MOUNTAIN TAPIR FOREVER
“A large animal needs a large area.
If you protect that area, you’re also protecting
thousands of other plants and animals.”
~ George Schaller
An initiative of Sacha Huagra Foundation
Our mission is to prevent the extinction of the mountain tapir doing research, education and promoting sustainable community development.
The Mountain Tapir
Tapirus pinchaque, its scientific name refers to its mysterious and elusive nature, like a ghost of the night.
The IUCN estimates a population of only 2500 individuals for the mountain tapir and declining. This species requires the most urgent contributions from tapir advocates around the world!
©2024 Sergio Sandoval
Our focus
Unsung heroes of conservation like Victor Florez, protect extensive areas of paramo, which in the past were intervened for ranching in the central mountain range of Colombia. Today they are territories reserved for the conservation of mountain tapir, spectacled bear, mountain lion and hundreds of other species, guaranteeing a constant water supply for the communities living downstream.
We seek to give visibility to those people who anonymously contribute to the conservation of high mountain ecosystems, motivated in part by the existence of the mountain tapir in their territories. These individuals, families and communities do not usually receive any retribution for their efforts, even though thousands of people, including large companies, benefit from the water they protect along with the forest and paramos.
Through our work, we seek to raise awareness of initiatives such as responsible tourism, clean production and many other strategies adopted by these people, so that a deserved retribution for them is possible.
Our strategy
Promovemos iniciativas de turismo responsable de personas y comunidades vinculadas a la conservación de la danta de montaña, así como sus iniciativas de producción sostenible. Buscamos ser una plataforma para la promoción del trabajo de base comunitaria relacionado con la conservación de la danta de montaña
We promote responsible tourism initiatives of people and communities linked to mountain tapir conservation, as well as their sustainable production initiatives. We seek to be a platform for the promotion of community-based work related to mountain tapir conservation.
Tapir advocates are a key part of our strategy
When people who care about the fate of the mountain tapir join our initiative, everything starts to change in favor of the species. Whether it is getting to know first-hand the work of our local partners by joining one of our expeditions, supporting our work financially or providing us with tools such as camera traps or GPS devices, each contribution makes the continuity of our work possible.