Title
Conservation importance of Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area, Laos, for small carnivores, based on camera trap data
Author(s)
Coudrat, C. N. Z.;Nanthavong, C.;Sayavong, S.;Johnson, A.;Johnston, J. B.;Robichaud, W. G.
Published
2014
Publisher
Raffles Bulletin of Zoology
Abstract
Laos supports at least 21 species of small carnivores (Viverridae, Prionodontidae, Mustelidae, and Herpestidae) and is considered to be globally important for the conservation of many of these, yet for most species, baseline data on diversity, distribution, conservation, and taxonomic status remain limited. Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area (NPA), central-eastern Laos, is ranked among the highest priority of the country’s NPAs for national and global biodiversity importance and is one of the largest remaining contiguous forest blocks in Indochina. A wildlife monitoring programme based on camera trap surveys debuted in the area in 2006. From 2006–2011, 10 blocks were sampled covering 900 km and totalling 20,452 camera trap days. Excluding Felidae, 10 species of small carnivores were photographed during this survey, including thefirst confirmed record in the wild of Owston’s civet Chrotogale owstoni for the area and the second for Laos. This long-term camera-trap programme is one of only two long-term wildlife monitoring programmes in Laos and as such provides some of the most comprehensive data available on small carnivores for the country. The frequency of records for each species, local distribution, and general behaviour observed are presented. Other species known to occur in the area but unrecorded by this camera trap survey are discussed. In total, at least 15 species of small carnivores occur in Nakai Nam Theun NPA. Although small carnivore species may be more resilient to hunting activities than larger mammals, the intensity of hunting with ground snares in the area is likely to result in dramatic population declines if it is not better controlled. Nakai-Nam Theun NPA should be considered as a priority area for the conservation of small carnivores, notably for Vulnerable Owston’s civet and its otter species.
Keywords
Viverrids;Prionodontids;Mustelids;Herpestids;Lao PDR;Snare hunting

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PUB15072