The South American Tapir (Tapirus terrestris), along with the giant otter and the jaguar, are considered the “big three” for travellers to see in South America. Tapir are hoofed mammals that inhabit the Amazonian forests of Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. Despite their bulky appearance, tapirs are masters at moving, remarkably quickly, through impenetrable forest terrain. They have thick skin and feed off clay to obtain various essential minerals.

Due to local hunting, loss of habitat, and low reproductive rates, environmentalists have long been pushing for tapir preservation and conservation. The Greater Madidi-Tambopata Landscape Conservation Programme is currently working with the governments of Bolivia and Peru to better regulate construction, logging, and excessive hunting that have reduced both existing populations as well as reproductive rates among lowland tapirs.