Reintroduced Andean tapir attacks a person in the Antisana Ecological Reserve, Ecuador

Abstract

The mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) is often perceived as a peaceful and quiet animal. This view has been re-enforced by domestication accounts that suggest mountain tapirs can be very docile and friendly after a relatively short time (Crandall, 1964; Gale and Sedgwick, 1968). However, wild tapirs are known to occasionally display aggressive behaviour, which when directed towards humans can cause dangerously deep wounds (Schauenberg, 1969). In our own work, we have observed aggressive behavior by females protecting their calves. (Castellanos, 1994; Downer, 1996; Castellanos, 2013). Farmers have also reported observing tapirs displaying similarly aggressive behavior when defending themselves from Andean bear predators (Tremarctos ornatus). Finally, it has been also been reported that male mountain tapirs can fight fiercely among themselves inflicting deep bites on ears and hind limbs (Schauenberg, 1969). We do not understand what triggers such behaviour, nor whether such behavior is common in the species, or if it is a trait that varies across individuals.