The lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is one of the least known and most threatened mammal species in Venezuela. Tapirs are key species in the ecological dynamics of tropical forests as well as being a cultural icon in Venezuela. Its current population status is uncertain in the country, which can be argued to be due to a lack of information and field research. Nevertheless, the species was classified as Vulnerable in the “Red Data Book” of Venezuelan Fauna. Its range has been severely fragmented by habitat conversion. These habitats, must be shared with humans and are, in fact, some of the most intensively-used and threatened landscapes on the continent. The fact that important areas of tapir habitat still remain in the southern portion of Venezuela, gives us reason to assume that there are viable populations in this region. The opposite scenario is found to the north of the Orinoco River, where the species has vanished from many areas, and just a few populations remain in the region and are in decline due to poaching and habitat destruction.
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