Assessing the Sustainability of Baird’s Tapir Hunting in the Bosawas Reserve, Nicaragua

Jeremy Koster

Articles

Vol. 15 No. 20 (2006)

Assessing the Sustainability of Baird’s Tapir Hunting in the Bosawas Reserve, Nicaragua

Jeremy Koster^▸^▾

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Submitted: 3 July 2025
Published: 2006-12-01

Abstract

In many locales throughout its range, the Baird’s tapir is a preferred game species for subsistence hunters. I review research on Baird’s tapirs and use the methods of Robinson and Redford’s (1991) production model to present MSY estimates based on three diverse density estimates. These estimates are used to assess the sustainability of tapir hunting in Nicaragua’s Bosawas Reserve. The assessment indicates that tapirs are harvested unsustainably in the core hunting zone around two indigenous communities. The immigration of tapirs from unexploited areas upstream of the communities appears to explain their continued existence in the hunting zone. I discuss efforts to protect this species, and I describe some of the challenges to the conservation of tapirs in the reserve.

References

Alvard, M.S., Robinson, J.G., Redford, K.H. & Kaplan, H. 1997. The sustainability of subsistence hunting in the Neotropics. Conservation Biology 11:977-982.
Brooks, D.M., Bodmer, R.E. & Matola, S. (compilers). 1997. Tapirs – Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. viii + 164 pp.
Brown, J.L., Citino, S.B., Shaw, J. & Miller, C. 1994. Endocrine profiles during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in the Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii). Zoo Biology 13:107-117.
Emmons, L. 1990. Neotropical Forest Mammals. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Foerster, C. 2002. Baird’s tapir project, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. Tapir Conservation 11:11-13.
Foerster, C.R. & Vaughan, C. 2002. Home range, habitat use, and activity of Baird’s tapir in Costa Rica. Biotropica 34:423-437.
Fragoso, J.M.V. 1991. The effect of hunting on tapirs in Belize. In: J.G. Robinson & K.H. Redford (eds.) Neotropical Wildlife Use and Conservation, pp. 154-173. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Jorgenson, J.P. 2000. Wildlife conservation and game harvest by Maya hunters in Quintana Roo, Mexico. In: J.G. Robinson & E.L. Bennett (eds.) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests, pp. 251-266. Columbia University Press, New York.
Leeuwenberg, F. & Robinson, J. 2000. Traditional management of hunting in a Xavante community in Central Brazil. In: J.G. Robinson & E.L. Bennett (eds.) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests, pp.375-394. Columbia University Press, New York.
Naranjo, E.J. 1995. Abundancia y uso de hábitat del tapir (Tapirus bairdii) en un bosque tropical húmedo de Costa Rica. Vida Silvestre Neotropical 4:20-31.
Naranjo, E.J. & Bodmer, R.E. 2002. Population ecology and conservation of Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in the Lacandon Forest, Mexico. Tapir Conservation 11:25-33.
Naranjo, E.J. & Cruz, E. 1998. Ecología del tapir (Tapirus bairdii) en la reserva de la biosfera la Sepultura, Chiapas, Mexico. Acta Zoologica Mexicana 73:111-123.
Novaro, A.J., Redford, K.H. & Bodmer, R.E. 2000. Effect of hunting in source-sink systems in the Neotropics. Conservation Biology 14:713-721.
Peres, C.A. 2000. Evaluating the impact and sustainability of subsistence hunting at multiple Amazonian forest sites. In: J.G. Robinson and E.L. Bennett (eds.) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests, pp. 31-56. Columbia University Press: New York.
Reid, F.A. 1997. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico. Oxford University Press, New York.
Reyna-Hurtado, R. & Tanner, G.W. 2005. Habitat preferences of ungulates in hunted and nonhunted areas in the Calakmul Forest, Campeche, Mexico. Biotropica 37:676-685.
Robinson, J.G. & Redford, K.H. 1986a. Intrinsic rate of natural increase in Neotropical forest mammals: Relationship to phylogeny and diet. Oecologia 68:516-520.
Robinson, J.G. & Redford, K.H. 1986b. Body size, diet, and population density of Neotropical forest mammals. The American Naturalist 128:665-680.
Robinson, J.G. & Redford, K.H. 1991. Sustainable harvest of Neotropical forest mammals. In: J.G. Robinson & K.H. Redford (eds.) Neotropical Wildlife Use and Conservation, pp. 415-429. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Robinson, J.G. & Redford, K.H. 1994. Measuring the sustainability of hunting in tropical forests. Oryx 28:249-256.
Salas, L.A. & Kim, J.B. 2002. Spatial factors and stochasticity in the evaluation of sustainable hunting of tapirs. Conservation Biology 16:86-96.
Smith, D.A. 2003. Participatory mapping of community lands and hunting yields among the Buglé of Western Panama. Human Organization 62:332-343.
Smith, D.A. 2005. Garden game: Shifting cultivation, indigenous hunting, and wildlife ecology in western Panama. Human Ecology 33:505-537.
Smith, N.J.H. 1976. Utilization of game along Brazil’s transamazon highway. Acta Amazonia 6:455-466.
Stocks, A. 1996. The BOSAWAS Natural Reserve and the Mayangna of Nicaragua, In: K.H. Redford & J.A. Mansour (eds.) Traditional Peoples and Biodiversity Conservation in Large Tropical Landscapes, pp. 1-32. America Verde Series of The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
Stocks, A. 2003. Mapping dreams in Nicaragua’s Bosawas Reserve. Human Organization 62:344-356.
Townsend, W.R. 2000. The sustainability of subsistence hunting by the Sirionó Indians of Bolivia. In: J.G. Robinson & E.L. Bennett (eds.) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests, pp. 267-281. Columbia University Press, New York.
Vickers, W.T. 1984. The faunal components of lowland South American hunting kills. Interciencia 9:366-376.
William-Guillen, K., Griffith, D., Polisar, J., Dixon, O., Camilo, G., Asa, C., Bauman, K., McDaniel, P., Bradshaw, L., Shank, S., Zidek-Vanega, A., Koster, J. & Espinoza Mendiola, V. 2006. Poblaciones de animales silvestres y sostenabilidad de la cacería en Kipla Sait Tasbaika Kum, Bosawás, Nicaragua. Unpublished Report, Saint Louis Zoo, Managua, Nicaragua.
Yost, J. & Kelley, P. 1983. Shotguns, blowguns, and spears: An analysis of technological efficiency. In: R. Hames & W. Vickers (eds.) Adaptive Responses of Native Amazonians, pp. 189-224. Academic Press, New York.

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Keywords

Hunting
Nicaragua
Indigenous communities
Baird's tapir

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How to Cite

Koster, J. (2006). Assessing the Sustainability of Baird’s Tapir Hunting in the Bosawas Reserve, Nicaragua. Tapir Conservation, 15(20), 23-28. http://www.tapirconservation.org/index.php/tc/article/view/94

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[1] Alvard, M.S., Robinson, J.G., Redford, K.H. & Kaplan, H. 1997. The sustainability of subsistence hunting in the Neotropics. Conservation Biology 11:977-982.

[2] Brooks, D.M., Bodmer, R.E. & Matola, S. (compilers). 1997. Tapirs – Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. viii + 164 pp.

[3] Brown, J.L., Citino, S.B., Shaw, J. & Miller, C. 1994. Endocrine profiles during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in the Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii). Zoo Biology 13:107-117.

[4] Emmons, L. 1990. Neotropical Forest Mammals. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

[5] Foerster, C. 2002. Baird’s tapir project, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. Tapir Conservation 11:11-13.

[6] Foerster, C.R. & Vaughan, C. 2002. Home range, habitat use, and activity of Baird’s tapir in Costa Rica. Biotropica 34:423-437.

[7] Fragoso, J.M.V. 1991. The effect of hunting on tapirs in Belize. In: J.G. Robinson & K.H. Redford (eds.) Neotropical Wildlife Use and Conservation, pp. 154-173. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

[8] Jorgenson, J.P. 2000. Wildlife conservation and game harvest by Maya hunters in Quintana Roo, Mexico. In: J.G. Robinson & E.L. Bennett (eds.) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests, pp. 251-266. Columbia University Press, New York.

[9] Leeuwenberg, F. & Robinson, J. 2000. Traditional management of hunting in a Xavante community in Central Brazil. In: J.G. Robinson & E.L. Bennett (eds.) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests, pp.375-394. Columbia University Press, New York.

[10] Naranjo, E.J. 1995. Abundancia y uso de hábitat del tapir (Tapirus bairdii) en un bosque tropical húmedo de Costa Rica. Vida Silvestre Neotropical 4:20-31.

[11] Naranjo, E.J. & Bodmer, R.E. 2002. Population ecology and conservation of Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in the Lacandon Forest, Mexico. Tapir Conservation 11:25-33.

[12] Naranjo, E.J. & Cruz, E. 1998. Ecología del tapir (Tapirus bairdii) en la reserva de la biosfera la Sepultura, Chiapas, Mexico. Acta Zoologica Mexicana 73:111-123.

[13] Novaro, A.J., Redford, K.H. & Bodmer, R.E. 2000. Effect of hunting in source-sink systems in the Neotropics. Conservation Biology 14:713-721.

[14] Peres, C.A. 2000. Evaluating the impact and sustainability of subsistence hunting at multiple Amazonian forest sites. In: J.G. Robinson and E.L. Bennett (eds.) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests, pp. 31-56. Columbia University Press: New York.

[15] Reid, F.A. 1997. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico. Oxford University Press, New York.

[16] Reyna-Hurtado, R. & Tanner, G.W. 2005. Habitat preferences of ungulates in hunted and nonhunted areas in the Calakmul Forest, Campeche, Mexico. Biotropica 37:676-685.

[17] Robinson, J.G. & Redford, K.H. 1986a. Intrinsic rate of natural increase in Neotropical forest mammals: Relationship to phylogeny and diet. Oecologia 68:516-520.

[18] Robinson, J.G. & Redford, K.H. 1986b. Body size, diet, and population density of Neotropical forest mammals. The American Naturalist 128:665-680.

[19] Robinson, J.G. & Redford, K.H. 1991. Sustainable harvest of Neotropical forest mammals. In: J.G. Robinson & K.H. Redford (eds.) Neotropical Wildlife Use and Conservation, pp. 415-429. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

[20] Robinson, J.G. & Redford, K.H. 1994. Measuring the sustainability of hunting in tropical forests. Oryx 28:249-256.

[21] Salas, L.A. & Kim, J.B. 2002. Spatial factors and stochasticity in the evaluation of sustainable hunting of tapirs. Conservation Biology 16:86-96.

[22] Smith, D.A. 2003. Participatory mapping of community lands and hunting yields among the Buglé of Western Panama. Human Organization 62:332-343.

[23] Smith, D.A. 2005. Garden game: Shifting cultivation, indigenous hunting, and wildlife ecology in western Panama. Human Ecology 33:505-537.

[24] Smith, N.J.H. 1976. Utilization of game along Brazil’s transamazon highway. Acta Amazonia 6:455-466.

[25] Stocks, A. 1996. The BOSAWAS Natural Reserve and the Mayangna of Nicaragua, In: K.H. Redford & J.A. Mansour (eds.) Traditional Peoples and Biodiversity Conservation in Large Tropical Landscapes, pp. 1-32. America Verde Series of The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.

[26] Stocks, A. 2003. Mapping dreams in Nicaragua’s Bosawas Reserve. Human Organization 62:344-356.

[27] Townsend, W.R. 2000. The sustainability of subsistence hunting by the Sirionó Indians of Bolivia. In: J.G. Robinson & E.L. Bennett (eds.) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests, pp. 267-281. Columbia University Press, New York.

[28] Vickers, W.T. 1984. The faunal components of lowland South American hunting kills. Interciencia 9:366-376.

[29] William-Guillen, K., Griffith, D., Polisar, J., Dixon, O., Camilo, G., Asa, C., Bauman, K., McDaniel, P., Bradshaw, L., Shank, S., Zidek-Vanega, A., Koster, J. & Espinoza Mendiola, V. 2006. Poblaciones de animales silvestres y sostenabilidad de la cacería en Kipla Sait Tasbaika Kum, Bosawás, Nicaragua. Unpublished Report, Saint Louis Zoo, Managua, Nicaragua.

[30] Yost, J. & Kelley, P. 1983. Shotguns, blowguns, and spears: An analysis of technological efficiency. In: R. Hames & W. Vickers (eds.) Adaptive Responses of Native Amazonians, pp. 189-224. Academic Press, New York.