Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report Identifiable remains or captive animals come from several survey areas with local reports from many more (Table 12). Historically, the species was reportedly common in the centre and south (Delacour 1940) and in Xiangkhouang (north; David-Beaulieu 1944), with a skull coming from the far north at Ban Laophouchai (Osgood 1932). There is no recent confirmation of occurrence in north Lao PDR, although a captive in Louang-Namtha town in 1997 reportedly came from a local village (Tizard et al. 1997). Status Information on Bears: There are no field-validated guidelines incorporating the influence of age, sex and other factors on size and appearance of bear signs in Indochina. Signs are thus best regarded as ‘unidentified bear sp.’ (Plate 15). Bear scratch marks can probably persist for years on tree trunks. Surveys may therefore record signs from individuals long dead, or from populations now locally extinct. Marks in the logged lowlands of Dong Hua Sao NBCA observed in 1993 may in fact all have been made prior to logging (Duckworth et al. 1994). It was not practicable to limit records in Table 12 to those of recent signs. Although bear signs have been recorded widely, populations are low across the country. Of all areas surveyed by RJTim, only in Xe Pian NBCA (1992-1993) were fresh signs found frequently. Villagers report two forms of bear widely (and sometimes Binturong is also reported as a bear) which outside questioners often relate to Asiatic Black Bear and Sun Bear. Detailed questioning suggests this may be rash. In the central Annamites, villagers often report (as well as a form fitting Sun Bear) two sorts of ‘Asiatic Black Bear’, which are said to differ in size and colour of the chest pelage (Robichaud 1998d). This may explain the findings of Duckworth (1996b) in Sangthong District, where informants reported two sorts of bears, but stated differences between them were not the obvious morphological ones between Asiatic Black Bear and Sun Bear. Bears are occasional crop pests in Lao PDR and rare livestock predators (Table 2). Asiatic Black Bears used to maul people frequently (Fraisse 1955, Deuve and Deuve 1962a). There are few recent reports of attacks by bears (Table 3), presumably because populations are now so low. Furthermore, wide gun use has probably made animals shyer of people. Both species are kept as pets and in menageries. Gall, skins and fat are used locally for medicinal purposes (Martin 1992, Salter 1993a, Baird 1995b; Plate 5). Skins are preserved (Plate 4), probably for sale as curios. The well known trade in Lao bears and bear parts with China, Thailand and Vietnam for pets, restaurants and medicine is poorly documented quantitatively (Mills and Servheen 1990, Srikosamatara et al. 1992, Baird 1993, Davidson et al. 1997). The east Asian market is considered in Mills et al. (1995). Bears are caught by various methods as well as opportunistic shooting. Steel-cable snares strong enough to hold even adult Asiatic Black Bears are set in some areas, espe- 184 cially near the Vietnam border (Robichaud 1999; Plate 5). Young are reportedly caught by hand when mothers are guzzling honey sources (and are apparently oblivious to outside events), or are shot (I. Johnson verbally 1999, from village reports). The relative status of Sun Bear and Asiatic Black Bear is difficult to judge. All indications are that Asiatic Black Bear is much the scarcer. None of the few recent field sightings of bears in Lao PDR was of this species. Only about a fifth of dozens of bears traded through Bolikhamxai Province over several years were this species (I. Johnson verbally 1999). It is apparently the more favoured species in trade (presumably because it is larger and more powerful). This could presumably only drive a faster decline through the initial selection of hunting area: hunters presumably cannot target one species over the other, and are unlikely to ignore any Sun Bears they come across, even if they would rather have had the larger species. This level of threats and the relative scarcity of recent field evidence indicate that both species are At Risk in Lao PDR. Conservation Management and Research Proposed for Bears: • Formulation of a national bear conservation action and management plan by central government, involving full participation of provincial / district authorities, protected area staff and local people’s representatives. • Development and enforcement of appropriate controls on hunting and on trade in bears and bear parts. • Nation-wide ban, with active enforcement, of all snares and traps strong enough to catch bears. • Parallel with this, understanding of current status of wild bears in Lao PDR. • Specification in all survey reports of the estimated age of signs, and dimensions of clear footprints, to allow retrospective identification if possible. • Establishment of guidelines for identifying bear signs to species, using measurements taken in Lao PDR from animals of various ages and sexes of both species. • Inclusion in survey reports of interview-derived information with detail on the appearance of each named form, precisely as described by informants. • High priority to bear conservation in management plans of Xe Pian, Nakai-Nam Theun and Nam Ha NBCAs, and in those of any other areas subsequently found to support large populations of either species. • As measures are needed in so many different fields and a considerable amount of work is needed both to gather information and to formulate appropriate directed action, the designation of specific personnel in CPAWM to be responsible for bear conservation issues seems appropriate. These people (perhaps two, with the part-time assistance of a foreign adviser) would develop a national
ear action and management plan and ensure that its recommendations were enacted to schedule and involved all appropriate people. Ailuridae: Red Panda (0-1 species in Lao PDR; 1 worldwide) [• Ailurus fulgens Red Panda (= Lesser Panda M4, M7 ; = Catbear M1 )]. Conservation Significance: Globally Threatened - Endangered; CITES Appendix I. Context: Deuve and Deuve (1963c) and Deuve (1972), citing Cheminaud (1942), recorded this species from north Lao PDR on the basis of villagers’ descriptions. Interviews around Phongsali in 1996 yielded no positive indications of Red Panda’s occurrence (RJTiz in Duckworth 1997a), but recent fieldwork in far northern Lao PDR has been limited. The species is known in Yunnan (China) south to Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, although its status there is obscure (Wang Yingxiang 1987, verbally 1998) and it could perhaps occur in Lao PDR. (Plate 5) Mustelidae: Weasels, martins, badgers, otters (10-13 species in Lao PDR; 65 worldwide) [Mustela nivalis Least Weasel (= Weasel M4, M5 )]. An animal from Chapa, Tonkin (Vietnam), was described by Björkegren (1942) as M. tonkinensis. Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951), and many subsequent authors, considered this specimen to represent a widely disjunct southern population of M. nivalis. However, marked differences in size and morphology do not support this, and it is better considered a distinct species (C. P. Groves in litt. 1999). The proximity of Chapa to extant similar habitat in Lao PDR suggests that it may be found to occur in the latter. • Mustela kathiah Yellow-bellied Weasel. Conservation Significance: Little Known in Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: North M16 . Sole recent sighting was in Fokienia forest at about 1500 m. Status Information: Historical records came from Xiangkhouang and Phongsali (Osgood 1932, Delacour 1940). The only recent record is of one seen by day in Nam Xam NBCA in January 1998 (Showler et al. 1998b; DAS). • Mustela sibirica Siberian Weasel (= Himalayan Weasel M1 ; = Kolinsky). Conservation Significance: Little Known in Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: Centre M12 . Sole documented Lao record came from primary evergreen forest at 1000 m. Status Information: Although mapped for parts of Lao PDR in e.g. Corbet and Hill (1992), Delacour (1940) gave no records of Siberian Weasel for Lao PDR and Duckworth (1997a) traced none prior to 1996. One was Large Mammals observed in Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA in 1996 (Duckworth 1997a) and one (provisionally identified) was seen in Khammouan Limestone NBCA on 25 January 1998 in valley semi-evergreen forest amid karst at about 500 m (Robinson and Webber 1998a; M. F. Robinson in litt. 1998). • Mustela strigidorsa Back-striped Weasel (= Striped-backed Weasel M1 ). Conservation Significance: Globally Threatened - Vulnerable; Little Known in Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: North M12 , centre M12 . Recent records in Lao PDR come only from evergreen forest in hills and mountains, but records from other countries suggest wide habitat use. Status Information: Delacour (1940) called it rare and found it only at Phongsali. There are recent records from Nam Kading, Nakai-Nam Theun, and Nam Ha NBCAs (Table 12). Duckworth (1997a) reviewed records prior to 1997, since when there have been only two: a single in evergreen forest at 720 m in Nam Ha NBCA in March 1997 (Tizard et al. 1997), and one dead in a village near Nam Ha NBCA in early 1998 (S. Ling per RJTiz). Martes flavigula Yellow-throated Marten. North M12 , centre M12 , south M12 . Forests and various other habitats across a wide altitudinal range. Records prior to 1997 were reviewed in Duckworth (1997a). (Plates 5, 14) [Meles meles Eurasian Badger (= Badger)]. Although mapped for extreme northern Lao PDR by Corbet and Hill (1992), the primary basis for this is not clear. Zheng Yonglie (1987) mapped badger in China right on Vietnam’s northeastern border. The most southerly records from China known to Wang Sung (in litt. 1999) are from Simao, Luchun and Jinping counties (i.e. about 22º30’N). There is no ecological reason derivable from this distribution to assume that the species occurs in Lao PDR. • Arctonyx collaris Hog Badger (= Hog-nosed Badger). Conservation Significance: Little Known in Lao PDR. Documented Range and Habitat: North M12 , centre M12 , south M11 . Forested areas, perhaps mainly in hills and mountains. Status Information: Recent reports come from many survey areas, but few have documented records (Table 12). Information from prior to 1997 was reviewed by Duckworth (1997a); all seven records in 1992-1996 were from in and around the Nam Theun catchment at sites above 500 m. Both historical sites listed by Delacour (1940) are in mountainous areas: Phongsali and the Bolaven Plateau. Deuve (1972), however, considered that the species occurred in Lao PDR only in the south, listing several lowland sites. Post-1996 records (Table 13) are also all from hills and mountains. People in some areas dislike Hog Badger’s rank taste (e.g. the flesh of one killed near Hin Namno NBCA was used for fish bait). But in others (e.g. southern Attapu Province) the species is eaten (Fernando in prep.) and indeed some ethnic groups in parts 185
Page 2 and 3:
IUCN - The World Conservation Union
Page 4:
PREFACE In 1993 IUCN, in collaborat
Page 7 and 8:
Crombie, USNM. Tanya Chan-ard allow
Page 9 and 10:
At Risk in Lao PDR (ARL): this cate
Page 11 and 12:
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Page 13 and 14:
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Page 15 and 16:
List of Plates ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Page 17 and 18:
Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Re
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148: 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 and 194: Duckworth in press). Status Informa
Page 195 and 196: [• Hylobates gabriellae Yellow-ch
Page 197: Range and Habitat: North M15 , cent
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
Page 245 and 246: • Hipposideros armiger Great Roun
Page 247 and 248: [Pipistrellus coromandra Indian Pip
Page 249 and 250:
east Thailand, that had apparently
Page 251 and 252:
ORDER RODENTIA, FAMILY MURIDAE C. M
Page 253 and 254:
1997). Forest habitats, probably at
Page 255 and 256:
REFERENCES Written Allen, G. M. 192
Page 257 and 258:
Laos. Bull. Soc. Roy. Sci. Nat. du
Page 259 and 260:
ats in Phou Khao Khoay NBCA. Vienti
Page 261 and 262:
mittee (draft report). MacKinnon, J
Page 263 and 264:
Robinson, H. C. 1915. On the birds
Page 265 and 266:
Thewlis, R. M., Duckworth, J. W., A
Page 267 and 268:
ANNEX 1 Selected bird and mammal sp
Page 269 and 270:
ANNEX 2 CITES-listed wildlife speci
Page 271 and 272:
ANNEX 3 Amphibian, reptile, bird an
Page 273 and 274:
Species Key species: status Current
Page 275 and 276:
ANNEX 4 Birds and large mammals ass
Page 277 and 278:
Species Association with wetlands R
Page 279 and 280:
Annexes with respect to the strengt
Page 281 and 282:
4 : 5 14 : 20 14 : 16 8 : 9 14 : 16
Page 283 and 284:
Reports of rhinoceroses during vill
Page 285 and 286:
5 : 5 20 : 20 16 : 16 8 : 9 15 : 16
Page 287 and 288:
Species Global Lao threat status ri
Page 289:
Species Global Lao threat status ri
show all

Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?