First Baird’s tapir from Honduras caught on film
During a Binco Express Inventory last June in the Pico Bonito National Park in Honduras one of our cameras caught a Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) on film. Although being photographed several times with a camera trap, this is the first time that this species in Honduras was filmed. The Central American tapir or Baird’s tapir has a weight of 300 kg, the largest species in the family on the American continent. Hunting and loss of habitat are the main threats to this species and their numbers dwindle rapidly. This species is noted on the IUCN Red List as endangered. Pico Bonito is one of the few areas in Honduras where there are still healthy tapir populations. This is mainly due to the steep terrain that is difficult accessible to people. Our observations were transferred to the Honduran wildlife department (ICF) and Panthera.