Tapir Talk Archives

10 May 1997

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X-Sender: tapir@tapirback.com
To: tapir@tapirback.com
From: Tapir 
Subject: Tapir Talk: traps
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1997 13:30:11 -0600

Hi all,

On the subject of tapir traps, I just happened to be going over some old
journals (about 1972) of a trip to New York City. We visited the Museum of
Natural History there, and they had a tapir trap on display! I drew it
(badly), and photographed it, I think (don't know what happened to the
photos). If I get the chance I may write the museum about it. I doubt it
will be helpful, but might be interesting. 

It was baited with bananas (in my drawing, at least), so it may not have
been from Brazil. There were posts in the ground in a half-circle or so, and
it had a trip wire near the bait. When the wire was tripped, it caused a
huge log to fall. Whether it was supposed to hit the tapir, or whether it
penned it in the post corral (not sure how it would do this), I'm not sure.
Having personally seen the tapir's ability to withstand heavy rocks falling
on its head, I don't think they could count on the log killing the tapir or
knocking it out. 

I also drew a pit trap below this, but I'm not sure they were part of the
same set-up.

Unfortunately, I only had time for this quick sketch, and didn't describe
the trap in words.

Does this trap sound familiar to anyone?

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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