Presence and first photographs of the Lowland Tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in Paramillo National Natural Park, Córdoba, Colombia del Tapir de Tierras Bajas (Tapirus terrestris) en el Parque Nacional Natural Paramillo, Córdoba, Colombia

Abstract

The Lowland Tapir Tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is one of three tapir species found in Colombia and is the most widely distributed species of the genus. This species is typically recorded in lowland forests up to 1200–1500 meters above sea level (Hershkovitz, 1954), although it has been reported at altitudes above 2000 meters above sea level (Constantino et al., 2006). This species is currently listed as Vulnerable (VU) worldwide (Nevada et al., 2008), while in Colombia the subspecies Tapirus terrestris colombianus is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) (Constantino et al., 2006). In Colombia, the species is distributed in the Orinoquia and Amazon regions (Tapirus terrestris terrestris), and in the northern lowlands of the country (Colombian Tapir, Tapirus terrestris colombianus) (Hershkovitz, 1954; Padilla & Dowler, 1994; Arias-Alzate et al., 2009). Historically, Hershkovitz (1954) reported the presence of the Colombian Tapir in the northwest of the country, where it is currently considered extinct, although in recent years its possible presence in the Paramillo National Natural Park (between the departments of Córdoba and Antioquia) has been suggested (Arias-Alzate et al., 2009; Racero-Casarrubia & Hernández, 2010). In the department of Córdoba, Colombia, it is currently considered one of the 16 threatened mammal species in the jurisdiction of the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Sinú and San Jorge Valleys (Rodríguez-Mahecha, 2006).