Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

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Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report Louangphabang in mid 1996 (RJTim) and at a petrol station in Xaignabouli town in 1998 (RB; Plate 13). A widely-cited historical specimen from Louangphabang lacks information on origin and indeed, no previous locality records from Lao PDR are known (T. Geissmann in litt. 1998). Although its limited distribution puts the species at risk in a Lao context, this is the most widespread and numerous gibbon in continental Asia. Its conservation interest in Lao PDR arises because it naturally extends only marginally into the country. Taxonomic issues: Formerly H. pileatus was included within H. lar, meaning that some earlier documents (e.g. Deuve 1972) listed H. lar for southern Lao PDR. • Hylobates pileatus Pileated Gibbon. Conservation Significance: Globally Threatened - Vulnerable; At Risk in Lao PDR; CITES Appendix I. Endemic to south-west Lao PDR, Cambodia and south-east Thailand; occurs only west of the Mekong (Geissmann 1995). Documented Range and Habitat: South (Round 1998). Evergreen forests, mostly within 300 m of streams (Round 1998). Status Information: Recently recorded only from Dong Khanthung PNBCA, where occurrence is patchy, suggesting past or current high hunting intensity (Timmins and Vongkhamheng 1996b, Round 1998). Although the geographical range of the species extends only marginally into Lao PDR, its small world range means that each site supporting it is potentially important. Historically, one specimen was procured in the neighbourhood of Pakxe (Delacour 1940). Deuve and Deuve’s (1963a) suggestion that the species might be found in Savannakhet Province was without foundation; at least since Delacour (1951b) it has been known to occur only west of the Mekong. Taxonomic issues: See H. lar. • Hylobates concolor Black-cheeked Crested Gibbon (= Black Gibbon M5, M7 ; = Crested Gibbon; = Concolor Gibbon); (included in H. concolor Crested Gibbon M4 ). Conservation Significance: Globally Threatened - Endangered; At Risk in Lao PDR; CITES Appendix I. Now endemic to southern China (including Hainan), north Vietnam and a tiny part of north Lao PDR; occurs only east of the Mekong except in the far north of its range (Geissmann 1995). Documented Range and Habitat: North (J.-F. Reumaux verbally 1998); known only from Bokeo Province. Although the species has also been stated to inhabit north-east Lao PDR (e.g. Xam- Nua; Deuve 1972), Geissmann (1995) considered that (except for the outlying Bokeo population) it occurs only northeast of Vietnam’s Black River, and thus north-east of the Vietnam-Lao boundary. Evergreen forest. Status Information: Recently recorded only from Nam Kan PNBCA, where some animals were videotaped in mid 1998; 12 family groups are estimated to remain (J.-F. Reumaux verbally 1998). There is apparently a local taboo against hunting the species, but the area is in a region of human in-migration and the new settlers are unlikely to share the residents’ beliefs. The only 180 historical record seems to be the type series of H. c. lu (four males and six females) collected at Ban Namkeung-Kao (Bokeo Province) in January 1939 (Delacour 1951b). The listing of this species for Phou Xang He NBCA by Boonratana (1998b) was in error. The Lao population is a biogeographic anomaly and is currently assigned subspecific rank (as H. c. lu; but see below). The small and shrinking global range of the species, together with its gravely threatened status in Vietnam (T. Nadler verbally 1998) means that the Bokeo population is of the highest international conservation importance. The potentially very small Lao population puts the species nationally at risk. Taxonomic issues: Gibbons of Indochina (the ‘concolor’ group, subgenus Nomascus) are one of the most challenging taxonomic issues of South-east Asian large mammals, with little consensus on their relationships and how many species are involved. The form of concolor inhabiting north-west Lao PDR, ‘lu’, is separated from the other dark-cheeked Nomascus gibbons (to the north and east) by a broad swathe of light-cheeked animals. H. c. lu may not be a valid taxon, as the supposed morphological differences may reflect other sources of variation (Geissmann 1989). Pale-cheeked animals, which occupy Lao PDR east of the Mekong except in the range of ‘lu’, were all formerly treated as races of concolor (and indeed still sometimes are; e.g. Lernould 1993). This has lead to some confusion in secondary compilations drawing data from disparate sources. Some imply that two taxa (concolor (s.s.) and either leucogenys or gabriellae) are sympatric. This has not been shown to be so, and nor is it likely except perhaps in northwest Lao PDR at the margins of the range of H. c. ‘lu’. • Hylobates leucogenys White-cheeked Crested Gibbon (= White-cheeked Gibbon M5 ); (included in H. concolor Crested Gibbon M4 ; includes one form treated as a race of H. gabriellae M5 ). Conservation Significance: Data Deficient (Global); Potentially At Risk in Lao PDR; CITES Appendix I. Endemic to southern Yunnan (China) and northern Indochina; occurs only east of the Mekong (Geissmann 1995). Documented Range and Habitat: North and central Lao PDR, perhaps south almost to the Bolaven Plateau, but information is conflicting (Geissmann 1995) and field records currently cannot be confirmed (see below). Deuve’s (1972) claim from west of the Mekong (Xaignabouli Province) lacks detail and is best dismissed. Evergreen forest at a wide variety of altitudes. Status Information: See below. Taxonomic issues: See note under H. concolor. Among the pale-cheeked Nomascus gibbons are three forms, leucogenys, siki and gabriellae. Corbet and Hill regarded siki as a race of H. gabriellae, but re-examination of evidence indicates that siki is closer to leucogenys (Geissmann 1995). Mitochondrial DNA work suggests that siki may better be regarded as a full species (Zhang Yaping 1997), and black-coated animals (i.e. males and juvenile females) are visually distinguishable from congeners (C. P. Groves in litt. 1999). Criteria for field identification of the three pale-cheeked forms are unclear.
[• Hylobates gabriellae Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon (= Buff-cheeked Gibbon; = Yellow-cheeked Gibbon; = Redcheeked Gibbon; = Golden-cheeked Gibbon); (included in H. concolor Crested Gibbon M4 ; one form treated as a race of this species M5 is classified here under H. leucogenys)]. Conservation Significance: Data Deficient (Global); Little Known in Lao PDR; CITES Appendix I. Endemic to far southern Lao PDR(?), southern Vietnam and eastern Cambodia; occurs only east of the Mekong (Geissmann 1995). Context: The species may occur in Lao PDR south from the Bolaven Plateau to the Cambodian border (Geissmann 1995), but information is conflicting. Tape-recordings from Xe Pian NBCA in 1993 showed some characters of siki, even though museum specimens from the Bolaven Plateau, to the north, look like H. gabriellae (Geissmann 1995). Recently-taped songs from the Bolaven Plateau also show features of H. l. siki (T. Geissmann in litt. 1999). Male gibbons observed in Nam Ghong Provincial PA and Dong Ampham NBCA in 1997-1998 resembled H. gabriellae in pelage (RJTiz, JAW) but cannot be considered certainly identified. Males from Xe Bang-Nouan NBCA, well north of the Xe Pian / Bolaven Plateau population, also show features of H. gabriellae (RJTim). Pure H. gabriellae are only likely to occur in the far south, if they occur in Lao PDR at all, and should only be identified by song. Deuve’s (1972) claim of sympatry with Pileated Gibbon in Champasak Province is insupportable. The presentation of information in Duckworth et al. (1994, 1995) as referring to H. gabriellae ssp. was based on Corbet and Hill’s (1992) taxonomy, taking siki as a subspecies of gabriellae. Taxonomic issues: See notes under H. concolor and H. leucogenys. Status Information on Pale-cheeked Nomascus gibbons: Identification criteria for field use between the three forms leucogenys, siki and gabriellae are evolving. Under typical viewing conditions in Lao PDR, visual field identification is likely to be possible only rarely. The main technique will remain sonographic analysis of tape-recorded calls (Geissmann 1995). Few calls have yet been analysed fully, thus the status of individual pale-cheeked gibbon taxa in Lao PDR remains unclear (Plate 13). Gibbons were reported in 89% of 1988-1993 village interviews (n = 328), from across Lao PDR (Annex 5). All those east of the Mekong are likely to be Nomascus, and all those outside a limited area of the north-west are likely to be pale-cheeked forms. The few direct sightings of gibbons in the north make it difficult to define the area occupied by palecheeked forms, but Nam Xam, Nam Et and Phou Louey NBCAs are all known to support them. Gibbons have been found widely (Table 12), from the Mekong plains up to at least 1550 m in the Phou Ahyon area, 1650 m in Phou Louey NBCA, and 1800 m in Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA (Timmins and Vongkhamheng 1996a, Davidson 1998, Evans et al. in prep. b). Davidson et al. (1997) Large Mammals and Showler et al. (1998a) discussed the possibility of close co-occurrence of white-cheeked and buff-cheeked animals in south-east Lao PDR, re-emphasising the need for caution in field identification of pale-cheeked forms using morphological criteria. Currently at no site has the intra-population variation in male cheek pelage features and song characteristics been documented. Gibbons are hunted and eaten avidly in the central Annamites (WGR; Plate 5), but other villagers reportedly avoid hunting them. They were not reported as a major food species during 1988-1993 interviews (Table 1). Gibbons are kept as pets in Lao PDR (Bergmans 1995, Duckworth et al. 1995; Plate 13), and Lao gibbons reportedly can be ordered from wildlife dealers operating in Thailand (Srikosamatara et al. 1992, Baird 1993). There is some market hunting, in which females are shot to collect their young for sale to foreign and perhaps Lao buyers. Gibbons are heavily traded with Vietnam (e.g. Davidson et al. 1997, Compton in prep. b). In many areas, e.g. Phou Xang He and Dong Hua Sao NBCAs, gibbons are patchily distributed and seem to be absent across logged or fragmented forest, either as a result of habitat destruction or hunting and other forms of human disturbance (Duckworth et al. 1995). These factors are probably reducing numbers in all encroached forest in Lao PDR. Although Evans et al. (1996b) found small numbers in some areas of Dong Hua Sao NBCA where Duckworth et al. (1995) had predicted them (on the basis of habitat) to be absent, the general conclusion, that numbers were severely depressed in encroached areas, was supported. Where protection from hunting is having some effect (e.g. Sangthong District), gibbons can persist in heavily degraded areas, suggesting that decreases in the other areas reflect primarily hunting pressure rather than the habitat being totally unsuitable (Duckworth 1996a). In Xe Pian NBCA gibbons occur at high densities in primary semi-evergreen forest, in both flat and hilly areas. The large Xe Pian-Dong Hua Sao NBCAs population is of major global significance for gibbon conservation, particularly as it may lie along a zone of contact between H. l. siki and H. gabriellae (Duckworth et al. 1995, Geissmann 1995). The extensive forested parts of the Nam Theun catchment (notably Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA) support a population of equally high global significance, which is likely to be taxonomically different from that in the south (Evans et al. in prep. b). North of the Nam Theun catchment, gibbons are rarer than to the south. Surveys in 1997-1998 across the NBCAs of north Lao PDR found large populations only in Nam Xam NBCA and parts of Phou Louey NBCA. Indeed, in some areas there were no direct records of gibbons: Nam Ha NBCA (where they appear to have been hunted out; M. Meredith verbally 1999) and Phou Dendin NBCA (where effort has been insufficient to speculate on status). The palecheeked gibbons in Lao PDR are of major global significance, as populations in Vietnam and China have been 181
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IUCN - The World Conservation Union
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PREFACE In 1993 IUCN, in collaborat
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Crombie, USNM. Tanya Chan-ard allow
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At Risk in Lao PDR (ARL): this cate
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○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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List of Plates ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Re
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Page 143 and 144: Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Re
Page 175 and 176: LARGE MAMMALS J. W. Duckworth, R. J
Page 177 and 178: 1965), but no detailed fauna has ye
Page 179 and 180: no hunter could confuse a gibbon, e
Page 181 and 182: Species Phou Dendin NBCA Large Mamm
Page 183 and 184: Species Nakai - Nam Theun NBCA Naka
Page 185 and 186: Species Xe Bang-Nouan NBCA Xe Sap N
Page 187 and 188: • Specific surveys to gain cleare
Page 189 and 190: Young White-handed Gibbon, Xaignabo
Page 191 and 192: m in limestone karst. Status Inform
Page 193: Duckworth in press). Status Informa
Page 197 and 198: Range and Habitat: North M15 , cent
Page 199 and 200: ear action and management plan and
Page 201 and 202: Common Palm Civet, Ban Lak (20) mar
Page 203 and 204: [• Lutra sumatrana Hairy-nosed Ot
Page 205 and 206: • Hemigalus owstoni (= Chrotogale
Page 207 and 208: Table 14. Asian Golden Cat locality
Page 209 and 210: Sun Bear, Xe Pian NBCA, early 1997.
Page 211 and 212: China and Vietnam (Martin 1992, Sri
Page 213 and 214: 1986, Dobias 1992a, Salter 1989b),
Page 215 and 216: Table 15. Summary of observations o
Page 217 and 218: ace of S. scrofa in Lao PDR, S. s.
Page 219 and 220: Eld’s Deer footprint, Dong Khanth
Page 221 and 222: areas during the rainy season (Deuv
Page 223 and 224: • Consideration of appropriate me
Page 225 and 226: wide-ranging field experience in In
Page 227 and 228: the headwaters of the Xe Bangfai an
Page 229 and 230: The three squirrels most commonly t
Page 231 and 232: Lao range to merit designation as a
Page 233 and 234: Conservation Management and Researc
Page 235 and 236: ORDER INSECTIVORA M. F. Robinson IN
Page 237 and 238: of north-east Laos. In Malaysia it
Page 239 and 240: ORDER CHIROPTERA: BATS C. M. Franci
Page 241 and 242: Rhinolophus acuminatus, Dong Khanth
Page 243 and 244: 1992). In Lao PDR has been found ro
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• Hipposideros armiger Great Roun
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[Pipistrellus coromandra Indian Pip
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east Thailand, that had apparently
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ORDER RODENTIA, FAMILY MURIDAE C. M
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1997). Forest habitats, probably at
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REFERENCES Written Allen, G. M. 192
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Laos. Bull. Soc. Roy. Sci. Nat. du
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ats in Phou Khao Khoay NBCA. Vienti
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mittee (draft report). MacKinnon, J
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Robinson, H. C. 1915. On the birds
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Thewlis, R. M., Duckworth, J. W., A
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ANNEX 1 Selected bird and mammal sp
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ANNEX 2 CITES-listed wildlife speci
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ANNEX 3 Amphibian, reptile, bird an
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Species Key species: status Current
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ANNEX 4 Birds and large mammals ass
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Species Association with wetlands R
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Annexes with respect to the strengt
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4 : 5 14 : 20 14 : 16 8 : 9 14 : 16
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Reports of rhinoceroses during vill
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5 : 5 20 : 20 16 : 16 8 : 9 15 : 16
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Species Global Lao threat status ri
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Species Global Lao threat status ri
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Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

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