The four tapir species across South America and Southeast Asia face habitat destruction, hunting, and vehicle strikes that cause significant suffering.
Tapirs struck by vehicles in fragmented habitat experience acute trauma and often prolonged suffering before death or rescue. Animals that survive with injuries face poor prognoses due to the challenges of treating large forest mammals. Hunting for bush meat causes acute suffering through wounding and snaring. Habitat fragmentation forces tapirs into agricultural areas where they are persecuted as pests. Young tapirs orphaned by hunting have very specific dietary and social needs making rehabilitation challenging.