Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report
extensive mid-altitude bamboo and scrub. Status Information:
Reported during 69% of 1988-1993 village interviews
(n = 328), throughout (Annex 5), although some reports may
be in error (see Marbled Cat). There are two recent sightings,
from Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA (where also camera-trapped,
Plate 15; Tobias 1997, Duckworth 1998) and the central hills
of Dong Ampham NBCA (Davidson et al. 1997, Schaller
1997). A skin was found on the Nakai Plateau (Evans et al.
in prep. b) and photographs of a skin of an animal killed in
Phou Khaokhoay NBCA in about 1995 were examined by
JWKP. Several animals have been held captive in Ban Lak
(20). The reliability of reports and sign identifications from
other areas (Table 12) is low. Historically, Delacour (1940)
considered the species only to inhabit the north and centre of
the country; no specific locations are given either by Delacour
or in Osgood (1932), but there are reports in Deuve and Deuve
(1962c) from Champasak town and Phontiou (Khammouan
Province) and the species seemed not uncommon in
Xiangkhouang (David-Beaulieu 1944). Documented trade in
Clouded Leopard parts involves skins, bones and teeth (Annex
1) and is probably similar to that reported for Tigers (see
below). The trade in Clouded Leopard skins (e.g. at least 70
for sale on one day at Tachileik on the Myanmar - Thai border
close to Lao PDR in 1998; Davidson 1999) and persecution
of large carnivores in Lao PDR indicates that Clouded
Leopard is clearly At Risk in Lao PDR.
• Panthera pardus Leopard (= Panther). Conservation
Significance: At Risk in Lao PDR; CITES Appendix I.
Documented Range and Habitat: North (provisionally M16 ;
historically M18 ), centre M13 , south (Fernanado in prep.). Probably
occurs in many habitat-types; recent records come from
extensive unencroached hill evergreen forest and from degraded
lowland deciduous forest. Status Information: Reported
in 82% of 1988-1993 village interviews (n = 328),
distributed throughout (Annex 5). The only recent sight
records come from Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA (Duckworth
1998). A pelt of a recently killed animal seen in early 1998
approximately 10 km from Muang Phouvong, close to Nam
Ghong Provincial PA, was reportedly killed in scrubby mixed
deciduous forest (Fernando in prep. RJTiz; Plate 15). The
identification of this species by local reports and signs is difficult
and some claims from the region are over-confident
(Duckworth and Hedges 1998a). Nonetheless, footprints perhaps
of Leopards, or suggestive local reports, have been found
widely (Table 12). Historically, Leopard was distributed
throughout. It was scarce in Xiangkhouang but common in
Savannakhet Province in the 1930s-1940s (Delacour 1940,
David-Beaulieu 1944, 1949-1950). Skins are traded both
domestically and with Thailand (Srikosamatara et al. 1992,
Baird 1993, Salter 1993a, Srikosamatara and Suteethorn
1994), and other parts are probably traded as with Tigers,
including for use as medicines (Baird 1995b). The trade in
big cat skins and the low density of signs even possibly
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attributable to this species show that Leopard is clearly At
Risk in Lao PDR.
• Panthera tigris Tiger. Conservation Significance: Globally
Threatened - Endangered; At Risk in Lao PDR; CITES
Appendix I. Documented Range and Habitat: North
(Davidson 1998), centre M13 , south M8 ; recent records and reports
mapped in Duckworth and Hedges (1998a) and
Rabinowtz (1999). Many habitats, from plains to mountains.
Status Information: Reported during 87% of 1988-1993 village
interviews (n = 328) spread across Lao PDR (Annex 5).
Although historically Tiger was common throughout
(Delacour 1940) the Lao range is fragmented and the species
is declining steeply (Duckworth and Hedges 1998a). Recent
sight records and a camera-trap photograph (Plate 15) come
only from Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA (Duckworth 1998,
Robichaud 1999) but signs too large for other cats have been
found widely across Lao PDR. Tigers still occur throughout
forested (and some degraded) areas of Lao PDR (Table 12),
but at low densities. Particularly important areas include: (1)
a large area centred on the Nam Theun basin (including the
Nakai-Nam Theun, Nam Kading, Hin Namno and
Khammouan Limestone NBCAs and the Nakai Plateau), (2)
much of the remaining habitat in the Xe Kong basin and the
slopes of the Bolaven Plateau (including Xe Pian, Dong Hua
Sao and Dong Ampham NBCAs, Xe Khampho PNBCA and
Nam Ghong Provincial PA), (3) the contiguous Phou Louey
and Nam Et NBCAs, (4) Nam Phoun NBCA and probably
(5) Nam Kan PNBCA (Duckworth and Hedges 1998a). The
first two areas could support large Tiger populations if persecution
issues are addressed, and their potential contribution
to global Tiger conservation cannot be overstated. Occasional
Tigers still appear outside remote areas, e.g. one shot
at Phou Khoun on the Louangphabang / Vientiane Province
border in December 1998, reportedly while raiding cattle
(S. Dangers verbally 1998; Plates 4, 15). Historical information
is thin, perhaps because the species was so widespread.
It was common in Savannakhet Province in the 1940s, but
seemed scarce in Xiangkhouang Province (David-Beaulieu
1944, 1949-1950). Tigers are the most frequently reported
livestock predator in rural Lao PDR (Table 2), taking mainly
buffaloes and cattle, and occasionally pigs. The proportion
of reports truly referring to Tigers is unclear. Despite their
legally protected status, Tigers are shot, snared, poisoned,
lured to carcases baited with explosives or walk-in traps and
persecuted by other means. Indirectly, the greatly reduced
densities of wild ungulates mean that numbers can only be
low (see Karanth and Stith 1999). It is notable that one of
few survey areas assessed as having relatively healthy Sambar
populations (the contiguous Nam Et and Phou Louey NBCAs)
is also assessed as one of the most important for Tigers
(Davidson 1998). Various parts (nose, skins, bones, teeth,
claws and others) are sold as amulets, for medicines and as
curios, and are traded both domestically and with Thailand,