There are many unfortunate truths that humans have had to come to terms with. One of the most overwhelming truths is that manmade advancements in the 21st century have greatly harmed Earth's natural habitats.
As a result, many beautiful species of wild animals have experienced devastating effects. Among them is the tapir; though not many are familiar with this adorable creature, tapirs used to roam freely in the wood and grasslands of Central and South America.
But in recent years, these beautiful creatures have faced terrible danger… In fact, as this unique video on tapirs explains, tapirs' numbers are declining so rapidly, they could soon be at risk of going completely extinct.
Patricia Medici, a researcher and longtime animal conservationist, has spoken at the TEDGlobal Fellows convention about her love for the species. "Despite two decades of work trying to save these animals, we still have so much to do if we are to prevent them from disappearing," Medici said at the convention.
So, she and her team at the Tapir Specialist Group have come up with a rather brilliant way to keep tapirs a little safer from their everyday obstacles.
Scroll further to find out how they're hoping to help save tapirs, and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Most of us are pretty unfamiliar with the tapir. But Patricia Medici, a Brazilian wildlife researcher and longtime conservationist, has a profound love for what is, in her opinion, “one of the most amazing animals on the face of the earth.”
The tapir is a hoofed herbivorous mammal with a body similar to a pig’s, and a long snout that looks like an anteater’s. It’s also a distant relative of the horse and rhinoceros, and lives in the forested regions of Central and South America.
However, economic and industrial advancements in recent years have led to deforestation, poaching, and other serious issues. Today, one of the most terrifying dangers that tapirs face is becoming roadkill.
At night, the tapirs cross between patches of grassland in search of food. Their eyes are small and their bodies dark, so they are very often unseen by oncoming vehicles.
To combat this issue, Medici and her team at the Tapir Specialist Group have devised a new method to help these tapirs out: They have designed collars for the tapirs, which have GPS systems and reflective stickers installed on them.
In addition, these collars — which are bought at trucking stations — will help Medici monitor the living and movement habits of the animals. The cheap, brilliant method is expected to help drivers see tapirs crossing the highways, and to prevent many deaths.
Which is great, since tapirs are also known to be one of the most “helpful” animals out there, because their biological life cycles promote plant growth and help sustain biodiversity. For this reason, they are known as “the gardeners of the forest.”
“This animal deserves to be cared for,” said Medici during her TED talk. “And we human beings deserve to live in a world where we can get out there and see the benefit of tapirs.”
Like many animals disturbed in their natural habitats, tapirs are extraordinary, innocent, and peaceful creatures. We admire conservationists like Medici, who continuously strive to better the living conditions of these precious animals.
Please SHARE if you care for the safety and wellbeing of tapirs as much as we do!
