The International Tapir Symposium is a biannual event that brings together tapir experts and conservationists, including field researchers, environmental educators, academics, veterinarians, marketing and communication experts, ex-situ conservation specialists, governmental authorities, politicians and other interested parties and stakeholders from all around the world.

Previous International Tapir Symposiums were held in San José, Costa Rica (2001), where we brought together for the very first time 85 tapir experts and conservationists from 21 countries worldwide; Panama City, Panama (2004); Buenos Aires, Argentina (2006); Cancun, Mexico (2008); Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2011); Campo Grande, Brazil (2014); Houston, Texas, United States (2017). In 2020 we were supposed to get together in Cali, Colombia, but were not able to do so due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 8th International Tapir Symposium has held in Campo Grande, Brazil (2024).

Throughout its history, the International Tapir Symposium has been a critical moment for tapir conservation worldwide, which has attracted more and more tapir conservationists each time.