The Summit Natural Park is located within the Soberania Park, just 30 minutes from the center of Panama City and annually receives 130 thousand visitors. Among the main attractions of the park are the tapir, several birds, monkeys, reptiles and amphibians. Panama has the largest amount of Central American tapirs in captivity and plays an important part in the recuperation of this species which is endangered.

In the Summit Natural Park there are 6 tapirs, which will help to form a regional reproduction plan. The main characteristics of the tapirs are:

·         They weigh between 230 and 300 kilograms.

·         They are 1’8 to 2’5 m long.

·         Can reach a height of between 0’8 to 1’2 m.

·         Its longevity is an estimated 30 years and 35 years in captivity.

·         They are diurnal, solitary and sedentary animals.

Tapirs are also distinguished for having four fingers on its front hoofs and three on its rear hoofs. Its extremities are short and thin. They have small eyes, oval shaped ears with little mobility, and a stretch out nose that looks like a trunk. Tapirs are also characterized by its short and wide tail. They eat seeds, water plants, roots, leaves and stems, as well as fruits and flowers.

Regarding their reproductive methods, the gestation period of tapirs lasts between 390 to 400 days. The female bears only one young after a gestation period of 14 months. The young stays with the mother for 8 months after its birth.

Tapir Habitat in Panama

Tapirs inhabit tropical rainforests like the ones in Panama. It is common to find tapirs in the provinces of Panama and Darien. These tapirs are largely concentrated in the province of Darien, which is considered as the area with the greatest mammal diversity in the country. It is important to mention that the tapir look for regions near sources of water, like rivers, lakes and mangroves to settle.

The tapir are shy and they hid in bushes to protect themselves, they like to be under trunks, in humid wooded areas, since they are victims to hunters. Their habitat has been threatened by human activity in recent years, as per the National Environment Authority in Panama, the tapir are endangered. Other threats to the tapir are contamination and deforestation.