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

and logging. This results in smaller, separated populations which are less viable than a large,continuous population.Muntjacs spp. Muntiacus and Megamuntiacus spp.Muntjacs were heard “barking” on three occasions within ten days along the wet evergreenforest, ‘trophies’ (the upper skull, pedicles, and antlers) were seen in most villages. The rateof calling was lower than that found in areas of lower elevation in Lao, this may have beendue to the higher altitude. At least three species are likely to occur in NTX: Indian MuntjacMuntiacus muntjak, Large-antlered Muntjac Megamuntiacus vuquongensis and a yetunnamed species Muntiacus sp. found in 1995 in the BPKP menagerie (Schaller 1995).Village reports suggest three species are found in the south of NTX and two species in thenorth of NTX and NGA. The known field characters (other than the antlers) of the recentlydescribed Large-antlered Muntjac are based on only three animals, and therefore the range ofnatural variation within this species is not understood. On several occasions village reportshave indicated a single species when both Indian and Large-antlered occur (R. J. Timminspers. comm.), therefore information gathered in village interviews may be incorrect. Theunnamed species of muntjac is distinctive, being much smaller and darker than the other twospecies and is therefore probably reliably reported in village interviews. This species isthought to inhabit forest along the Lao border with Viet Nam. Like other large mammals inthe area it is most seriously threatened by hunting and habitat clearance.4.2.3 Other mammals of interestunnamed rabbit provisionally identified as Nesolagus sp. Not yet RatedTwo specimens of this species were obtained at the Lak Sao market, they reportedly camefrom near Ban Tongpé, near the southern end of NTX. This species is new to science andsince it has not been found elsewhere in Lao it may possibly be reliant on Wet EvergreenForest which is restricted to the central Annamites in this area.Owston’s Palm Civet Chrotogale owstoni Globally ThreatenedThis species has recently appeared in Lak Sao in both the BPKP menagerie and the CarnivorePreservation Trust facility. All individuals have reportedly come from the area of Ban Tongpénear the southern end of the NTX. A recent sighting in Vu Quang Nature reserve across theborder in Viet Nam of a captive specimen came from evergreen forest (Lambert 1994). This,combined with the fact that earthworms have been found in their stomachs (Osgood 1932),suggest that they may inhabit Wet Evergreen Forest within the NTX, where earthworms areexceedingly common. This species is very poorly known with the few known recent sightingsin the world coming from Viet Nam.Indochinese Pig Sus bucculentus Globally ThreatenedIn 1996 35 to 40 people interviewed in eight villages within the NTX and NGA, claimed onlya single species of pig was present. In contrast Schaller (1995) reported in 1995 a species ofpig other than the widespread Eurasian Wild Pig Sus scrofa. This species most likelyrepresents a separate species known as Sus bucculentus formerly considered as a subspeciesof Warty Pig Sus verrucosus and is known from only a single specimen from southern VietNam. The distribution and habitat needs of this species remain unclear.4.2.4 Threats to MammalsThis area is unique in that it supports populations of mammals with an extremely small worldrange, possibly being confined to a small area in central and northern Lao and central VietNam, most notably Saola, an unnamed species of Muntjac, and an unnamed species of Rabbit.As a consequence of their restricted range, protection of NTX and NGA is of importance tothese species’ survival. The continued fragmentation of habitat due to shifting cultivation and32