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Frequently Asked Questions

 When are you going to bring in the first tapir?

All is explained above!  (Specifically read the section about the TSG protocols).

Why save tapirs?

 

It is thought that tapirs may have been important in seed dispersal and therefore allowed the survival of many well-known plants found in Costa Rica, including gourd, guapinol, guacimo and Guanacaste trees.  (The Guanacaste tree is the national tree of Costa Rica).  Nowadays the seeds of these trees are more commonly dispersed by domestic horses, however horses are not native to Costa Rica, unlike the endangered Baird’s tapir who is known to relish the fruits of these trees and was once much more common.

In addition to their role in seed dispersal, it has been suggested that the presence of tapirs may speed the recovery of tertiary and secondary forest back into primary rainforest. As mentioned previously, they tend to selectively browse many different plant species often found in the thick under-storey of a forest.  By eating many different plant species it is likely that this will have an impact on the type of plant species that are successful in competing for light and nutrients.  It has been suggested that this may allow certain pioneer species to grow with less competition from under-storey plants.  This hypothesis has yet to be proven scientifically but we are excited that Rafiki’s project will provide many opportunities for this and other research studies which will provide us with more information about the Baird’s tapir and its impact on the environment in which it lives.

Many people do not know what a tapir looks like.  If people do not know about them, then people are unlikely to care about their existence.  Rafiki’s project to help try and save this species will not only help the tapirs but also through education it will hopefully encourage the local community here to care for the forests and all the other plant and animal species in this area

Why have tapirs become endangered?

Tapirs are now an endangered species and are legally protected however their numbers have remained low.  It is estimated that there are fewer than 1000 Baird’s tapir left in Costa Rica, and it is thought that the number is continuing to decrease.

Tapirs were hunted extensively in the 1900’s for their meat and hides as explained previously. There has also been significant habitat destruction during this time.  Although wild populations do still exist in Costa Rica, mainly in protected areas, these populations are scattered and in some cases isolated from each other, and so mixing of the genetics is less likely. 

Another major factor as to why tapirs are still endangered despite laws that have made it illegal to hunt them is their slow rate of reproduction.  The gestation period of a tapir is 13 months and the calf stays with the mother for up to a year after birth.  From the ongoing study in Corcovado National Park it has been estimated that on average a tapir will produce a single calf every 20 months.  In addition to this, they take a while to reach sexual maturity – at around 2-3 years of age.  It’s a slow process.  Like its cousin the rhino, the tapir has been shown to breed well in captivity.  By giving them a helping hand and playing a more active role by reintroducing captive-bred tapirs we believe the species is more likely to survive than if they are simply left to reproduce in the wild.

 

How many tapirs do you plan to reintroduce?

Tapirs tend to be fairly solitary animals.  It is thought that they may also be monogamous, (stay with one mate for their lifetime), an unusual trait for most mammals.  Research is ongoing to test this hypothesis.  Based on data collected from Baird’s tapirs at Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, it has been estimated that the home range for an adult tapir is around 2.5 tapirs/km2 when home range overlaps are taken into account.  Juveniles tend to have smaller home range sizes.  Research is continuing in Corcovado to collect more data on this too.

Here at Rafiki tapirs will be introduced either singly or in breeding pairs, depending on how they have been kept in captivity.  If we were to introduce 2 tapirs unaccustomed to being together there would be a high risk of fighting and possible mortality.  The number reintroduced will depend on how quickly they adapt to their new environment and whether or they migrate to join other populations or remain in this part of the valley once they have been released from the extensive enclosure.

 

How can you be sure that reintroduced tapirs will not be hunted?

This is a very important point.  It is not inconceivable that poachers could come and continue to hunt them.  However within the Savegre Valley everyone I have asked about this issue has replied that they do not think it will be a problem, since everyone is aware that they are endangered, and Rafiki’s project is well known and respected locally.  Interestingly, some have also added that the meat really isn’t very tasty anyway!

The presence of biological corridors means that even if they leave Rafiki’s refuge, they will be able to migrate safely.  Generally tapirs are shy animals and wary of humans.  They do not have a reputation for damaging crops and people in the valley seem to be supportive of the project.

The recent incident when a tapir had to be rescued after falling into a tank on a nearby farm was further proof of the mentality of the people living in the Savegre Valley.  I have little doubt that if the same incident had occurred 10 years ago then the tapir would have been killed, however it was the villagers of Rio Blanco, 5km further up the valley from Rafiki, who alerted Rafiki to the problem and included us in the rescue attempt.  Everyone was there to save it, not kill it to put meat on their tables.  I believe that in the 8 years of Rafiki’s existence, the locals have learned the value of saving these creatures and this incident is proof of that.  For an account of the incident, see below (Recent Tapir Activity)

 

Why is TSG endorsement so important?

With TSG endorsement, our project will gain credibility with zoos, researchers and conservation groups worldwide.  This in turn will be a great asset to our project when it comes to sourcing tapirs for reintroduction and general support.  It will also mean that Rafiki can become an important platform from which research studies can be carried out, and which can be used to contribute to other ongoing research.

 

How will the project be funded?

Rafiki believes now that the lodge has been up and running successfully for over 5 years that once the project has been set up,
It will be possible to maintain the project from the revenue from the lodge. 

The funds neccesary to build the fence have been pledged already which was our first major hurdle.

Another major cost will be transporting the tapirs to Rafiki, however until we know where the tapirs will be coming from it is impossible for us to say how much this will be. (Until we have endorsement of our project by the TSG we are unable to say.)

We also hope to be able use some sort of GPS tracking system to allow us to monitor them while causing minimal disturbance to their natural behaviour.  Research as to the type of tracking system we hope to use is ongoing, and so as yet I am unable to do a cost analysis for this. 

 

 

All Photography By Lautjie Boshoff
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