Brazilian Tapir Research

Surama village, like all the indigenous communities of the region, has a stake in the conservation of their natural resources. Surama is a regional pioneer in developing ecotourism and the Brazilian Tapir is one of its major tourist attractions. It is therefore important to develop a management plan for this extraordinary animal.

This has led to the initiation of surveys on Brazilian Tapirs and other species of large mammals and birds using line transects (sample surveys areas) and camera traps (mechanisms to automatically photograph passing wildlife).

These surveys were designed not only to obtain data but to also offer the opportunity for community members to gain employment and training. Surveys introduced to the community techniques for conducting research and a chance to use new research equipment - camera traps. The eventual aim of the surveys is that the community could design and conduct research projects on their own.

Objectives

• Test camera traps for future camera trapping exercises.
• Identify habitat preferences of Brazilian Tapirs.
• Determine the phenological cycle of some of the main fruiting trees.

Methodology

Camera traps and transects were used to survey a predetermined list of mammals and birds in the forests near the village of Surama, primarily targeting Brazilian Tapirs.

The survey was done in four phases from April 2000 to June 2001. These phases included:

• Training interested members of the community on operating camera traps and running transects
• Cutting and searching trails for Tapir - observation and or signs (droppings, tracks and bathing pools)
• Setting out and then checking camera traps

Terrestrial and river transects were run. All animals seen or heard were recorded, along with the date, name of trail, weather, GPS readings, species, distance along and distance from transects and number of animals seen. The cameras were set to work on a 24-hour basis, going off five pulses after the trigger's infrared beam was broken.

Fruiting trees were identified and tagged on four frequented trails around the community to develop phenology transects. General physical characteristics of the areas were collected including distance of the tree along and from the trail, soil type, flood ability and human impact along the trail. Data was collected on the phase the tree was in flowering, fruiting or changing leaves. Each transect was run once a month by participants and data was collected on the phase the trees were in: flowering, fruiting or changing leaves.

Results of

Camera Traps

During the camera trapping activities there were 33 captures of tapirs. Analysis of the pictures indicates that there were possibly more than five individuals walking the tapir trails but the findings are inconclusive. The hope was to identify individuals based on physical characteristics and permanent markings but this proved difficult, as there was not enough coverage of the animals.

>Read the Full Report (.pdf file)