Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

areas during the rainy season (Deuve 1972). Status Information:
Villagers in 1988-1993 reported Hog Deer locally in
south and central Lao PDR and from two locations in the
north (Annex 5), primarily near watercourses and seasonally
flooded wetlands. Descriptions of deer long extinct in Phou
Khaokhoay NBCA suggest Hog Deer (JWKP). However,
Schaller (1997) found no interviewees in Attapu Province
claiming knowledge of extant Hog Deer and indeed there
are no recent plausible reports from anywhere in Lao PDR
(S. Sawathvong verbally 1999; KK). Hog Deer is now very
rare or extinct in Lao PDR, as it is throughout Indochina
(Wemmer 1998; Lic Vuthy verbally 1997). A set of antlers in
a shop in Attapu in 1997 was at least a decade old (Davidson
et al. 1997). Residents of Ban Sompoy (Xe Pian NBCA)
retain an old Hog Deer antler (Robichaud 1998e). Although
very few Indochinese Hog Deer are held in museums, Osgood
(1932) specifically noted that it was reported as abundant in
Indochina. Deuve (1961a, 1972) gave a distribution as: around
Ban Houayxai (Bokeo Province); the east bank of the Mekong
in southern Oudomxai Province east to Louangphabang;
Houaphan Province; and north-west Savannakhet Province
(Ban Xeno and Kengkabao). No basis for this is given. The
species is clearly Conditionally At Risk in Lao PDR. Taxonomic
issues: Some sources (e.g. IUCN 1996) implied that the nominate
subspecies of Hog Deer occurs in Lao PDR, as well as
A. p. annamiticus. There is no evidence that it does; Grubb
and Gardner (1998) limit the range of A. p. porcinus to
Myanmar and areas further west.
Muntiacus muntjak Red Muntjac (= Indian Muntjac M4, M5 ; =
Common Barking Deer M2 ; = Muntjac M1 ). North, centre, south
(Timmins et al. 1998). All types of forest over a wide
altitudinal range. Muntjacs (not identified to species, but
doubtless mostly of this species) were reported during all
1988-1993 village interviews (n = 328) and remain widespread
and locally numerous. They are a common and preferred
food in rural areas (Table 1), occasionally damaging
crops (Table 2). Antlers are very commonly displayed in rural
and urban areas (Plate 16), and meat is widely sold in
urban markets and restaurants (Annex 1). As of 1998, antlers
were still being sold by the basket-load in Vientiane markets.
Skins also are sold, apparently as curios, and the feet
are used in traditional medicine (Martin 1992). Some meat
and antlers are exported to Thai markets (Srikosamatara et
al. 1992, Baird 1993, La-Ong et al. 1997). The current status
was reviewed, and known recent records mapped, in Timmins
et al. (1998). Taxonomic issues: Two distinct subspeciesgroups
inhabit continental South-east Asia and southern
China: a reddish-yellow one with forehead and legs coloured
like the body, or at most rather greyer (Plate 16), and a bright
reddish or orange one with dark forehead and legs. The first
(including M. m. curvostylis, M. m. menglalis and M. m.
annamensis) lives in Myanmar, Thailand, southern Yunnan
(China), southern Vietnam and southern Lao PDR; the
Large Mammals
second (including M. m. nigripes and M. m. yunnanensis)
lives in Hainan and the uplands of Yunnan north of 23º10' N
(China), Chapa and Hoi Xuan in Vietnam, and Phongsali in
Lao PDR (C. P. Groves in litt. 1999). A 1997 camera trap
photograph from Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA (Robichaud
1997b, where not named to species) fits an animal of this
latter group. The two groups are not regarded as separate
species as they interbreed naturally. This makes identification
to subspecies-group very difficult; a complete body
description and, ideally, photographs are needed.
• Muntiacus vuquangensis (= Megamuntiacus vuquangensis)
Large-antlered Muntjac (= Giant Muntjac). Conservation
Significance: Recommended by Timmins et al. (1998) to be
listed as Globally Threatened - Vulnerable; Potentially At
Risk in Lao PDR; CITES Appendix I. Endemic to Lao PDR,
Vietnam and north-east Cambodia; occurs only east of the
Mekong (Timmins et al. 1998 and references therein). Documented
Range and Habitat: North, centre, south (Timmins
et al. 1998, including map of all records prior to 1997). Various
forest types in hill and mountain areas. Status Information:
Since the first record of the species (in Phou Xang He
NBCA in 1993), considerable effort has been made to understand
its distribution and status (Schaller and Vrba 1996,
Timmins et al. 1998). It is known from 12 recent survey areas
along the Annamites and in outlying foothills from the
Nam Theun basin south to the Cambodian border (Table 12).
It is clearly common in some areas. Most of the few field
sightings remain unconfirmed, as pelage features are known
from few animals and so variation is as yet unclear. However,
one being killed by a pack of Dholes in Nam Theun
Extension PNBCA was clearly of this species (Schaller
1995a), and single sightings on the Nakai Plateau and in
Nakai-Nam Theun NBCA also probably were (Evans et al.
in prep. b). Muntjac antlers are used in traditional medicine
(Baird 1995b). The small range, likely narrower habitat use
(than that of M. muntjac), and unknown tolerance of hunting
all indicate that the species should be considered Potentially
At Risk in Lao PDR. Taxonomic issues: No authorised translation
of the type description of this species, originally in
Vietnamese (Do Tuoc et al. 1994), is available. However,
recent genetic analysis (Amato et al. in press b) suggests that
Large-antlered Muntjac is not the sister species to all other
muntjacs, a necessary condition for the genus Megamuntiacus
to be valid. It is thus referred to here as Muntiacus
vuquangensis, and placed next to M. rooseveltorum, to which
genetics suggest that it is closely related. (Plate 16)
• Muntiacus rooseveltorum Roosevelts’ Muntjac (= Roosevelt’s
Muntjac); (included in M. feae M6 , in M. feai Fea’s Muntjac M7 ).
Conservation Significance: Data Deficient (Global), as M.
feai; Little Known in Lao PDR. Endemic to northern Lao
PDR and perhaps Vietnam, Myanmar and/or China; so far
known only from east of the Mekong (Timmins et al. 1998,
207