The Tapir as an Ecological Detective in the Atlantic Forest: An Innovative Conservationist Approach
SPECIES STUDIED
Brazilian tapir or South-American tapir (Tapirus terrestris)
DESCRIPTION
The Tapir Project is being developed by IPÊ in the region of Pontal do Paranapanema, in the town of Teodoro Sampaio, in the interior of São Paulo State. This research has been conducted since October 1996, and will be completed in December 2006. This long-term project has as its focus the research and conservation of wild populations of Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in the region of Pontal, which includes the Morro do Diabo State Park (35,000 hectares), one of the last significant remnants of the Atlantic Forest of the Interior, and the forest fragments that surround it.
The main approach of this project is to use tapirs as ecological detectives. Tapirs cover long distances in the fragmented landscape of the region of Pontal do Paranapanema, moving quite often between the Park and the surrounding fragments. Their routes and the fragments they use to visit are considered potential areas for restoration and conservation in the form of ecological corridors and/or stepping-stones. Considering this important behavioral aspect of tapirs, IPÊ's researchers have been working to obtain the highest possible amount of information about these moves, so as to reestablish the landscape connectivity of Pontal do Paranapanema. Thus, it will be possible to implement a network of forest remnants and buffer zones connected by corridors. This increase in habitat availability and connectivity will favor the natural distribution of tapirs and other species which need broad areas of use.
OBJECTIVES
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Describing and mapping the size, use, and overlapping of areas where tapirs live, and the use they make of their habitat in Morro do Diabo State Park (PEMD) and surrounding forest fragments.
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Estimating the size of tapir populations in Morro do Diabo State Park (PEMD) and surrounding forest fragments.
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Describing and mapping the main tracks of natural tapir distribution in the fragmented mosaic composed by Morro do Diabo State Park (PEMD) and surrounding forest fragments.
• Evaluating and monitoring the genetic status of tapir populations in Morro do Diabo State Park (PEMD) and surrounding forest fragments.
• Testing, adapting, and improving fieldwork techniques to capture, immobilize, manipulate, and gather data on the tapir to allow a long-term study.
DEVELOPMENT
Over the last nine years, 25 tapirs were captured, fitted with radio-collars (equipment fastened around animals' necks to emit signals so that researchers can locate them in the forest, helping fieldwork data collection), and continuously monitored by researchers. The results from this behavior observation will make the implementation of management plans viable, which is crucial for the conservation of both this species and the Atlantic Forest ecosystem: metapopulational management of species and restoration of forest corridors.
An important goal in this project is to reestablish landscape connectivity in Pontal do Paranapanema, linking Morro do Diabo State Park to the surrounding forest fragments to keep a minimum viable metapopulation, both in demographic and in genetic and epidemiological terms. Furthermore, the Tapir Project intends to describe and map the size of the area of use and the territorial behavior of this species in Morro do Diabo State Park and surrounding fragments; estimate the size of tapir populations; survey and monitor genetic and sanitary conditions of these populations; and describe and map all tracks of distribution of this species in the landscape.
TEAM
Patrícia Medici
Master of Ecology, Conservation and Wildlife Management
PhD student, DICE, University of Kent, United Kingdom
Research Coordinator, Tapir Project
President, IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group (TSG)
Regional Coordinator, IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) – Brazilian Network
E-mail: epmedici@uol.com.br or medici@ipe.org.br
Anders Gonçalves da Silva
Biologist/Geneticist, PhD student, Columbia University, United States
Coordinator of the Genetic Committee, IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group (TSG)
Modeler, IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) – Brazilian Network
E-mail: ag2057@columbia.edu
Paulo Rogerio Mangini
Master, Veterinarian, Tapir Project
Veterinary Committee, IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group (TSG)
E-mail: pmangini@uol.com.br or pmangini@ipe.org.br
Cristina Tófoli
Ecologist, Master student, Post-Graduate Program in Ecology
University of São Paulo (USP)
E-mail: cftofoli@yahoo.com.br
SUPPORT
Tapir Project sponsors since 1996:
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American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Tapir Taxon Advisory Group (TAG), United States
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American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), Houston Zoo Chapter, United States
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American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), Los Angeles Chapter, United States
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American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), Nashville Zoo Chapter, United States
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American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), Puget Sound Chapter, United States
•Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo, United States
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Cleveland Zoological Society, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Conservation Fund, United States
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Cleveland Zoological Society, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Scott Neotropical Fund, United States
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Columbus Zoological Park Association Inc., United States
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Dallas Zoo & Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park, United States
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Discovery Channel Canada
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Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, United States
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Dutch Foundation Zoos Help, Netherlands
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FNMA - Fundo Nacional do Meio Ambiente, Brazil
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Givskud Zoo, Denmark
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Houston Zoo Inc., United States
• Idea Wild, United States
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IUCN Small Grants Programme, The Ford Foundation, United States
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IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group (TSG)
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John Ball Zoo Society, Wildlife Conservation Fund, United States
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Lincoln Park Zoo, Scott Neotropical Fund, United States
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Nellcor, United States
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North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, United Kingdom
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Parc Zoologique d’Amnéville, France
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Parc Zoologique Doué-la-Fontaine, France
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Smithsonian Institution, Wildlife Conservation and Management Training Program (WCMTP), United States
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Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund, Roger Williams Park Zoo, United States
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Tapir Preservation Fund (TPF), United States
• The Ledder Family Charitable Trust, United States
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The Oregon Zoo Foundation Conservation Fund, United States
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USAID / Programa Natureza & Sociedade, Brazil
• Woodland Park Zoological Gardens, Jungle Party Conservation Fund, United States
• Woodland Park Zoological Gardens, Stipend, United States
Private Donors since 1996:
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Alex & Suzan Sze, Alex Cardenas, Andre (Andi) Maerz, Andy Markley, Andy Schultz, Ayessa Rourke, Brandie Smith, Brenda Stringer, Carol & Mark Reid, Charles R. Foerster, Christine Kim & Rob Lyman, Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman, Deanne Holsworth, Elaine & Paul Beckham, Gilia Angell & Aarom Abrams, Heidi Frohring, Kae Kawanishi, Katalin Pinter & Christian Fabris, Keith Sproule, Kevin Burkhill, Kristin Leus, Leonardo Salas, Michael Dee, Mickael Michault, Mitch Finnegan, Morty Ortega, Phil Schaeffer, Sheryl Todd, Wally Van Sickle e William Bob Harris.
