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Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
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- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
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- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
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- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
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- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
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- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
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- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
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- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Home // Research grants // Our worldwide projects // Giant anteaters in Brazil

Giant anteaters in Brazil

Credit-Jason-Woolgar-Giant-Anteater-In-Brazil-PTES-WORLDWIDE-PROJECT

Status

Vulnerable

Population

30% decrease in last 10 years

Scientific name

Myrmecophaga tridactyla

Why, when and how do giant anteaters cross roads? Our research project is attempting to understand the impacts and effects of roads on giant anteater populations.

Funding for this project has now finished

The problem

The giant anteater, an iconic creature of South America, is unfortunately listed as vulnerable to extinction. The scrub forests and grasslands within the Cerrado biome of Brazil are under threat. In the last 35 years more than half of Brazil’s Cerrado has been converted into pasture or agricultural lands for cash crops. The remaining habitat is highly fragmented and bisected in several places by an extensive road network. Not only do the roads worsen the habitat fragmentation but they are a severe cause of mortality for local animals. In the Mato Grosso do Sul in particular, giant anteaters suffer some of the highest number of fatalities.

The solution

The research team by Giant Anteaters and Highways

Despite this, there is still a lack of understanding on the effect of roads on population persistence – they could potentially be acting as population sinks and as barriers to movement and gene flow. This project directly addresses these threats, and aims to understand and quantify the impact of roads on giant anteater populations. It also aims to evaluate the effect of roads on giant anteater behaviour, population structure and health. Arnaud Desbiez and his team will take the results from the project and translate them into landscape and road management guidelines to mitigate the negative effects roads are having on wildlife.

Latest news

Thanks to your support:

We have hired and supported the training of two new veterinarians on the project, with their salaries generously provided by Houston zoo and Nashville zoo.
As of December, 3 animals are currently being monitored with the use of collars.
Contact has been made with OCEARCH, a recognized world leader in tracking species such as great white sharks. Progress on the idea to collaborate and track giant anteaters, sharing real time data on the internet, has been made.
Protocols for necropsies have been created and contact has been made with a number of landowners in order to find a new study area.
We have assigned all tasks to start work, and should be ready to begin monitoring highways in March.
After one year of hard work a new NGO called ICAS has been created which will manage all of the project administration.

Caught on camera!

Take a look at some of the giant anteater’s neighbours caught on camera trap candid camera

Tapir

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