The Conservation Status of Gibbons in Vietnam
7.3.17 Kon Cha Rang Nature Reserve Location: K’Bang District, Gia Lai Province Area: 15,900 hectares Status criteria: 1a, 2a, 3a, 4b, 5c Date of most recent survey: 2010 Date of most recent confirmed record: 2010 Minimum population: 13 groups confirmed, 20 groups estimated Status At least 13 gibbon groups persist in the northern part of this reserve, over an area of approximately 4,000 ha (Luu Quang Vinh et al. 2010). The entire reserve is estimated to support 20 groups, with an estimated density of 0.53 groups km-2 for the area where gibbons persist (Luu Quang Vinh et al. 2010). No gibbons were detected in the central portion of the reserve, and the southern portion was not surveyed due to interview reports stating gibbons no longer occurred there (Luu Quang Vinh et al. 2010). In 2008, two gibbon groups were recorded in the same area close to Tram Lap SFE during general biodiversity surveys (BirdLife International 2008). Threats and Conservation Actions In 2010, residents stated that many wildlife, including gibbons, were in decline due to intensive hunting, which is the principle threat to the species in this site (Luu Quang Vinh et al. 2010). In addition to residents, non-local hunters from An Lao District in Binh Dinh Province also visit the reserve to hunt wildlife (Luu Quang Vinh et al. 2010). The apparent absence of gibbons in the central and southern parts of the reserve may be due to previous extensive logging when the reserve was formerly part of a state forest enterprise. Logging access roads may also have facilitated hunting and subsequent extirpation of gibbons in those areas (Luu Quang Vinh et al. 2010). No specific conservation actions for gibbons are currently being implemented in the reserve. Priority actions include dedicated ranger patrols to protect gibbon groups and construction of ranger posts in the northern part of the reserve, a gun confiscation programme and conservation education activities (Luu Quang Vinh et al. 2010). Protection of gibbons in the proposed biodiversity corridor in Dakroong and Tram Lap SFEs (Anon. 2010) should help maintain a larger population than just those inside the nature reserve. Two dams and a bauxite mine are proposed to be built in the nature reserve (Birdlife International Vietnam Programme 2008), and although away from known gibbon habitat there may be consequences for gibbons.
7.3.18 Ba Nam Commune, Ba To District Location: Ba To District, Quang Ngai Province Area: approximately 10,000 hectares Status criteria: 1a, 2c, 3c, 4c, 5f Date of most recent survey: 2011 Date of most recent confirmed record: 2011 Minimum population: ≼ 3 groups Status From 28 May to 10 June 2011, an estimated three groups were heard from a campsite in Ba Nam Commune, during an insect and herptile survey led by the NGO Wildlife At Risk (Nguyen Vu Khoi 2011).
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