Abstract

BARDAVID, Sofía; DE BUSTOS, Soledad; POLITI, Natalia  and  RIVERA, Luis O. Decline of white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) in a high conservation value area in Southern Yungas of Argentina. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2019, vol.26, n.1, pp.167-173. ISSN 0327-9383.

In Argentina, white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) is categorized as Endangered since its distribution was reduced by 63% and its populations are fragmented. Our objectives were to determine group size and to compare camera trapping rate of white-lipped peccary between two areas in the Southern Yungas of Argentina where the species is distributed. In this study, we recorded the smallest group size (10 ± 8 white-lipped peccary/group) compared to other sites in the Neotropics. Camera trapping rate was significantly higher in the southeastern area than in the northern area. The low camera trapping rate of white-lipped peccary in the northern area (214.68 ± 927.39 vs. 0.13 ± 1.69, W = 5501, p < 0.0001) is striking given that the species was frequent to record in this area a few years ago. The information obtained in this work allows to have a current estimate of the conservation status of white-lipped peccary in the two areas of Southern Yungas of Argentina.

Keywords : Camera trap; Conservation unit; Neotropic; Capture rate.