Known as: “Nai” in the indigenous Bribri language, “Danta” in Latin America and Tapir in the western world. The endangered Baird’s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii), with an estimate of 6000 individuals left, are of incredible value to the ecosystem. The Tapir is extremely important for the growth and regeneration of forests. Also called gardeners of the forest, some seeds only germinate if they pass through the Tapir, and furthermore, studies have also shown that taking out large ungulates, especially Tapirs, can significantly change the composition of the forest. Which illustrates the value of protecting continuous (height) gradients of forest and other additional conservation efforts. Despite the Tapir’s importance, it is severely threatened with extinction, deforestation, and hunting being widely recognized as the two largest threats to the species. Thus, more recently, an urge for preserving the species has risen. To protect the “gardener of the forests” and as a result also sustain local communities, conservation groups like Baird's Tapir survival alliance, Proyecto Tapir Nicaragua, and Nai Conservation work closely together with local and indigenous communities. Working with children in schools, especially those situated in Biological corridors, they create a learning environment where through play, drawing, and stories, children learn about important natural themes, for example how the forest provides clean water, and of course the endangered Baird's Tapir. Conservation is not just fencing in the natural world, it is also working with local communities, who sustain and protect the land.
“Tapirs have been taking care of our forests for millions of years and are saving us from climate change, now it’s our time to help them back.”
In the Biological Corridor Tenorio-Miravalles, on a private reserve Tapir Valley, tapir dung has been marked out to see what is growing out of it. The Tapir is extremely important for the growth and regeneration of forests. Also called gardeners of the forest, some seeds only germinate if they pass through the Tapir. Studies have shown that taking out large ungulates, especially Tapirs can significantly change the composition of the forest.
Passing silently through the night, the classic footprint from the three big "fingers" of the Tapir can be seen the next morning if you get there before the rain though… This animal has been walking in a buffer zone near the Biological Corridor Tenorio Miravalles, on a privately owned nature reserve. This private property, known as Tapir valley, serves an extremely important role. It serves as a buffer zone's around the natural areas, supports eco-tourism, and has become a site where the Danta can be studied in its natural environment. More research about movement patterns and land use of the Danta, will help connect fragmented, but vital patches of forest.
A tapir passes by a Refugio in Braulio Carrillo National Park.
Biological corridors are an essential part of the protection of animals. To ensure connectivity between fragmented populations allowing genetic exchange for sustaining healthy populations. One of such conservation areas is the Biological Corridor Tenorio Miravalles (BCTM) which is located in the Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area in Costa Rica and has an area of 12,501.73 hectares and comprises part of the cantons of Upala, Bagaces y Cañas. The name comes from the vulcanos Tenorio and Miravalles, which can be seen behind the border of a "finca". The importance of this protected area becomes clear by the natural richness of the area.
A boy from Escuala San Luis de Dos Rios plays around his school, imitating the Danta. He is wearing a tapir mask, handmade by Nai Conservation
Education plays an enormous part in generating interest in the natural world. In Bijagua, the communities have organized several Danta Festivals, with all kinds of activities, concerning raising awareness for the endangered Baird's Tapir. Besides the festivals, Nai Conservation in Costa Rica is working with children in Escuala San Luis de Dos Rios in Upala. Creating a learning environment where through play, drawing, and stories, children learn about themes such as conservation, the importance of the water in the region, and of course the endangered Baird's Tapir.
In Bijagua the communities organized the third Danta Festival (tapirs) with all kinds of activities, concerning raising awareness for the endangered Bairds Tapir.
The future for conservation are kids of course, not to say that talking to adults doesn't make any sense, but education plays an enormous part in generating interest in the natural world. In Bijagua the communities organized the third Danta Festival (tapirs) with all kinds of activities, concerning raising awareness for the endangered Bairds Tapir. Nai Conservation (https://naiconservation.org/ ) works with the communities and the national parks in the Biological Corridor Tenorio Miravalles, to enhance the productivity of the corridor and further existence of the "gardeners of the forest", the Tapirus Bairdii. More research in the future will help connecting fragmented, but vital patches of fores
Setting up a camera trap on the property of Casitas Tenorio (https://casitastenorio.com/), this bed and breakfast lays within the BCTM and commits to sustainible farm and eco-tourisme. Furthermore they run Tapir Valley which is a nature reserve near the Tenorio National Park in BCTM, where next to an amazing birdlife, the wetland is home to the endangered tapir. Setting up this trap was part of an inventory for wildlife on the property, involving the next generations as well of course.
This native Kriol community in Nicaragua works closely together with conservation organizations*. They help by collecting data, protecting umbrella species like the tapir, and preventing overexploiting of the forest, by only taking bushmeat when necessary. It is proven that deforestation and hunting are widely recognized as the two largest threats to the species. This illustrates the value of protecting continuous gradients of forests and other additional conservation efforts. Conservation is not just about protecting the natural world, it also includes working with local communities and collaboratively sustaining an area. *Exact location and conservation organization are known, but not disclosed for the safety of the people (due to an unstable government). For intern use, I can provide more detailed information.
In this community near San Juan, in the Reserve of Indio Maiz, Nicaragua, a young boy shows me his pet parrot. Rescued when it was young
Communities that live right in the midst of the jungle are incredibly valuable for the preservation and protection of the species, including the central American gardener of the forest. Proyecto Tapir Nicaragua is working with the community to show them the importance of sustainable hunting and farming, without killing larger mammals on the higher trophic levels which are crucial for the health of the ecosystem. Furthermore, they try to implement non-harmful methods to keep tapirs from entering small parcels and eating crops, preventing conflict between wildlife and families living in the reserve.