Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

[• Lutra sumatrana Hairy-nosed Otter]. Conservation Significance:
Globally Threatened - Vulnerable; Conditionally
At Risk in Lao PDR; CITES Appendix II. Context: Recorded
from Annam, Vietnam (Osgood 1932), and even considered
to be common in central Annam by Delacour (1940). May
therefore be found in lowland south Lao PDR.
• Lutrogale perspicillata (= Lutra perspicillata M1, M2, M3, M7 )
Smooth-coated Otter (= Smooth Otter M3 ; = Smooth Indian
Otter M1 ). Conservation Significance: Globally Threatened -
Vulnerable; At Risk in Lao PDR; CITES Appendix II. Documented
Range and Habitat: North (historically) M18 , south M8 .
Rivers and probably other water-bodies. Status Information:
See below. Recently recorded only from Xe Pian NBCA
(Duckworth 1997a) and Nam Ghong Provincial PA (a group
of five on a rocky stream amid open deciduous forest at 150-
200 m, in early 1998; RJTiz), but many signs of large otters
found at various localities may belong to this species. Historically
recorded from Xiangkhouang, Pakxe and Ban
Thateng on the Bolaven Plateau (Delacour 1940); common
in at least the former (David-Beaulieu 1944).
• Aonyx cinerea (= Amblonyx cinereus M6 ) Oriental Smallclawed
Otter (= Small-clawed Otter M2 ; = Clawless Otter M1 ;
= Short-clawed Otter). Conservation Significance: Globally
Near-Threatened; At Risk in Lao PDR; CITES Appendix II.
Documented Range and Habitat: North M12 , centre M12 ,
south M11 . Rivers and streams through forest and adjacent
degraded areas. Status Information: See below. Records of
this species (usually tracks) come from several areas (Table
12), with recent sight records from Nakai-Nam Theun and
Dong Ampham NBCAs and the Nakai Plateau (Duckworth
1997a, Davidson et al. 1997), and, provisionally, the
Dakchung Plateau (Showler et al. 1998a). The only historical
record is from Ban Thateng, Bolaven Plateau (Delacour
1940).
Status Information on Otters: Otters were reported during
90% of 1988-1993 village interviews (n = 328) and remain
widely distributed (Annex 5). However, sightings are infrequent
on surveys and populations of all species may be low
and dispersed, although sign densities suggest that some
populations (e.g. in the Nam Theun basin) are locally healthy.
Villagers frequently refer to two sorts of otters, one with
‘duck’s’ feet and one with ‘dog’s’ feet. The former may refer
to Eurasian and/or Smooth-coated Otters and the latter to
Oriental Small-clawed Otter, although Crab-eating Mongoose
was suggested by Bergmans (1995). Lowe’s Otter Civet could
be a further confusion. Ecological findings in Thailand (Kruuk
et al. 1994) challenge some previous assumptions about ecological
separation between otter species. Kruuk et al. (1993)
indicated that, with experience, clear footprints can be identified
to species. Even identification of direct sightings of
the larger species is difficult.
Large Mammals
Otter footprints / spraints were found, or local reports
were received, widely on recent surveys (Table 12). Field
sightings of big otters come from few areas. Those prior to
1997 were documented by Duckworth (1997a). Two subsequent
ones have been traced: 5-7 animals in Nam Theun
Extension PNBCA in May 1997 in little-degraded evergreen
forest (about 550 m) at about 08h00 (WGR), and the Smoothcoated
Otters in Nam Ghong Provincial PA (see species account).
Otters are stated by some villagers to be competitors
for fish (Baird 1992, Showler et al. 1998b). They are trapped
widely (e.g. Baird 1992, Annex 1) for their fur. Reportedly,
Cambodians purchase otter pelts in southern Lao PDR and
skins from the north go to Chinese and Vietnamese traders
(Baird 1993, Nash 1997, Davidson 1998, Robichaud 1998b).
In Nam Theun Extension PNBCA a device reportedly for
trapping otters consisted of a thick line run across a stream
with small lines run off it terminating in large fish-baited
hooks (WGR). In Nam Et NBCA, hunters prepare fish-baited
explosives for otters (Davidson 1998). Various parts are used
in traditional medicine (Baird 1995b).
These threats, coupled with historical information on
sighting rates in Indochina (Monestrol 1952) indicate that all
species of otter are At Risk in Lao PDR. Because there are
no recent records of Lutra lutra, and none ever of L.
sumatrana, these species are listed as Conditionally At Risk
in Lao PDR.
Viverridae: Civets, linsangs, palm civets, otter civets
(9-11 species in Lao PDR; 34 worldwide)
Viverra zibetha Large Indian Civet. North M12 , centre M12 ,
south M12 . Tall forest both evergreen and deciduous, and adjacent
degraded areas, over at least 200-1000 m. Few recent
records from below 400 m. Records prior to 1997 were
reviewed by Duckworth (1994a, 1997a). Taxonomic issues:
The recently-described species V. tainguensis (see below)
resembles this species. As V. tainguensis is currently known
only from seven specimens, further analysis is needed before
an assessment can be made of whether Lao field sightings
of V. zibetha should be re-assessed as only provisional records.
(Plate 14)
[Viverra tainguensis Taynguyen Civet]. This newly described
species from Vietnam (Sokolov et al. 1997) is known from
Tonkin to the Tay Nguyen Plateau at 21º29’N south to
14º34’N (Rozhnov and Pham Trong Anh 1999). It may therefore
be found in Lao PDR.
• Viverra megaspila Large-spotted Civet. Conservation Significance:
Potentially At Risk in Lao PDR. Documented
Range and Habitat: Centre M12 , south M12 . Recent records came
from lowland evergreen/semi-evergreen forest (including
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