Computer modeling is a valuable and versatile tool for assessing risk of decline and extinction of wildlife populations. Complex and interacting factors that influence population persistence and health can be explored, including natural and anthropogenic causes. Models can also be used to evaluate the effects of alternative management strategies to identify the most effective conservation actions for a population or species and to identify research needs. Computer modeling using the simulation software package VORTEX has been used in all four actions plans developed by the TSG over the past 5 years.

Tapirs are distributed across different ecosystems where they face various levels types of threats. VORTEX models can be extremely useful to assess these threats and the potential threshold at which the threat may cause extinction of the tapir population. As a result, having access to these VPJ files will allow tapir conservationists interested in modeling their tapir populations the possibility to do so.