Tapirs are considered living fossils. The largest mammals in South America survived several waves of extinction, one of which is happening at this moment. But now, there’s a key difference. “In the past, we didn’t have human beings. The wave of extinction we’re going through now is caused by us,” tapir expert Patricia Medici explains. “We don’t know if they’re going to be able to go through this one.”
All four tapir species are endangered or vulnerable to extinction. To give the animals a surviving chance, Medici founded the Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative in Brazil. “Although many scientists don't know much about tapirs, it's critical that we care for them,” she says. Medici and her team run research programmes to gain a deeper understanding of the animal. With scientific data collected in the field, they are able to develop specific strategies to tackle the multiple threats tapirs face, from being hunted for meat to deforestation and habitat fragmentation.
“I want everybody to know that this isn’t just a Brazil problem, or a tapir problem,” Medici says. “We’re all connected to nature. So if we lose one species, humans will be next on the endangered list.” Despite this grim possibility, Medici has hope. “We believe in what we do,” she says. “As a result of the passion and knowledge, I’m confident that something good will come out of that.”
Footage by the Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative was used in the creation of this film.