Conservation Ecology of Tapir Species

Tapirs are large, forest-dwelling mammals found in Central and South America and Southeast Asia, where the four extant species fulfil critical ecological roles as seed dispersers and ecosystem engineers. All species face similar conservation challenges, including habitat loss through deforestation, fragmentation by roads and infrastructure, overhunting, human–wildlife conflict and emerging disease threats. Conservation ecology of tapirs integrates spatial modelling, movement ecology and epidemiological surveillance to inform habitat restoration, corridor design and management interventions. Robust monitoring of population trends and health parameters enables adaptive management, while community engagement in anti-poaching, alternative livelihoods and citizen science strengthens local stewardship. By linking genetics, landscape connectivity and species’ functional traits, researchers and conservation practitioners develop targeted strategies to maintain demographic viability, preserve genetic diversity and safeguard ecosystem processes. Transboundary collaboration and policy integration are essential to mitigate threats at landscape and biome scales, ensuring long-term survival of tapir species and the forests they sustain.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Conservation Ecology of Tapir Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in conservation ecology of tapir species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Habitat fragmentation: Division of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches by human activities.

Functional connectivity: Degree to which landscape configuration facilitates movement and gene flow among populations.

Resistance surface: Spatial model assigning cost values to landscape features reflecting movement difficulty for species.

Least-cost corridor: Optimal pathway between habitat patches minimising cumulative movement resistance.

Seed dispersal: Process by which animals transport seeds away from parent plants, aiding forest regeneration.

Disease surveillance: Systematic collection and analysis of health data to monitor and manage disease threats in wildlife populations.

References

1. Connecting Colombia’s protected areas: Using a functional approach for tapir species. PLOS ONE (2025).
2. Disease dynamics and mortality risk in tapirs (Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) through a systematic literature review: Implications for preventive medicine and conservation.. Preventive Veterinary Medicine (2025).
3. Scientific and traditional knowledge meet: diet of the lowland tapir Tapirus terrestris in the Orinoquia region of Colombia. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation (2023).