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This species is listed as endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife
Service. The species range has been reduced extensively in Myanmar,
Thailand, Cambodia, and Sumatra. Today, populations are extremely
fragmented, occurring in southern Viet Nam, southern Cambodia,
parts of southern Myanmar, isolated parts of Thailand, and through
the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra. Forest conversion to agriculture
is the most serious threat to the survival of tapirs. Illegal
capture and trade in tapirs is also a real threat for this species.
A conservative estimate based on a home range of 12.75km2 gives
a minimum wild population estimate of 369 animals.
Baseline population status surveys are needed in Malaysia, Sumatra,
Myanmar, and Thailand which would simultaneously identify plant
species needed to support long-term populations. The status surveys
should determine where the animals are and in what numbers, while
assessing threats and determining ways to counter such threats.
Such surveys are ongoing using camera-traps, infrared automatic
cameras which record a picture of an animal after it trips an
infrared beam emanating from the system, in Thailand and Sumatra.
In captivity this species is managed for breeding purposes by
a Species Survival Plan which helps maintain the captive gene
pool for the future aid of the wild population.
Return to SSP List
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