The Belize Tapir Project Page was set up to bring awareness to the plight of the national animal of Belize. Since June 2008, more than 30 tapirs fatalities have been recorded in Central Belize, as a result of vehicle collisions. The IUCN lists Tapirus bairdii as an endangered species with a decreasing population trend. Roads alter the physical landscapes of an area through the removal of vegetation and the installation of miles of flat surface areas; this change in environment often leads to a change in how animals move across the area. Animals like the tapir move across landscapes to meet their daily, seasonal, and lifetime needs. These movements are necessary for the survival of individuals, not just because of food and water, but also because of the exchange of genetic material that contributes to the persistence of their species. As a direct impact, roads contribute to the fragmentation of wildlife habitats and the associated traffic flow cause wildlife mortality. Measures to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions include strategies aimed at influencing drivers’ behaviour, such as the installation of standard and enhance warning signs. To this end, this project saw the installation of standard wildlife warning signs at two sites on the Burrell Boom –Hattieville Road with the goal of reducing the average speed of vehicles travelling through the area.
