Describing the Extent of Wildlife Hunting Activity in Three Neglected Areas of Lao PDR

Le résumé fourni par la source

In many rural areas of Lao PDR, wildlife continues to be a crucial source of food and income. Specifically, various species of wildlife or individual animals are frequently traded and can be found for sale along roadsides or in local markets. However, the local community's understanding of threats posed by biodiversity loss remains insufficient. In this study, we aimed to address this issue by surveying illegal hunting of wild animals in three provinces of Lao PDR, focusing on areas where the local population heavily relies on natural resources for their livelihoods. These natural resources are a vital source of income to meet daily household expenditures, potentially shifting hunting from subsistence to commercial purposes. We interviewed 40 hunters, and documented wildlife species that sold at roadside. Each species was categorized according to its conservation status based on the IUCN Red List. We documented 3,295 hunted individuals, comprising 2,146 birds (36 species), 1,081 mammals (15 species), and 68 reptiles (6 species); 12 species accounted for slightly more than two thirds of the individuals. These preliminary findings suggest the potential threat posed by hunting and trade to the conservation of these species. While most species identified in this study currently face low conservation concerns, they could become vulnerable or designated as at-risk species if hunting intensifies with an increasing number of hunters in the future.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.