Tapir Talk Archives

25 July 1997

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    ___  __                   Digest   25 July 1997 - Vol. 1, No. 45
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The Tapir Preservation Fund

The Tapir Gallery: http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/
Tapir Talk Archives and Info: http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/tt.htm
E-mail: tapir@tapirback.com
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TAPIR TALK   -  25 July 1997   -   Vol. 1, No. 45

Contents of this issue
    1. Jaguar translocations
    2. Involving the police in mountain tapir conservation




Return-Path: 
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 21:40:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: Ecotropix@aol.com
To: tapir@tapirback.com
Subject: For Tapir Talk

Howdy folks:

I have been skimming things in haste as of late (apologies), and noted
something about a reference being needed on Jaguar translocations in Belize:

Alan R. Rabinowitz. 1986. Jaguar predation on domestic livestock in Belize.
Wild. Soc. Bull. 14(2):170-174.

I would urge anyone considering translocating jaguars to read this article,
or contact Rabinowitz directly.

Best wishes, 
Daniel M. Brooks
Tapir Action Plan Coordinator/CoEditor

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Return-Path: 
X-Sender: tapir@tapirback.com
To: tapir@tapirback.com
From: Tapir 
Subject: Tapir Talk: Conservation outreach for mountain tapirs
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 1997 15:40:49 -0600

Hello Tapir Talkers,

INFORMING THE POLICE:

Ruben Nuņez and Craig Downer developed an environmental program (with focus
on the mountain tapir) that Ruben, an Ecuadorean, carries on until Craig can
return to Ecuador. It touches schools and other groups, and has now involved
police.

One of the biggest problems in mountain tapir conservation is that although
National Parks have been established and laws are in place to protect the
animals inside and outside the parks, the laws are too often not enforced. 

On May 22, 1997, Ruben delivered his conservation program at the police
station in Riobamba for 250 officers. In translation, Ruben says, "They paid
close attention; afterwards they said that they want to apply the law
protecting the mountain tapirs and were unaware of it and wish to have a
copy of it. They said they will jail those who bring animals live or dead
from the `Oriente Ecuatoriano' - the Amazon. [Excuse me, I'm reading
handwriting, and this may be off by a few letters. - S.T.] They asked where
they should hand over animals confiscated. I told them the INEFAN office of
whatever province." 

The officers also asked for a copy of the video of "Esperanza the Mountain
Tapir" to use in their work. This video was produced by Richard Brock, and
has been shown recently on the Animal Planet channel in the U.S. Previously
it was shown in Europe, and is the fifth of a 13-part series called, I
think, "The Endangered." 

It depects aspects of the mountain tapir's life and habitat, and features
Craig Downer and his work. When last in Ecuador, Craig made a Spanish
language translation, but this has not been added to the video by Brock for
use where it might do the most good. There is presently no version of the
film that can be understood by the majority of Ecuadoreans. Ruben also uses
the English-language video in his outreach own work. (I have seen the
English language version - it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of story
and script, but it is one of the very few visual tools available to teach
mountain tapir conservation.) Ruben also uses a video of a Spanish language
popular TV program on which Craig appeared and talked about the tapirs and
needed conservation efforts (in Spanish).

With this recent report from Ruben Nuņez in hand, the Tapir Preservation
Fund will create a proposal to raise funds so he can continue his valuable
work. Temporary funding was provided by Wildlife Preservation Trust,
International via the Tapir Specialist Group of the IUCN, and also by a 9th
grade Biology class in Bogota, Colombia.

In addition to his police contact, Ruben has secured a verbal agreement from
one of the remote villages actively hunting tapirs. Follow-up contacts need
to be made to reinforce and verify the effectiveness of the work.
All-in-all, these contacts represent very positive steps in conserving this
species in Ecuador.

If anyone can suggest likely recipients for the proposal, please contact me.
The amount asked for on this one proposal for Ruben will likely be $2,400.00
per year.

Sheryl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sheryl Todd  ~  The Tapir Gallery  ~  Tapir Preservation Fund    
http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/        tapir@tapirback.com 
Tapir Talk info & archives: http://www.tapirback.com/tapirgal/tt.htm
Co-Editor, IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group Newsletter
P.O. Box 1432, Palisade, CO 81526 USA    Fax (970) 464-0377
"Promoting the Welfare of Tapirs Everywhere"
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