A Preliminary Wildlife and Habitat Survey of the Proposed Northern ...

SpeciesNationalImportanceGlobalImportanceHabitatDegradationThreatCoral-billed Ground Cuckoo Low Low Probably Midto LowHuntingThreatProbablyMid to LowSpecific ActionRequiredReduce ForestClearance andReduce SnaringControl HuntingBrown Hornbill Mid Mid Low ProbablyMid to LowLarge Hornbill sp. Low Low High High Control HuntingBlyth's Kingfisher High Mid High Very Low Protect forestedstreamsCrested Kingfisher Mid Mid to Low High ProbablyLowProtect lowlandrivers andstreamsBlue-naped Pitta Low Low? Low? Low? None?Black-throated Tit Low Very Low Very Low Very Low NoneBrown Dipper Low Very Low Mid to Low Very Low Protectcatchments ofmajor rivers[Purple Cochoa] High Mid to Low Probably Low Very Low Protect WetEvergreenShort-tailed Scimitar-Babbler High High Low? Very Low Protect WetEvergreenGray Laughingthrush High High Low Mid Reduce ForestClearanceRufous-faced Warbler Low Low Low Very Low NoneYellow-vented Warbler Low to Mid Low to Mid Mid? Very Low Reduce ForestClearanceWhite-winged Magpie Mid Mid Low Mid Reduce ForestClearanceHill Myna Low Low Low Mid to High MonitorTrappingGlobal and National importance:Low: species of low priority, or species of medium priority but with small populations in NTX and/or NGAMid: medium priority species with NTX and/or NGA population globally or nationally significantHigh: high priority species, or medium priority species with large populations in NTX and/or NGAWhere no action is recommended it can be assumed that maintaining adequate cover of forest habitat in good condition will besufficient in the short and medium term to conserve the species[ ] Species provisionally identified.4.2 Mammals4.2.1 Importance of NTX for mammalsNTX holds Saola which is an extremely threatened animal. It is thought that NTX provideshabitat for two other recently described species of mammal; an unnamed Muntjac and anunnamed species of rabbit. In relation to some other forested areas of Lao a low density ofmammals was observed especially primates and Ratufa squirrels. However, the only recentsighting of Fishing Cat comes from within the NTX.NGA supports relatively few large mammals because of the high level of human disturbancein the area. The few remaining patches of forest on the higher hills and mountains in the areaare reported to support populations of Saola. This species is so rare and its range apparentlyso small that any population, no matter how small, warrants immediate and strict protection(Schaller and Rabinowitz 1995).The survey of the NTX road was too brief to assess its importance. The area supports anaturally low density of large mammals, making it difficult to assess relative abundance’s insuch a short time period. However, the NTX road provides the only recent field sightings in28