Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

• Lophura diardi Siamese Fireback. Conservation Significance:
Globally Threatened - Vulnerable; Potentially At Risk
in Lao PDR; endemic to Indochina and parts of Thailand.
Documented Range and Habitat: Resident; north, centre,
south B14 . Forest (evergreen and, locally, deciduous areas),
scrub, secondary growth, mostly below 500 m, exceptionally
up to 800 m and possibly 1150 m (Showler et al. 1998a).
Status Information: Records prior to 1997 were reviewed by
Thewlis et al. (1998). The species has been recorded in at
least 14 recent survey areas from Sangthong District to the
far south of the country (Table 11). Particularly large
populations remain in Xe Pian and Dong Ampham NBCAs
and in other parts of the Xe Kong basin. Large populations
were also found or suspected in most other survey areas with
a substantial area below 500 m altitude, including Xe Bang-
Nouan and Phou Xiang Thong NBCAs, Dong Khanthung
PNBCA and Sangthong District. Smaller numbers occur in
those recent surveys areas primarily at higher altitude but
with parts below 500 m. Occurrence at Phou Khaokhoay
NBCA has recently been confirmed (T. Hansel verbally 1998).
Despite being widespread and locally abundant, the species
is subject to very heavy snaring and is commonly sold in
food markets and is therefore categorised as Potentially At
Risk in Lao PDR. (Plate 11)
Polyplectron bicalcaratum Grey Peacock Pheasant. Resident;
north, centre, south B14 . Evergreen forests, tolerant of
degradation, from lowlands up to 1850 m. Records prior to
1997 were reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1998). In view of the
species’s secure status, it was dropped from the recommended
list of key species. Special Significance: CITES Appendix
II.
• Rheinardia ocellata Crested Argus. Conservation Significance:
Globally Threatened - Vulnerable; At Risk in Lao
PDR; CITES Appendix I; endemic to Malaysia (R. o.
nigrescens; see Mamat and Yasak 1998) and Vietnam and
Lao PDR (R. o. ocellata). Documented Range and Habitat:
Resident; north, centre, south B14 . Evergreen forest, particularly
climatically wet forest, at 350-1500 m. Status Information:
Records prior to 1997 were reviewed by Thewlis et al.
(1998). Distribution in Lao PDR is local: it occurs in four
recent survey areas along the Annamites (Table 11). There
are no certain recent records from elsewhere. Numbers were
only found to be high in climatically wet forest, as in the
Nam Theun Extension PNBCA. Snaring may be an extreme
threat to some populations. (Plates 6, 11)
• Pavo muticus Green Peafowl. Conservation Significance:
Globally Threatened - Vulnerable; At Risk in Lao PDR;
CITES Appendix II. Documented Range and Habitat: Resident;
north B14 , centre (provisionally, McGowan et al. 1998;
historically B22 ), south B14 . Open forest and edge, rocky savanna,
forest river banks, secondary growth; lowlands and
Birds
foothills. Status Information: The status of the species in Lao
PDR was reviewed by Evans and Timmins (1996, 1997) and
Thewlis et al. (1998). McGowan et al. (1998) set the Lao
records in a global context. While common and widespread
throughout Lao PDR only 50 years ago, populations are
known today in only six areas; there are reports from 10 others
(Table 11). Formerly the species was so abundant that
Harmand (1878-1879) characterised the worst place for wildlife
he went as lacking even peafowl and junglefowl. Few
areas are likely to retain populations large enough to be
viable. Phou Khaokhoay, Xe Pian and Phou Xiang Thong
NBCAs and Dong Khanthung PNBCA perhaps hold the most
practically conservable populations. A previously unpublished
record is of one heard calling by the Xe Pian river upstream
of Ban Sompoy (Xe Pian NBCA) in early 1998 (RJTiz).
(Plates 6, 11)
Conservation Management and Research Proposed for
Phasianidae:
• Complete protection from hunting for Green Peafowl,
Crested Argus and arguably Siamese Fireback.
• Cessation of snaring in NBCAs, with action prioritised
to those retaining Green Peafowl, Crested Argus and large
populations of Siamese Fireback.
• Establishment of sustainable hunting practices for other
species. Birds of this family, especially Red Junglefowl,
are frequently eaten in rural Lao PDR (Table 1).
• Assessments of the effects of snaring (and procedure for
control where necessary) on all species in areas outside
NBCAs.
• Assessment of the effects on Green Peafowl in Lao PDR
of trade in peafowl train feathers. Peafowl train feathers
are traded in large numbers along the Lao-Thailand border,
but it is unclear how many, if any, are from wild
Green Peafowl (McGowan et al. 1998).
• Monitoring and control of trade in these species and their
parts. Birds of this family, especially Red Junglefowl,
are widely sold in urban markets (Annex 1) and
junglefowl claws are used as an ingredient in traditional
medicine (Martin 1992, Annex 1). International trading
seems likely (Compton in prep. b).
• Co-ordinated recovery programme for Green Peafowl,
involving education programmes, stronger legislation
with more effective enforcement, and assessment of
progress by a population monitoring programme. The
peafowl monitoring and protection project in Phou
Khaokhoay NBCA (in which most of the local people
are participating) should be replicated (with appropriate
modification) in Xe Pian and Phou Xiang Thong NBCAs
and in Dong Khanthung PNBCA.
• Co-ordinated conservation programme for Crested Argus,
involving education programmes, stronger legislation
with more effective enforcement, an investigation of the
threat posed by trade, and assessment of progress by a
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