Reducing Vehicle Collisions With the Central American Tapir in Central Belize District, Belize. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Poot, Celso; Clevenger, Anthony P.
• Is Part Of: Tropical conservation science. Volume 11(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Central American tapir -- camera trapping -- endangered species -- road ecology -- Tapirus bairdii -- wildlife-vehicle collision; Rain forest conservation -- Periodicals; Rain forest ecology -- Periodicals; Rain forest conservation; Rain forest ecology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 577.34
• DOI: 10.1177/1940082918789827
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1940-0829

Abstract

The Central American tapir Tapirus bairdii is the national animal of Belize. Accidents from vehicle collisions pose a new threat to the species. A total of 14 tapir deaths were recorded from June 2008 through December 2012 in Central Belize District. Two areas were identified as hot spots for tapir-vehicle collisions (TVCs), and spot-speed surveys revealed speeding to be common in that area. More than 47% of the vehicles were traveling above the prescribed speed limit, and another 28% were driving at speeds of 100 kph or faster. In an effort to reduce speed and the risk of TVCs, we deployed two sets of reflective wildlife crossing signs over a 6-km stretch of road. This was followed by an awareness campaign alerting drivers of tapirs' presence in the area. We saw a significant reduction in speed immediately after the installation of the warning signs, and no TVCs were recorded for the next 10 months. Consequently, camera-trapping and track surveys were undertaken to confirm the species continued presence in the immediate area. Over the next 2 years, only two collisions were recorded along the same stretch of road.