This article is the first reported use of camera trapping to estimate population densities of lowland tapirs Tapirus terrestris according to capture-recapture statistics, applying a systematic survey methodology developed for tigers in Asia and recently applied to jaguars in Latin America. We survey three sites in the Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park, representing Chaco thorn scrub vegetation and Chaco-Chiquitano transitional dry forest, and one site in the San Miguelito private reserve, representing Chiquitano dry forest. We acquired too few photographs at Ravelo to estimate population densities, but density estimates from camera trapping at the other sites range from 0.22-0.80/km2, surprisingly high estimates for these dry forest habitats. This indicates that the vast Kaa-Iya National Park protects a major tapir population. The article is also the first reported comparison for any species of density estimates derived from camera trapping and radio telemetry at the same site. At the Cerro Cortado site, prior to the camera trap surveys, we tracked five tapirs for 22-29 months each. The two methodologies provide similar information on ranging and activity patterns, but the density estimate from radio telemetry would appear to be considerably higher. We discuss reasons for these differences, the costs and benefits of the two methodologies, and the potential of camera trapping for tapir research.
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
