Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report
Evergreen forest edge and clearings, particularly along
streams and in areas with dead emergent trees; from 260 to
at least 1080 m. Status Information: Records prior to 1997
were reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1998). Small numbers have
been found in six survey areas (Table 11), all of which are
NBCAs or PNBCAs in the east, from Phou Louey in the north,
south down the Annamites to Hin Namno. In each, distribution
seems patchy and numbers seem low. For example, the
first record for Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA (excluding the parts
on the Nakai Plateau, treated here as a separate survey area)
was in January 1999 (M. Hedemark verbally 1999) and the
first for Nam Ha NBCA in August 1998 (A. Johnson verbally
1999). The intensive surveys of the previous years had
produced no records.
• Falco naumanni Lesser Kestrel. Conservation Significance:
Globally Threatened - Vulnerable; Little Known in Lao PDR;
CITES Appendix II. Documented Range and Habitat: Winter
visitor; north (historically B21 ). Upland plateau grassland
(e.g. Plain of Jars). Status Information: Records prior to 1997
were reviewed by Thewlis et al. (1998). Historically, the species
was abundant in Xiangkhouang Province (David-
Beaulieu 1944), but was never taken elsewhere. There are no
recent records and it is likely that a substantial decline has
occurred.
Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel (= Eurasian Kestrel, ^K,
^T). Widespread winter visitor, perhaps resident locally;
north B9 , centre B10 , south B12 . Very open country, particularly
near cliffs. Special Significance: CITES Appendix II.
Falco amurensis Amur Falcon. Passage migrant; north B2 .
Probably over all habitats. Special Significance: CITES
Appendix II.
Falco columbarius Merlin. Vagrant; north (historically B21 ).
Probably open country. Special Significance: CITES Appendix
II.
Falco subbuteo Eurasian Hobby (= Northern Hobby, ^K,
^T). Passage migrant; north B2 . Open areas. The few Lao
records were all in October (David-Beaulieu 1944, Thewlis
et al. 1996). Special Significance: CITES Appendix II.
Falco severus Oriental Hobby. Presumed resident; north,
centre B9 , south B2 . Evergreen forest, also in deciduous areas.
Records prior to 1994 are summarised in Thewlis et al. (1996).
Special Significance: CITES Appendix II.
Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon. Winter visitor and possibly
local resident; north B9 , centre, south B2 . Open country,
forest, limestone karst. In SE Asia, wintering birds (F. p.
japonicus) and residents (F. p. ernesti and F. p. peregrinator)
are distinguishable in the field. Most recent records appear
122
to be of migrants, but a pair showing plumage features consistent
with one of the resident races was seen near
Savannakhet town (JAW), and there is a June record of the
species from Ban Hangkhon (Champasak Province;
Cunningham 1998), suggesting resident birds may occur
there. Special Significance: CITES Appendix I.
Conservation Management and Research Proposed for
Accipitridae and Falconidae:
• Protection of large remaining evergreen forest blocks
from fragmentation: difficulty of human access and hunting
has allowed raptors to persist in such habitats, albeit
at low densities.
• Enforced legal protection of all raptors from hunting and
poisoning: although raptors do take small livestock (Table
2), this was not reported to be a major problem.
• Structured management programme for fish eagles and
vultures in areas important for them (Xe Pian NBCA,
Dong Khanthung PNBCA for all, and Phou Dendin
NBCA, Dong Ampham NBCA and the Nakai Plateau
for fish eagles). This should involve: (1) enforced legal
protection from shooting and nest robbing; (2) stiff penalties
for violators; (3) maintenance of adequate food
sources for vultures, specifically that as long as wild ungulate
population levels remain at current low levels,
provision of domestic water buffaloes may be needed, as
may specific action to prevent shooting of vultures at
such carcases; (4) prevention of degradation of riverine
forest strips; (5) use of media in Champasak and Attapu
Provinces to enhance public perception of vultures - a
Thai television film of them at a dead dog near Ban
Hangkhon, Champasak Province has already been made
(Cunningham 1998); and (6) general awareness raising
of the value and needs of conserving these species.
• Identification of nest sites, if any, of vultures in Lao PDR.
• Identification of key nest and roost sites (if any) of
Brahminy Kite in Dong Khanthung PNBCA and along
the southern Mekong.
• Conservation management of any area found to support
Lesser Kestrel regularly, unless it is clear that the species’s
pace of decline is determined by events in its breeding
areas; these lie outside Lao PDR.
• Continuation for several years of the nation-wide
CPAWM/WCS poster campaign emphasising the role of
raptors as consumers of crop pests.
• Winter surveys of the Xiangkhouang Plateau, which formerly
supported a rich community of wintering raptors
(David-Beaulieu 1944). Several of these species are now
considered Globally Threatened. Substantial numbers of
raptors still occur in winter, but recent observation has
been insufficient to tell whether any of the Globally
Threatened species persist.
• Understanding of precise habitat needs of White-rumped
Falcon and Pied Falconet. Within broad habitat-types,