large forests sources, such as Morro do
Diabo State Park. They cross open
areas using degraded forest corridors
along rivers in order to reach forest
fragments. These individuals appear to
use the smaller fragments as stepping
stones during their temporary
movements outside main forest.
Therefore, these species will be used as
as "landscape detectives," indicating the
most frequented dispersal routes and
pathways.
 The capture goal is 30-40% of the
total jaguar and puma population and
10% of the lowland tapir population.
This is considered a significant sample
size for analysis in felines
(Rabinowitz, 1993) and tapirs (IUCN,
1997). These percentages represents 5-
6 individuals of each carnivore and
about 20-25 tapirs. Pitfall traps will
continue to be used for tapirs. They
consist of a hole 210 x 150 x 230 cm
covered and camouflaged with forest
debris. This method has proven very
successful and safe for the eight tapirs
already captured.
 For tapirs, the veterinarian
responsible for anesthetizing captured
animals uses a CO, gun with
adjustable pressure (Telinject USA,
Inc.) and a seringe dart with a 0.7 inch
needle (long enough to avoid reaching
bone other vital tissues). The new
protocol is based on a combination of
Medetomidine Hydrochloride
(Domitor) and Telazol. When
necessary, a medetomidine reversing
agent will be used. The name of this
antagonist drug is Atipemazole
Hydrochloride (Antisedan). Corporal
measurements, weights, sex and
general health will be recorded for
each animal.
 After fitting the animals with radio-
collars, they will be tracked on foot, by
car, or airplane, depending on terrain
conditions. The animal's position will
be triangulated and plotted on a
latitude/longitude grid using CAMRIS
3.46 (Computer Aided Mapping
Resource Inventory System). GPS will
be used for the marking of coordinates
of the location areas.
 Genetic information will be used to
analyze evidence of inbreeding, social
structures, and the construction of
pedigrees. These will facilitate analyses


of inbreeding coefficients, social
systems, demography, and the long
term genetic viability of the
populations.
 Blood and sperm samples will be
collected from captured animals. The
sperm of male individuals usually
contains significant quantities of
semen to detect morphological defects
on individual spermatozoids. This can
provide important information about
an individual's reproductive viability.
Also, blood and external parasites will
be collected for analysis of possible
diseases. These analyses will be carried
out in the Molecular Genetics
Laboratory at CERC (Center of
Environmental Research and
Conservation), Columbia University,
New York.
 Future metapopulational
 management may include the shifting
 (i.e. reintroductions, translocations and
 managed long distance dispersal) of
 individuals among fragments.
 Guaranteeing the permanence of these
 key carnivores and ungulates, along
 with their ecological roles in the
 ecosystem is a national responsibility.
 Acknowledgements: Fundo
 Nacional do Meio Ambiente (FNMA,
 Brazilian Government), Forestry
 Institute ofSio Paulo State (IF/SMA),
 Ecological Station ofAssis (IF/SMA),
 Smithsonian Institution, IBAMA,
 WPTI (Wildlife Preservation Trust
 International), TPF (Tapir Preservation
 Fund), TSG (Tapir Specialist Group,
 IUCN), Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield
 Zoo (Chicago Zoological Society).

 Patricia Medici
 Conservation Biologist
fumIaca@sterne.com.br

Laury Cullen,Jr., MsC
Research Coordinator
klullm@stelnet.com.br

IPP Instituto de Ftsquisas Ecokgica
Caii Posltl 47
Nazari Pulista Sio Iulo BRAZIL
CEP: 12960-000
Ph/Fax Central Offe: 55 11 7861 1327
htp://wuw. lapirback. com/rapirgalfourland/
medic
htp ://wum' coumbia. edu/cu/cerc/IPE/
detecdives.html


Tapirs still found in Rio
Grande do Sul

Renato Affonso, has recently
completed a project in the state of Rio
Grande do Sul (extreme south of
Brazil). His study site was the Estagio
Ecoldgica de Aracuri (Ecological
Station ofAracuri). The project, which
will result in a thesis, involved area use
by tapirs. This is especially good news,
as Patricia Medici reports having been
told many times by people from the
south that tapirs no longer existed in
the state of Rio Grande do Sul. After
completing his study, Affonso began
teaching at the Juiz de Fora University
in Minas Gerais State, Brasil.



Ecuador
Bard's tapir (Tapius baidi)
Estimated population: Unknown: probably extinct
Mountain tapir (Tapius pkichaque)
Estimated population: 1,000
Lowland tapir (Tawus terresbts)
Esilmlated population: Unknown

Craig Downer reports

The mountain tapir project in Ecuador
is progressing reasonably well. Ruben
Nufiez continues to give
environmental education talks with
slide and film showings in
communities around the Sangay and
LUanganates National Parks. In
addition, he works with some of these
communities on developing alternative
lifestyles that would obviate the need
to continue destroying the remaining
cloud forests and paramos through
slash and bum. Unsound agricultural
practices need to be curtailed if true
success is to be achieved. These
practices include cultivating slopes that
are much too steep and grazing cattle
and sheep on these same steep slopes,
often after the topsoil has been
stripped by years of exposure through
cultivation.
 It is necessary to get people to care
about the mountain tapir and the
highland ecosystem from which it is
inseparable, to value the animal both in


Tapir Conservaion, Newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group Editor: Sharon Matola, P.O. Box 1787, Belize City, Belize E-mail: BeizeZoo@btl.net / page 13