Today, all four species of tapir are classified as either ENDANGERED or vulnerable to extinction. For some populations, like the black-and-white Malayan tapir, fewer than 1,500 remain. Will you help stop their biggest threats?
What are the biggest threats to tapirs today?
- Habitat loss and fragmentation — Malayan and Mountain tapirs are losing their homes as palm oil plantations and poppy farming continue to strip their environment of resources and shelter. Drive around where the forest used to be and you might find a tapir where it shouldn’t be: in the middle of sugar cane plantations.
- Hunting — Tapirs are still hunted in Suriname, the only country in South America that still allows it. Each year, between June and August, Suriname allows people to legally hunt tapirs, but many continue to hunt outside the legal season.
- Cars — Many tapirs fall victim to road accidents and collisions. Nearly 100 ENDANGERED Malayan tapirs were killed between 2015 and 2020.
- Climate change — Altered habitats, disrupted food availability, and increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, have put stress on tapir populations.
What happens if we lose tapirs?
If tapirs were to disappear, ecosystems could lose a critical keystone species that helps maintain symbiotic balance. Without tapirs, the loss of seed dispersal services could disrupt the delicate balance of plant communities, leading to reduced biodiversity, altered ecosystem dynamics, and diminished resilience to environmental changes.
Let’s give tapirs a fighting chance at survival. Make a monthly donation to support the work of vital wildlife conservation organizations.
