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标题：Reducing Vehicle Collisions With the Central American Tapir in Central Belize District, Belize
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作者：Celso Poot ; Anthony P. Clevenger
期刊名称：Tropical Conservation Science
电子版ISSN：1940-0829
出版年度：2018
卷号：11
期号：11
页码：1-7
DOI：10.1177/1940082918789827
出版社：SAGE Publications
摘要：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.
关键词：Central American tapir; camera trapping; endangered species; road ecology; Tapirus bairdii; wildlife-vehicle collision