Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

areas (Table 11). Although in some areas flocks of up to 30
suggest that numbers are healthy, in others only singles or
small groups were found. Furthermore, the species may have
declined or even disappeared from the Bolaven Plateau. The
species is sometimes sold as food, and young are reared in
captivity (Plate 6).
• Aceros nipalensis Rufous-necked Hornbill. Conservation
Significance: Globally Threatened - Vulnerable; At Risk in
Lao PDR; CITES Appendix I. Documented Range and Habitat:
Resident; north, centre B14 . Evergreen forests, mainly at
700-1800 m. Status Information: Records prior to 1997 were
reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1998). Historically the species
was recorded only from mountainous areas of the north
(David-Beaulieu 1944). While recent records come from a
wider area (extending from Phou Dendin NBCA south down
the Annamites into central Lao PDR), there are records from
only five survey areas (Table 11). The number of remains of
shot birds found, and the general vulnerability of large
hornbills, indicate that it is clearly at risk. (Plate 11)
• Aceros undulatus (= Rhyticeros undulatus, ^K, ^T)
Wreathed Hornbill. Conservation Significance: At Risk in
Lao PDR; CITES Appendix II. Documented Range and Habitat:
Resident; north, centre, south B14 . Evergreen forests (ranging
into deciduous forests to visit fruit trees) from extreme
lowlands to at least 1300 m. Status Information: Records prior
to 1997 were reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1998). Historically,
the species was recorded widely, and often considered common
(Engelbach 1932, Delacour and Greenway 1940a,
David-Beaulieu 1944). Recent records come also from many
areas, spread across the country, but in most places only small
numbers were found. Of the 15 survey areas with records
(Table 11), flocks of over a dozen were found only (and rarely)
in Nakai-Nam Theun, Nam Kading, Dong Hua Sao and Xe
Pian NBCAs, and Nam Theun Extension PNBCA. These are
all big expanses of habitat; smaller numbers were seen in the
smaller and more isolated survey areas. Occasionally, flocks
exceeding 60 have been observed, e.g. in Nakai-Nam Theun
NBCA in November 1998 (BLS). As with all other hornbills,
this species has been recorded recently at many fewer sites
to the north of Vientiane than to the south (Table 11).
Conservation Management and Research Proposed for
Hornbills:
• Legal protection of all species from hunting. Hornbills
are eaten in rural Lao PDR (Table 1). Casques (for ornamental
or perhaps medicinal use) and dead whole birds
are sold in urban markets (Salter 1993a, Srikosamatara
et al. 1992, Showler et al. 1998b, Annex 1), some for
international trade (Compton in prep. b). Some are kept
as pets (Plate 6).
• Consideration of hornbill habitat requirements in land
use planning outside the protected areas system. Hornbills
are the only evergreen forest birds not specifically associated
with rivers that are in clear decline even in remaining
extensive habitat (Thewlis et al. 1998). The status
of all species in north Lao PDR is particularly concerning;
apart from Phou Dendin NBCA, there have been
very few recent records in areas north of Vientiane (Table
11). They require large areas of habitat (e.g. see
Wreathed Hornbill), are vulnerable to encroachment of
forest (needing both an adequate supply of fruit trees and
of trees with large nesting holes) and are susceptible to
hunting, especially when in large groups at roosts and
fruit sources. The networks of remaining habitat in the
Nam Theun and Xe Kong basins offer the best chances
of preserving large hornbills in the long term.
• Design and implementation of monitoring programmes
for all species; even Oriental Pied Hornbill has become
locally extinct and exists well below carrying capacity
in most other areas.
• Public education programmes. Being charismatic and
harmless to human interests, and suffering a variety of
threats, hornbills are ideal for use in such work.
Upupidae: Hoopoes (1 species)
Upupa epops Common Hoopoe (= Hoopoe, ^K, ^T; = Eurasian
Hoopoe, ^Sm). Resident, perhaps augmented by winter
visitors; north B8 , centre B16 , south B2 . Open wooded country
and dry dipterocarp forest, up to at least 1080 m.
Trogonidae: Trogons (2 species)
Harpactes oreskios Orange-breasted Trogon. Resident;
north B1 , centre, south B2 . Evergreen forest and adjacent mature
secondary growth, generally below 700 m, locally up to
at least 1000 m.
Harpactes erythrocephalus Red-headed Trogon. Resident;
north B1 , centre, south B2 . Evergreen forest and adjacent mature
secondary growth from plains (where generally scarce)
to at least 1700 m.
Coraciidae: Rollers (2 species)
Birds
Coracias benghalensis Indian Roller. Resident; north, centre,
south B2 . Open country, including some deciduous forests
and cultivation; chiefly lowlands and foothills.
Eurystomus orientalis Dollarbird. Mainly breeding visitor,
arriving late dry-season; north, centre, south B2 ; some birds
present in south during much of dry season. Open evergreen
and deciduous forests, secondary growth, rocky savanna and
riverine forest; chiefly lowlands and foothills.
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