro do Diabo State Park and surrounding Atlantic Forest fragments;
• Description and mapping of the principal dispersal routes and pathways in the landscape;
• Assessment and monitoring of the genetic status of the sub-populations;
• Assessment and monitoring of the health status of the sub-populations.

• Capture Supplies (darts, syringes, needles, CO2 cartridges): $500
• New Radio Collars: $350
• Sampling Collection Supplies (Vacutainers, Criotubes): $300
• Telemetry Supplies (cables and batteries): $100