Moon light and the activity patterns of Baird’s tapir in the Calakmul region, Southern México

Baird’s tapir (Tapirella bairdii), an endangered Neotropical ungulate, exhibits a trend toward heightened activity during dark moon phases, particularly in areas with greater human disturbance. This behavior may reflect avoidance of light exposure due to anthropogenic perturbations, though the differences between dark and light phases were not statistically significant. Researchers analyzed 18 months of camera-trap data from two sites—Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR) and Nuevo Becal (NB)—monitoring waterbodies to assess tapir activity patterns relative to lunar cycles. While tapirs showed peak activity at night and dawn, the study suggests that human influence in NB may alter their behavior, with tapirs being more active during darker nights compared to CBR. These findings highlight the potential impact of disturbance on species behavior and underscore the need for further research to confirm such patterns.

Sanchez-Pinzon, K., Reyna-Hurtado, R., & Meyer, N. F. V. (2020). Moon light and the activity patterns of Baird’s tapir in the Calakmul region, Southern México. Therya, 11(1), 137–142. https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-20-654