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Mountain Tapir

Tapirus pinchaque

Tapirs are closely related to equids and rhinosbut represent a unique taxonomic group because they have retained many prehistoric anatomical traitssuch as a prehensile trunk and splayedhoofed toes. Such features allow them to navigate high altitude terrain and access leaves and fruits that would otherwise be out of reach. As they move across the landscapetapirs then disperse these seedsleading to their popular moniker as “gardeners of the forest”.

Facts

Height: 75-80 cm (at the shoulder)

Weight: 140-250 kg

Conservation Status: Endangered

Tracking

Mountain tapirs are the most endangered of the four tapir specieswith fewer than 2,500 remaining in their native range (ColombiaEcuador and Peru). Major threats to the species include climate changehabitat destructionillegal huntingand potential disease transmission with livestock. In Ecuadorwe use satellite tracking data to help policy makers understand how tapirs use the landscapeidentify corridorsand protect breeding habitats. This information will help local governments formulate land use and conservation plans to ensure tapir survival.

Lead tapir tracker Mr. Melchor Ascanta.

Since so little is known about mountain tapir habitat usageevery animal collared provides us with new and important information about the species. In addition to locationthe GPS collars also collect ambient temperature and provide detailed information on the animal’s body positionwhich can be used to interpret its behavior. Collars weigh about 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds)which is less than 1 percent of the tapir’s body weight and can provide data for up to two years. At that pointthe collars will automatically drop off and we will recover them from the field.