FACT SHEET LAOS
© CK WONG / WWF GREATER MEKONG
Indochinese Tiger
Landscape approach adopted
in effort to save wild tiger populations Revered in many Asian cultures, the tiger is a ‘flagship’ species for the Asian forest ecosystem, yet there are as few as 3,200 tigers surviving in the world’s forest, occupying only 7% of their historical range. The situation is so severe, that the wild tiger faces extinction in little over a decade.
Map of Lao PDR: Tiger Landscape Class I Class II
Today, wild tigers face unrelenting threats including hunting, habitat destruction, depletion of prey species and illegal wildlife trade. The primary threat to Indochinese tigers, found in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, is direct poaching of both tiger and its prey species, compounded by the destruction of tiger habitation through unsustainable infrastructure development and conversion for agricultural purposes. This fragmentation forces tigers to inhabit scattered patches of land, isolating populations and increasing accessibility for poachers.
Class III Potential Landscape
In Lao PDR, there are as few as thirty wild tigers left, confined to evergreen forests of the Northern Annamites in Northern Laos and the Dry Forests/Central Annamites landscape in Southern Laos. Very little data is available relating to the current populations of wild tigers in Laos, yet rather than concentrating efforts and limited funding to confirm presence of this majestic species, WWF has firstly pioneered a landscape based approach across Southern Laos to identify priority areas that indicate potential tiger populations and where conservation will most benefit the long-term survival of wild tigers.
SOUTHERN LAOS
As such, WWF in partnership with the Lao Government has long term commitment to several national protected areas (NPA), these include Xe Pian has potential for rapid tiger recovery with new project supporting the improvement of management effectiveness to reduce poaching and recover wildlife populations. Recent interview surveys indicate areas that are thought to support tiger in and around Xe Pian NPA and Dong Ampham NPA, including the connecting forest corridors between the two protected areas. In addition, a large mammal survey will collate baseline data of species populations found within the NPAs that could help with the identification of populations of prey species where protection efforts need to be focused. Further work relating to other prey species, Eld’s Deer, continues in Savannakhet province, as WWF in collaboration with Government agency supports the Eld’s Deer Sanctuary project which aims to increase specie populations whilst maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem.
Forest Categories NPA Protection Forest Production Forest Provincial Boundary
Kingdom: Animalia Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Panthera Subspecies: Panthera tigris corbetti found in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar •
There are as few as thirty wild tigers in Laos •
Laos will lose its tiger populations, if immediate action is not taken
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There is only one known breeding population of wild tigers in Laos •
Southern Laos has potential for rapid recovery of wild tigers •
Creation of a secondary subpopulation of wild tigers is vital for the survival of the species in Laos
• TIGER CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION POTENTIAL
In Northern Laos, WWF is working in Nam Pouy NPA. This project is directly related to the conservation of another key species, the Asian Elephant, yet the protected area covering 1912km2 consists of a large complex evergreen forest and bamboo has potential for tiger presence. Ongoing conservation, protection and other land use management practices are equally beneficial to elephants and tigers.
The Government of Laos has made great strides in initiating efforts to improve the conservation of the country’s tiger populations. By working alongside environmental agencies to create and implement the National Tiger Action Plan, and through their participation in the Tiger Summit held in Russia in November 2010, they have demonstrated a growing awareness and commitment to tiger conservation. Initially, Government agencies and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have focused their tiger conservation efforts to Nam Et–Phou Louey NPA in Northern Laos, yet it is now evident, that given the application of sound conservation measures, there also exists a genuine potential for tiger recovery in Southern Laos. Southern Laos contains an impressive network of NPAs extending throughout the provinces of Salavanh, Attapeu, Champasak and Xe Kong. The NPAs of Dong Hua Sao, Xe Pian, Dong Ampham and Xe Sap contain over 700,000ha of protected area, connected by a system of biodiversity corridors, allowing for critical movement and species dispersal between them. Not only confined to Laos, these areas also create important linkages and connectivity to the Cambodian and Vietnamese Forest habitats. Recent evidence of tiger habitation has been identified within two provinces, in March 2010 tiger footprints and tree scratching were recorded during patrol in Attapeu province. Whilst in November 2008, villagers of Ban Thangbeng in Champasak province reported sightings of two tiger cubs, and more recently in January 2011 large cat footprints have been recorded during survey conducted in Xe Pian NPA. This impressive protected area network in Southern Laos has already been identified as a ‘Class 1’ zone within the Tiger Landscape. The region thus provides excellent potential for the creation of a secondary subpopulation of tigers, so vital to the survival of the species within Laos. As a species, tiger have the ability to adapt to a wide range of habitat types, climatic conditions, and prey species. Coupled with their ability to reproduce, even under unfavourable conditions, these resilient predators have the potential to undergo rapid recovery, despite the very low population numbers currently experienced in Laos.
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LAOS
Laos shares pole position with China, Cambodia and Vietnam in relation to which of the thirteen tiger range countries will be first to lose its wild tiger populations © WWF LAOS
For more information: WWF Greater Mekong - Laos Office House 39, Unit 5, Ban Saylom, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: +856 21 216080 Fax: +856 21 251883
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