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The mountain tapir, endangered ‘flagship’ species of the high Andes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Craig C. Downer
Craig C. Downer*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.
*
PO Box 456, Minden, NV 89423, USA.
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Abstract

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The mountain tapir has already disappeared from parts of its range in the high Andes of South America and remaining populations are severely threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. With an estimated population of fewer than 2500 individuals, urgent measures are necessary to secure a future for the species. This paper presents an overview of the species throughout its range as well as some of the main results of the author's studies on tapir ecology. Finally, a plea is made for conservation action in Sangay National Park, which is one of the species's main strongholds.

Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 30 , Issue 1 , January 1996 , pp. 45 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1996

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