The Baird’s tapir Tapirus bairdii, listed as endangered on the IUCN red list, ranges from South Eastern Mexico to the Gulf of Guayaquil in Ecuador. Within this area, the Isthmus of Panama is a key area because it connects populations of Central America and South America with each other. Tapirs may persist in some forested areas of Panama, but their presence has not been verified in most of the potential distribution areas. No studies of wild Baird’s tapir have been undertaken in Panama outside of Barro Colorado Island, where the species was studied more than 30 years ago. Basic information on tapirs’ occurrence and distribution is necessary to evaluate the suitability of protected areas for the conservation of viable tapir populations in Panama. Here, we assess the current distribution and conservation status of Baird’s tapir in Panama. We compiled occurrence data from 30 sites scattered across the forested areas of Panama, covering nine distinct regions.
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
