Tapirs of the Neotropics

Human disturbance and shifts in vertebrate community composition in a biodiversity hotspot

“…White‐lipped peccary herds, for example, require up to 140 km 2 of forests (Moreira‐Ramirez et al., 2019), which could only be found in and around the national parks. Other herbivores, such as tapirs and red brocket deer, have smaller home ranges (4.8 km 2 for Baird's tapir [Naranjo, 2019], 0.5 km 2 for red brocket deer [ Mazama americana ] [Gallina‐Tessaro et al., 2019]) but depend on high‐quality food found in minimally disturbed areas (Naranjo, 2019; Gallina‐Tessaro et al., 2019). Additional anthropogenic pressures, such as the poaching of peccaries and pacas in the Osa region, further serve to limit these species to more undisturbed areas (Altrichter, 1999; Altrichter & Almeida, 2002)––along with the large‐bodied predators that depend on them.…”

Remarkable maternal behavior of Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) at Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

“…Baird's tapirs feed on herbs, sprouts, and other types of vegetation, including aquatic vegetation, and also fruits and seeds (Nowak 1999;Reid 2009). They travel at night, sometimes over long distances, although they are active around dusk and dawn and also can be active during the day (Naranjo 2019). Although they are generally solitary, it is possible to find them in family groups; adults recognize and tolerate their offspring, even after separating (Medici 2011).…”

“…Baird's tapir is a facultatively polygamous species; after mating, it has a gestation period of 13-14 months (Medici 2011). Only one calf is born at a time, weighing 3-7 kg; it is precocial and follows its mother immediately after birth and remains with her for 12-18 months (Naranjo 2019). Females start to mate at 3-4 years old and have estrous periods lasting about 48 h every 50-80 days, with a minimum period between litters of 17 months (Naranjo 2019).…”

“…Swimming has been well-documented in tapirs in general and Baird's tapirs in particular (Naranjo 2019). They are good swimmers, including at early age: young Baird's tapirs in captivity will spend almost 4% of their time swimming or bathing (Gilmore 2007).…”

First documented predation of a Baird’s tapir by a jaguar in the Calakmul region, Mexico

“…Baird's tapir occurs from southern Mexico to northern Colombia, inhabiting well conserved tropical rainforests, mountain cloud forests, swamp forests and coastal wetlands (Hershkovitz 1954;Nolasco et al 2007). In Mexico, this species is still present in the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Veracruz (Naranjo 2019). Baird's tapir populations have declined in the last 40 years in approximately 50% (Naranjo et al 2015) due to illegal hunting, fires, droughts, habitat loss and fragmentation (García et al 2016).…”