This species is listed as Endangered due to an ongoing decline estimated from loss of available habitat, fragmentation of remaining habitat and increasingly hunting pressure. Population declines are estimated to be greater than 50% in the past 3 generation (36 years) driven primarily by large scale conversion of lowland tapir habitat to palm oil plantations and other human dominated land-use. The rate of reduction in population is inferred to be proportional to the reduction of the tropical rainforest area in southeast Asia over the same period - but may be more due to indirect threats. Remaining populations are isolated in existing protected areas and forest fragments, which are discontinuous and offer little ability for genetic exchange for these forest dependant species. This situation is expected to continue at a slightly diminishing rate in the future as non-protected areas, which are available as logging concessions, become less available. Because hunting seems to be increasing for tapir throughout the range - this could be cause for concern in the future as already reduced and isolated subpopulations would be at great risk for extirpation. HISTORY: 2003 – Vulnerable 2003 – Vulnerable (IUCN 2003) 2002 – Endangered 1996 – Vulnerable 1994 – Endangered (Groombridge 1994) 1990 – Endangered (IUCN 1990) 1988 – Endangered (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988) 1986 – Endangered (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 08:46:26 +0000
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