NEWS FROM THE FIELD


All countries where tapirs are known or
presumed to exist are listed. The arrangement
is generally north to south, beginning with
the Ameicas and continuing to Asia.
Countries are listed whether current reports
are available or not. Populations givenn per
country) are rough; much more research is
needed. Reports are welcomed by the editors.

Given in the IUCN Red List 1996:
 Tapirus indicus: Vulnerable (VU)
 Tapirus pinchague: Endangered (EN)
 Tapirus bairdii: Vulnerable (VU)
 Tapirus terrestris: Lower Risk (LR)


North America


Mexico
Baids Tapir (Tirus btrdi)
Estimated population: Uknown


 Central America



Guatemala
Baid's Tapir (Tapirus bat)
Estimated population: 1,000-2,500

No report.



Belize
Bairds Tapir(Tapirusbarib )
Estimated population: 2000-3,000

One of the obstacles Sharon Matola
had to overcome in teaching tapir
conservation in Belize was the widely-
held belief that a tapir would skin a
human or dog alive with its nose. But


education has turned a feared creature
into the beloved national animal of
Belize. Conservation problems and
successes in that country are discussed
on the zoo's new web site:
http://belizenet.corr/belizezoo.html
 The Belize Audubon Society's web
site (http://www.belizeaudubon.org)
has information on protected areas and
park systems of Belize.




El Salvador
Bard's Tapir (Tapnus baird)
Estimated popution: 0

Although it is believed that no tapirs
remain in El Salvador, there has been
some discussion ofreintoduction in the
future.


Eduardo Naranjo's work
moves to M&xico MEXICO
Having completed his Master's thesis
on work done with tapirs in Costa
Rica, Eduardo Naranjo began a study Map ea: CAN
on tapirs and other ungulates in the
Lacandon forest of Chiapas (Montes
Azules Biosphere Reserve), M6xico, in
1997. This study will be the first part
of Naranjo's doctoral dissertation. His U OF MX O rNT
advisor is Richard Bodmer of the Roo
University of Florida. C IHE

 Naranjo, EJ. and E Cruz. Ecologia del TABASCO
tapir en la Reserva de la Boiosfera La
Sepukunra, Chiapas. Ara Zoologica Mexicana --------..J
(inpress).

For additional publications, see under CHUMS BEZ
Costa Rica. CAIMBBEAN

EduardoJ. Naranjo
Asociat Researcher
El Colegio de la Frontera Sur
Aparado 63 GUATEMALA
San Cristbal de Las Casas
Chiapas 29290, M co PACICOCEAN
Tel/Fax (52) 967-81884 HONDURAS
enaranjo@masterscic.ecsur.mx

Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group Editor. Sharon Matola RO. Box 1787, Belize City, Belize E-mail: BelizeZoo@btlnet