Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

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Wild sub-adult Reticulated Python Python reticulatus found above a stream in evergreen forest in Dong Khanthung PNBCA, July 1998. This species is heavily harvested for food and sale in the skin and consumption trade. B. L. Stuart / WCS. King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah killed for food in Ban Kadan village, Dong Khanthung PNBCA, July 1998. This species is usually harvested for sale to the Vietnamese and Chinese consumption trade. B. L. Stuart / WCS. Amphibians and Reptiles Oligodon cyclurus from evergreen forest in Phou Khaokhoay NBCA, June 1998. Sole record for Lao PDR. B. L. Stuart / WCS. Dead adult Common Ratsnake Ptyas mucosus in Thakhek Km. 3 market, April 1998. One of two records of this species for Lao PDR, although members of this genus are reported to be regularly harvested for food. B. L. Stuart / WCS. 63
Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report fresh faeces, slides and tracks were observed (Davenport et al. 1997). Wild Siamese Crocodiles have been nearly extirpated from Thailand (Cox et al. 1998) and Vietnam (MRCS/ UNDP 1998), and their continued existence is questionable in Malaysia and Indonesia (MRCS/UNDP 1998). Lao populations of Siamese Crocodiles are of extreme global importance, as the last viable populations are thought to exist there and in Cambodia (MRCS/UNDP 1998). The supposed viability of populations in Lao PDR has not been examined, but remains in doubt based on the drastic declines reported by local people (Salter 1993b) and by the paucity of recent field records. Field surveys specifically to assess the distribution, status, and threats to Siamese Crocodiles in Lao PDR have not been undertaken and are urgently needed. Salter (1993b) detailed occurrences of crocodiles based on interviews with local people throughout the country. The results of these and more recent interviews are summarised in Table 8. However, some reports of the presence of crocodiles may be over-optimistic, as in 1995 the majority of local people in Xe Bang-Nouan NBCA initially reported the species to be frequently encountered, but after laboured interviewing it was learned that perhaps only a few people had actually seen a crocodile in the last ten years (RJTim). The above records are assumed with confidence to be C. siamensis. Although some authors report that Estuarine Crocodile C. porosus occurs throughout South-east Asia (Levy 1991, Cox et al. 1998), it is doubted that the records in Lao PDR refer to this species. Crocodylus porosus is a large and aggressive species that today seems limited on mainland South-east Asia to coastal estuaries, as is the case in Cambodia (MRCS/UNDP 1998). Three main threats have been identified for crocodiles in Lao PDR: Harvest for skin trade and the collection of eggs and live animals for stocking crocodile farms in Thailand (Baird 1993) and Cambodia (MRCS/UNDP 1998). Some local people seem to hunt crocodiles opportunistically, while others target the species with set lines and perhaps night spotlighting (Claridge 1996). A young crocodile that was believed to come from the Xe Kaman river was reportedly confiscated from traders in 1993 in Saysetha District, Attapu Province (Baird 1995a). A 2.5 m crocodile was reported to be captured alive (date unreported) near Savannakhet but died before it was sold to Thai traders, although the skin was later smuggled to Mukdahan, Thailand (Baird 1993). A skull and 2 m skin that appeared in late 1997 in the Vientiane morning market was reported by the vendor to have come from the Nam Ngum river downstream of the Nam Ngum Reservoir (RJTiz). Local people in Ban Nam Leuk (Phou Khaokhoay NBCA) reported catching and eating a crocodile from the upper Nam Leuk river in 1995 (JWKP). A resident of Xe Bang- 64 Nouan NBCA reported shooting a crocodile in 1993 for commercial purposes, but the carcase was abandoned before a buyer could be found (Timmins and Bleisch 1995, RJTim). Habitat destruction through drainage and clearing of wetlands for conversion to agricultural lands, intensification of the use of remaining wetlands exposing any remaining crocodiles to higher risk of opportunistic killing, and the construction of hydropower reservoirs which flood breeding sites and allow hunters with boats easier access to crocodiles (Claridge 1996). Hybridisation of Siamese Crocodiles in commercial crocodile farms threatens the genetic integrity of captive stock and diminishes chances for supplementing wild populations in the future with reintroduced captive animals. Large numbers of Siamese Crocodiles are bred successfully in Thai and Cambodian crocodile farms, and to a lesser extent in Vietnam, Indonesia, and some European and American zoos (MRCS/UNDP 1998). Therefore, this species could be a candidate for re-introductions should suitable habitat persist and hunting be controlled. No captive breeding populations are known in Lao PDR at the present, although a large group is maintained at the Ban Keun Zoo. Two of these animals were reported by zoo staff to have originated from southern Lao PDR, while the rest originated from Thai crocodile farms (RJTim). Unfortunately, in the 1960s many crocodile farms in Thailand began to hybridise Siamese Crocodile with Estuarine Crocodile for improved skin quality and growth rates (Cox et al. 1998), and at least one farm in Vietnam has begun hybridising with the exotic Cuban Crocodile C. rhombifer (MRCS/UNDP 1998). Other farms may begin hybridising with Cuban Crocodiles as well, since six females from a consignment of 100 animals sent to Vietnam several years ago are now residing at a commercial crocodile farm in Siem Reap, Cambodia (MRCS/UNDP 1998). THREATS TO AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES The greatest threat to herpetofauna in Lao PDR is harvest, for domestic consumption, for internal trade and for unregulated export. Many amphibians and reptiles are eaten for food, and many are collected for their perceived value in Lao (Baird 1995b), Vietnamese (Jenkins 1995, Le Dien Duc and Broad 1995), and Chinese (Zhao and Adler 1993) traditional medicine. Turtles, monitors, other lizards, snakes and crocodiles are all used in traditional medicines. For example, Baird (1995b) reported uses in Lao traditional medicine for crocodile gall-bladders, head skin and teeth, for turtle scales, shells and gall-bladders, for python bone, oil and gallbladders, for monitor oil, for Water Dragon bones and chin meat, for pit viper bones, and for cobra and King Cobra bones. However, since many species are consumed not only for curing specific ailments but also because of general health
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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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LARGE MAMMALS J. W. Duckworth, R. J
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1965), but no detailed fauna has ye
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no hunter could confuse a gibbon, e
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Species Phou Dendin NBCA Large Mamm
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Species Nakai - Nam Theun NBCA Naka
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Species Xe Bang-Nouan NBCA Xe Sap N
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• Specific surveys to gain cleare
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Young White-handed Gibbon, Xaignabo
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m in limestone karst. Status Inform
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Duckworth in press). Status Informa
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[• Hylobates gabriellae Yellow-ch
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Range and Habitat: North M15 , cent
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ear action and management plan and
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Common Palm Civet, Ban Lak (20) mar
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[• Lutra sumatrana Hairy-nosed Ot
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• Hemigalus owstoni (= Chrotogale
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Table 14. Asian Golden Cat locality
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Sun Bear, Xe Pian NBCA, early 1997.
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China and Vietnam (Martin 1992, Sri
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1986, Dobias 1992a, Salter 1989b),
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Table 15. Summary of observations o
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ace of S. scrofa in Lao PDR, S. s.
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Eld’s Deer footprint, Dong Khanth
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areas during the rainy season (Deuv
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• Consideration of appropriate me
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wide-ranging field experience in In
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the headwaters of the Xe Bangfai an
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The three squirrels most commonly t
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Lao range to merit designation as a
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Conservation Management and Researc
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ORDER INSECTIVORA M. F. Robinson IN
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of north-east Laos. In Malaysia it
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ORDER CHIROPTERA: BATS C. M. Franci
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Rhinolophus acuminatus, Dong Khanth
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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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