Tapirs play a critical role in shaping and maintaining the biological diversity of tropical ecosystems. The tapir is one of the first species in its habitat to be adversely affected by human disturbance because of their size, and because of their sensitivity to habitat changes. Local extinction or population decrease may trigger adverse effects in the habitat, causing disruptions of some key ecological processes and eventually compromising the long-term biodiversity of the ecosystem.
Tapirs are becoming rare in their occurrence areas--the forests of Central and South America, and Southeast Asia--mostly due to habitat destruction and poaching. The Mountain tapir, T. pinchaque, is one of the most endangered large mammals in the world. The Baird’s tapir, T. bairdii, is the largest land mammal in the Neotropics and also endangered.
Help save these unusual and beautiful animals.
Please, check also:
http://www.tapirs.org
http://www.facebook.com/SaveTheTapir
