Tapirs face habitat loss and hunting across South America and Southeast Asia with specific welfare implications for remaining populations.
Tapirs displaced from forest habitat by deforestation face food insecurity in fragmented landscapes. Road mortality in forest-edge habitats is a significant welfare concern as tapirs attempt to move between patches. Hunting for bushmeat causes direct welfare harm. As solitary animals with large ranging requirements, tapirs are poorly suited to captivity and suffer chronic welfare compromise in inadequate enclosures.