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Yamil Saenz
{K:12434} 5/4/2005
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Hi Mary, Some indigenous people of the Amazon basin will agree with you. They think this tapirs are so cute that they even keep them as pets. Can you imagine having a 350 kg pig like pet living inside their small houses? I also think they are cute, especially their babies.Thanks for your comment.
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Yamil Saenz
{K:12434} 5/3/2005
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Hi Dave, you are right, tapirs or dantas are becoming more unusual. Two major factors are contributing. #1 is the loss of habitat because of deforestation. #2 poachers. I wanted to share some interesting information about tapirs that I found in DigiMorph web page. Here you go. The range of Baird's tapir extends from southern Mexico through Central America to the northwest of South America, although information on the southernmost occurrence of this species is scanty. The range is actually much more fragmented. Baird's tapir are absent from many areas of is former range (such as El Salvador, and apparently Ecuador), and extremely rare in other places, such as Colombia. Baird's tapir is listed as "Endangered" by both CITES - Appendix I, and the IUCN 2002 Red List. I took this picture near the Sirena Biological Station in Corcovado National Park. There are very good chances to see them in that Park. Biologist who has been studying tapirs in CNP estimated that there are at least 400-500 tapirs in the 42,000hcts.
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Mary Brown
{K:71879} 5/3/2005
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That is one big animal. He is also a little odd looking which makes him sort of cute, on a wierd way. Wonderful detail and coloring. Mary -
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Yamil Saenz
{K:12434} 5/2/2005
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Hi Angelo, In Costa Rica they are called danta, which actually is more common than tapir. Thanks for your comment. Yamil
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Dave Stacey
{K:150877} 5/2/2005
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Nice shot of this (for us!) unusual animal, Yamil! Dave.
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Angelo Villaschi
{K:49617} 5/1/2005
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In Brasil there are called "antas"
Good capture, Yamil.
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