Reducing Vehicle Collisions With the Central American Tapir in Central Belize District, Belize

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-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tropical conservation science 2018-01, Vol.11 (1)
Main Authors: Poot, Celso, Clevenger, Anthony P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
camera trapping
Central American tapir
Collisions
Driving ability
endangered species
Polls & surveys
road ecology
Tapirus bairdii
Traffic accidents & safety
Traffic signs
Wildlife
wildlife-vehicle collision
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1940-0829
1940-0829
DOI:10.1177/1940082918789827