A story about the Andean Forest Engineer

The endangered Tapirus Pinchaque or “Sacha Huagra” in indigenous Quechua are of incredible value for the protection and regeneration of the forest high in the Colombian Massif. Besides serving as an umbrella species, Tapirs are called gardeners of the forest, as they play an indispensable role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. Mountain tapirs are listed as endangered and, although their ancestors have been roaming the Andes for about three million years after the connection of North and South America during the Pliocene, the current situation of this charismatic species is critical. Specialists fear that there are no more than a few thousand individuals left in the high Andean mountains of northern Peru, Ecuador, and central and southern Colombia. One of the main factors that play against the mountain tapir is the scarce knowledge about the species, even among academics. There are many knowledge gaps not only about the ecology of the species but also about its current distribution. However, the resources invested in its conservation are almost nonexistent and have traditionally been limited to the drafting of action plans that have never been possible to develop.

Huellas Del Macizo is working with @fundacionwii on a new research plan to find out more about the secret life of Andean bear, and the infamous mountain tapir​​​​​​​​