The Conservation Status of Gibbons in Vietnam - Gibbon Research ...

The Conservation Status of Gibbons in Vietnam6.3.2 Giang Man Proposed Nature ReserveLocation: Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh Province and Huong Son District, Ha Tinh ProvinceArea: 60,000 hectaresStatus Criteria: 1a, 2c, 3c, 4c, 5fDate of most recent survey: 2004Date of most recent confirmed record: 2004Minimum population: ≥ 5 groupsStatusLittle is known of the status of gibbons in this site, although five gibbon groups were recorded in2003 and 2004 (Le Khac Quyet 2003; Nguyen Manh Ha 2005). Much of the site is forested andremains to be surveyed so the site may contain a considerably larger population than is known.Threats and Conservation ActionsHunting, logging and land encroachment are the principle threats to N. siki in this site. Forestoutside the site is being rapidly cleared for cultivation and its gibbons are increasingly isolated.Local communities rely heavily on forest resources in the proposed reserve for subsistence,including collection of non-timber forest products, illegal logging and wildlife trade whichincludes primates (Le Khac Quyet 2004). There is currently little management activity to protectthe forest or its wildlife. Legal designation, establishment of a management board andimplementation of ranger patrols are urgent priorities for this site.6.3.3 Phong Nha-Ke Bang National ParkLocation: Bo Trach and Minh Hoa Districts, Quang Binh ProvinceArea: 85,754 hectaresStatus criteria: 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5fDate of most recent survey: 2009Date of most recent confirmed record: 2009Minimum population: ≥ 50 groupsStatusNo complete census of N. siki in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has been undertaken, but thepark clearly supports one of the largest N. siki populations in Vietnam and possibly globally. Atleast nine gibbon or other primate surveys were conducted between 1997 and 2009 in the park,but surveys were conducted in different areas, varied in objectives and utilised different methods(Nguyen Xuan Dang et al. 1998; Le Khac Quyet et al. 2002; Ruppell 2007; Haus et al. 2009; Le TrongDat et al. 2009). Haus et al. (2009) reported a site wide population estimate of 18±18 groups,however small sample size (only 1 group recorded), non-random sampling protocol and furthersurvey work demonstrate this estimate is erroneous. A survey in early 2009 in the south-east ofthe park recorded 37 groups with 101 individuals over less than 5,400 ha, yielding a group densityof 0.69 groups km -2 (Le Trong Dat et al. 2009). This area contains non-limestone primary forest andmay be more suitable habitat than the limestone karst forest which dominates the rest of PhongNha-Ke Bang National Park. Ruppell (2007) recorded 13 groups of gibbons between km 40 and km52 of the main service road in the park. Collectively, these records suggest at least 50 groupsoccur in the park, but this does not include the large park interior, which comprises largelyinaccessible limestone karst formations and may contain significant numbers of gibbons. Despite59