the babbler 28

BirdLife International in Indochina

The Babbler December 2008 1

December 2008 Number 28

Welcome Jonathan C. Eames Features CEPF-RIT December 2008 update A successful project: Natmataung NP Regional news Two new species of fish discovered Two new species of shrew discov-ered Four new species of frog discovered New population of Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey discovered Rafetus swinhoei held hostage Tay Za logging in Karen State Vietnam embassy staff possibly in-volved in illegal rhino horn traffick-ing Important Bird Area news Permian visit Western Siem Pang IBA, Cambodia Rarest of the rare Project updates Bengal Florican White-shouldered Ibis Publications Reviews Staff news BirdLife International in Indochina is a subregional programme of the BirdLife Secretariat operating in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet-nam. It currently has two offices in the region: Vietnam Programme Office, N6/2+3, Lane 25, Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam. Tel: +84(0)43 514890 Cambodia Programme Office, #61B, Street 386, Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang III, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh. Cambodia. Tel/Fax: +85523993631 www.birdlifeinindichina.org

The Babbler is the quarterly newsletter of BirdLife International in Indo-china. This quarter it is complied by Simon Mahood and edited by Jona-than C. Eames [email protected]. The views expressed are those of contributors and are not necessarily those of BirdLife International.

As 2008 draws to a close it is customary, if somewhat clichd, to ponder what was our greatest achievement in the old year. Without doubt our single most important achievement in 2008 was in securing an agreement with the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund to deliver its conservation investment in the Indochina region. This opportunity will propel BirdLife from being a small player on the conservation scene to becoming a donor. I hope that we will be able to meet the expectations of CEPF, its donors and beneficiaries and repay the trust shown in BirdLife. The great opportunity presented by CEPF is that the money is for civil society ex-clusively! Of course working successfully with government is always our wish but it is not the only way to achieve conservation in our region. If anyone needed a better reminder of the distance we still must travel to ensure effective government-led conservation in our region one need only look no further than Vietnam. 2008 will be remembered as the year the Government of Vietnam decided to build a surfaced road through the Cat Loc sector of Cat Tien National Park. Cat Loc supports (it is believed) one of only two remaining populations of Javan Rhinoceros, and the only population on the South-east Asian mainland. This is a tremendously disappointing outcome after the years of conservation investment at this site by the international community. How could it happen? Not content with failing to adequately conserve its own rhinos, the Vietnamese gov-ernment is now complicit in poaching South Africas world famous rhino populations it labored for a century restoring. Vietnam emerged in 2008 as a major player in the smuggling of rhino horn from South Africa. It then emerged that a Vietnamese embassy staffer Mrs. Vu Moc Anh was recalled by Hanoi after receiving a bag containing rhino horn. The South African authorities went on to accuse Vietnamese embassy staff of using diplomatic pouches to smuggle rhino horn out of the country. Clearly, Vietnams Javan Rhinos cannot count on the support of the government and it is time to hand their custody over to the NGO conservation com-munity, a position for which I have long argued. If this happened, CEPF funds could be used to catalyze the conservation effort.



2009 promises to be a challenging year for our BirdLife programme. The effects of the global financial crisis and the slide into economic recession will inevitably have implications for conservation. In the short term, donors may have less to spend on conservation and securing financial support for the pro-gramme will remain our biggest challenge throughout 2009. One hopes that there may also be a positive side to global recession too: perhaps fewer large infrastructure projects of dubious provenance will now go ahead? In our region this might include the dams planned for the Srepok River by the Chinese and Vietnamese. One can also hope that the fall in the price of oil palm may result in reduced rates of low-land forest clearance in Myanmar as new plantation investments are put on hold. As I write this we are only days away from the inauguration of a new American President. Mentioning the need to heal a sick planet was amongst the first issues he mentioned in his acceptance speech follow-ing the 2008 election and caught my attention. We can only hope that 2009 will mark the year the world finally gets serious about climate change. New evidence from Australia now strongly suggests that tropical forest species have far less tolerance for shifts in temperature (because they evolved in stable tropical ecosystems) that will be associated with continuing climate change. As the world gets hotter tropical forest species, especially those in the humid lowlands have fewer options and nowhere to go. Never mind, the birds and mammals of Cat Tien, once they have crossed the Dong Nai River can make quick progress through the hills of Cat Loc along the new road.

Jonathan C. Eames, Programme Manager




Features Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund-Regional Implementation Team : December 2008 update In mid August 2008, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) was officially launched for the In-dochina region and BirdLife International in Indochina, in the role as CEPF-Regional Implementation Team (CEPF-RIT), issued the first Call for Letters of Inquiry (LoIs) for Cambodia and Vietnam with a deadline of 30th November 2008. Further information about CEPF and the RIT is available at www.cepf.net or www.birdlifeindochina.org or summarised in the previous BirdLife newsletter, the Babbler 27 (http://birdlifeindochina.org/report_pdfs/babbler27.pdf). First call for Letters of Inquiry for Cambodia and Vietnam In preparation for a first call of LoIs, CEPF-RIT BirdLife International in Indochina developed a list of civil society organisations active in environmental conservation in Indochina that could potentially be inter-ested in applying for CEPF funds. These all receive BirdLife CEPF-RIT press re-leases, calls for Letters of Inquiry, and supporting information about CEPF funding and application processes (to sign up, please email [email protected]). Prior to the deadline for LoI submission, the CEPF-RIT pro-vided assistance in English, Vietnamese, and Khmer to more than 50 potential ap-plicants through in-person meetings, tele-phone calls and emails, answering ques-tions about eligibility criteria, priorities for funding, and application procedures. At the closing date of the first round of applications, more than 70 LoIs from nearly 60 national and international civil society organisations had been re-ceived. One third of those are for small grants (US$20,000 and less), with slightly more applications for Cambodia than Vietnam and five multi-country or re-gional proposals. There will be future calls for LoIs after assessment has been completed of the many LoIs submitted so far to identify gaps in geographic or the-matic coverage.

The CEPF-RIT produced a poster to inform potential appli-cants and interested parties about the project



First successful grant applicants Among the few organisations submitting applications well before the deadline, the Harrison Institute and Missouri Botanical Garden have become the first successful CEPF grantees in Indochina. BirdLife International in Indochina view their approval of these two small grants as a small but significant step forward for nature conservation in Indochina.

The Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) has received almost USD 5,000 to support 20 junior botanists and students from Vietnam to attend the first international symposium of the Flora of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in Phnom Penh, Cambodia this month, thus helping to build a strong network of academics, researchers, conservation professionals, and institutions working together to generate scientific knowl-edge and primary baseline data for sound decision-making on the conservation of threatened plant di-versity in Indochina. The CEPF-RIT Project Officer for Cambodia was invited to attend this symposium and presented a poster to introduce CEPF to participants and potential applicants. CEPF has identified a major need for investigation of the status and distribution of globally threatened plant species in Indo-china. The MBG Vietnam Botanical Conservation Program, a scientific collaborative program, between the MBG (www.mobot.org), the oldest operating botanical garden in the United States and the Vietnam In-

Sapria himalayana, a member of the family Rafflesiaceae is found in southern Vietnam. Unlike this species which should have 10 lobes, true Rafflesia all have seven lobes. (Photo: Jonathan C. Eames)



stitute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), has conducted several botanical and conservation training programs aimed at developing in-country expertise since 1994. These programs take a multi-tiered approach to develop competence and capacity for conservation and sustainable use of plant diver-sity for Vietnamese young scientists, technicians, students, forest protection officers and park rangers. The Harrison Institute will receive USD 20,000 to carry out field research to assess the status and distri-bution of the poorly-known Wroughton's Free-tailed Bat (Otomops wroughtoni) in Chhep District, Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia. This species is known only from two sites in India, and one record in Cam-bodia. Workshops and targeted media outreach during the project will aim to build capacity of local communities, students and conservationists in bat research and conservation and raise awareness of the important role bats play in ecosystems. The Harrison Institute (www.harrison-institute.org) was founded in 1930 as a zoological museum in the United Kingdom. Today, it is CITES listed and seeks to increase capacity in mammal and bird taxonomy in order to promote and facilitate biodiversity conservation. They provide training and academic super-vision of UK and overseas postgraduate students, conduct collaborative research programmes and field surveys, and publish scientific resources. BirdLife and CEPF expect to make many further grants to fur-ther biodiversity conservation in Indochina in the coming time.

Wroughton's Free-tailed Bat Otomops wroughtoni: one of the first species in the region to benefit from the funding provided by the CEPF (Photo: Niranjan Sant)



Grant Decision-Making Process The CEPF grant decision-making process is based on the evaluation of Letters of Inquiry by internal and external applicants against the Strategic Directions and investment priorities of CEPF, as listed in the Ecosystem Profile for Indo-Burma. Small Grants of up to $20,000 are awarded by the BirdLife CEPF-RIT under a small grants program. Decisions on submitted LoIs are made on the basis of financial and pro-grammatic reviews and reviewer comments. Completed LoI forms are sufficient as proposals for all grants of this size. The RIT will award grants of $20,000 or less on a regular schedule, inform applicants about its decisions, and support grantees to document and monitor the projects as they are implemented. Core Grants of more than $20,000 are awarded by CEPF. The same review process is used for core grant LoIs as for small grant LoIs, but if core grant LoIs are positively reviewed, the applicant will be invited to submit a full Project Proposal application. The CEPF-RIT coordinates review and is available to assist applicants as necessary. Full Project Proposals will also receive review, and grantees again supported during implementation by the CEPF-RIT. CEPF and the CEPF-RIT aim to give applicants in Indochina feedback within three months from the sub-mission date. For those submitting LoIs close to deadlines, responses may be delayed. National Advisory and Technical Review Groups In order to oversee the strategic evolution of the CEPF portfolio in each country, the CEPF-RIT is in the process of setting up National Advisory Groups (NAGs) in all five countries eligible for CEPF funds in the Indo-Burma region (Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam). NAGs consist of representatives from nationally-represented CEPF donors, the GEF Small Grants Programme, leading national academic institu-tions, and leading national and international NGOs. NAGs will help review the CEPF portfolio in each country annually, providing guidance and comments to the CEPF-RIT based on this review, participate in a more detailed mid-term assessment of the investment portfolio, and review and endorse lists of small grants approved by the CEPF-RIT. The NAGs are also an important avenue for dissemination of awareness of CEPF and its goals and achievements among senior decision-makers and other stakeholders in each country. Similar steps have also been taken to develop Technical Review Groups (TRGs) in Cambodia and Viet-nam, comprising experienced international and local conservation practitioners or academics. Each group, which has four to 10 core members and additional supporting members, lends their expertise to reviewing LoIs received by CEPF. They also review, where occasionally necessary, full proposals and justification memos.

Huong Tran Thi Thanh CEPF-RIT

December 2008



Livelihood inputs as a tool to deliver on conservation objec-tives in Natmataung National Park, Chin State, Myanmar Project context Myanmar is one of the South-East Asian countries, with land area of 677,000 square kilometers and a coastline of 2229 kilometers. The elevation of the land surface varies from sea level along the south-eastern coastal section, to about 6000 meters on the snow-capped mountain ranges in the North. Myan-mar possesses a fauna and flora of unusual diversity. It is one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world and belongs to the Indo-Burma Hotspot, which includes Indo-China, Thailand, Burma (Myanmar) and north-eastern India. Lack of clear-cut land use policy; land use conflicts; deforestation; habitat loss and fragmentation; poaching; and illegal trade of wildlife and forest products along trans-boundary; lack of funds, trained staff, researchers, and lack of adequate political will are common issues of biodiversity conservation in most of mainland South-East Asian countries and Myanmar is of no exception. Natmataung National Park (NNP) encompasses 279 km2 of verdant mountainous landscape in the Chin Hills of western Myanmar. The peak, that is, Natmataung (Mt. Victoria) is 3053 meter high. NNP and its buffer area comprises dipterocarp forest, pine forest, laurel and stone oak forest, oak forest, oak and rho-dodendron forest and the meadows ( Fujikawa et al. 2008). In addition to the conservation issues identi-fied below, BI/BANCA had observed that the area lies in Eastern Himalayas EBA 130 (Stattersfield et al.1998), and is IBA 39 or the Natmataung National Park IBA (BirdLife International 2004). It is also one of the centres of worlds plant diversity (WWF and IUCN 1995). Also NNP is the important catchment of 2 big rivers and 9 medium and small rivers, on which about 3 million people are depending for their livelihoods. Therefore this area was chosen to implement the project. Natmataung National Park and its surrounding buffer zone are populated by about 120 villages, thirty-two of which are located inside the park. Villagers in this remote mountainous area are among the poor-est in the country, and are dependent on shifting cultivation and use of natural resources found in the park and its buffer zone for their livelihoods. Direct causes of degradation of the IBA and buffer zone include forest fires, encroachment for shifting cultivation and farm crops, encroachment of government-promoted plantations, poaching of wildlife and birds, illegal extraction of timber and non-timber forest products. Root causes include poverty, low levels of formal education, and environmental awareness. Adequate political-will may resolve the main conservation / forest/ wildlife issues in Myanmar (Uga 2001). Communities in this NNP area are food-insecure subsistence farmers, and most households are able to grow only enough food for a six months supply for the family from their shifting cultivation plots. As populations grow, land becomes less available, and fallow periods are no longer long enough to sustain soil fertility. During the village discussions, farmers stated that agricultural yields have halved in some areas over the last 20 years. As a result, communities are falling into a cycle of rice debt, and be-coming dependent on high-value resources collected from the forest, such as orchids and tubers, and fuel-wood. Increased areas of shifting cultivation are encroaching on the park, and contributing to the spread of wildfires. These practices are destructive to the IBA, as they cause human disturbance, en-croachment of agriculture, severe fire damage, and destruction of resources such as when trees may be cut to access orchids on higher branches. The project This success story began in 2004. It was a collaborative effort between BANCA (Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association) and BirdLife International (BI), Indochina Programme. Most of BANCAs



members in 2004 were former staff of Nature and Wildlife Conservation Directorate (NWCD) of Forest Department (FD). According to their analysis on protected areas, effective biodiversity conservation in Myanmar was not possible unless socio-economic situation of the poor rural people living in and around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, was brought into due consideration. There are 42 existing and proposed protected areas in Myanmar (Uga 2008), but only 22 are being managed by wardens and their staff appointed by the ministry of forestry as the latter has the mandate for biodiversity conservation. Most of these protected areas are not well looked after because the Forest Department has constraints, namely, institutional, financial and human capacity constraints. Therefore as recommended before, after reviewing the current situation of gaps and shortcomings of the protected area system in Myanmar, the crucial and appropriate immediate actions must be carried out in time (Uga 2002). BANCAs other obser-vation was that the domain concept was still being adopted and practiced in many government agen-cies. Now it is 21st century and the current situation in and outside of the country is very much different from the situation of the last century. Regarding the protected area management, BANCA had observed the paradigm shift, that is, from domain concept to stakeholder concept, which was worth trying in one of the existing protected areas in the country. This paradigm shift (IUCN 2004) was reflected in the out-comes of two recent global events, namely, the 5th World Parks Congress (Durban 2003) and the 7th con-ference of parties of the Convention of Biological Diversity (Kuala Lumpur 2004). As the stakeholder concept is not yet well accepted, the involvement of the Warden and his staff in this project has been in-formal.

Residents of villages close to Natmataung National Park . Tattooing is a cultural traditional that per-sists today. It identified a womans tribe and village. (Photo: Jonathan C. Eames)



A member of BANCA and the Warden had done a rapid assessment of buffer area of the park in 2003. The socio-economic data of this assessment was the very basis of this project. In October 2004, a stake-holder workshop was held in Mindat comprising BANCA, NNP, CBOs, LCGs, observers and interested persons and District and Township level authorities. Stakeholder concept and bottomup approach were given priority during workshop sessions. The workshop resulted in, an agreement between BANCA and LCGs that the former provides livelihood inputs and conservation inputs and the latter in turn, patrols against poaching, shifting cultivation, forest fires and illegal extraction of forest products including wild orchids. In 2004, a series of meetings were continued with local villagers and district and township au-thorities to identify the development priorities in each village. BANCA/BI/NNP staff made the villagers aware of their obligations as stakeholders in maintaining the integrity of the NNP. As a result the vil-lages elected representatives to form LCGs to take the lead in promoting village development initiatives and anti-poaching patrols around the park. The project initially focussed on two villages, Hiloung (Mindat Township) and Okpo (Kanpetlet Town-ship). In each village BANCA provided a water storage tank (1500 gallons capacity), a nursery (40 feet x 40 feet, 10000 coffee and avocado seedlings), and distributed rice and improved variety potatoes. In turn LCGs arranged patrol teams, 10 villagers of each village and patrolling equipment was provided by BANCA. In 2005, Khunein (Mindat) and Hlalaungpan (Kanpetlet) villages were included in LCG network by BI and BANCA. No more distribution of rice took place because we did not want to destroy the mentality of the villagers. However instead, there were distribution of corn and improved variety potatoes (transported from Shan State) for the two villages. A water storage tank and a nursery of avocado and coffee seedlings were provided for each village. In 2005/2006, two more villages were included in our LCG network by BANCA/BE (British Embassy). Makyauk Ar and Yalaungpan villages were provided with water storage tanks and nurseries. BE provided school equipment and to Okpo, Hilaung, Makyauk Ar and Yalaungpan villages. Patrolling equipment were also provided to 4 LCGs of these villages by BE. Up to this stage, patrolling was being carried out in 6 villages by respective LCGs (10 villagers of each LCG) with the assistance of a few staff of BANCA and NNP. In implementing the TMF project (with Dutch Governments funding), there was an agreement among BANCA/care/and UNDP during a workshop attended by personnel from BANCA/UNDP/care/ NNP/CBOs/LCGs in January 2007. Livelihood inputs were provided by UNDP/care and conservation inputs (patrolling equipment to LCGs of 10 more villages) by BANCA/TMF. Now altogether there were 16 LCGs in the project area. A training course on Wildlife Law (SLORC 1994) and rules, Forest Law (SLORC 1992) and rules, systematic patrolling, biodiversity conservation, usefulness of forests and zoning princi-ples in Natmataung National Park, was conducted by Chairman of BANCA and the Warden of NNP, attended by 16 LCGs. Livelihood inputs provided by Care/UNDP included farming tools, promotion of wild Taro cultivation, training courses on agriculture and livestock breeding, home garden growing, textbook supporting. In 2007, there were two days cross-visits among 16 LCGs, sharing knowledge and experiences. There was a study tour trip to Pyin Oo Lwin, which included 3 days visit to an agricultural school for farmers and 1 day excursion trip, learning on coffee markets. The villagers were enlightened and motivated and were now very interested to raise coffee plantations on permanent farms for their income generation. Hence shifting cultivation can be checked to some extent. In 2008, BANCA/BE provided Aye and Htatshwe Villages with water storage tanks, nurseries of coffee



and avocado seedlings and distributed corn and school equipment. At present, altogether 16 villages (LCGs) have been conducting systematic patrolling against poaching, unlawful shifting cultivation and illegal extraction of forest products. Proof of success and lessons learned BANCA is being approached by several villages (at least five) who are requesting inclusion in LCG net-work. They are interested in patrol teams and starting LCGs, regardless of whether or not livelihood as-sistance is forthcoming. They just asked for conservation inputs only. This is a testament to the fact that the LCG activities meet a perceived priority need of the villagers, and should be spread farther to more villages. Some villages asked for both livelihood and conservation inputs. Formerly although there were many forest and wildlife offences, no case of infractions of park regula-tions was reported to park staff. Now in 2007, 46 forest/wildlife offences were reported by the LCGs to the Warden of N.N.P. In 16 villages (16 LCGs) knowledge, attitudes and behaviours have changed towards conservation-mindedness. As a result of conservation training and LCG activities, many LCG leaders, patrol team members, and villagers have learned the value of biodiversity conservation in general, and of the na-tional park/IBA in specific. They are now aware of the rules and regulations regarding park resources,

Livelihood assistance in the form of avocado and coffee seedlings were provided to villages taking part in LCG activities. (Photo: Jonathan C. Eames)



especially the prohibition on clearing fields, hunting and snaring, and collecting orchids. Whether or not they agree with it, or able to refrain from gathering livelihood resources in the forest, at least most households are now aware of the importance of biodiversity conservation. When we analyse 16 vil-lages, the LCG of Madat Village, reports that nearly all households now understand the importance of conservation. By encouraging the best hunters to join the patrol teams, the LCG has taken steps to turn hunters into de-facto conservationists. Every village has pro-conservation group (majority) and anti-conservation group (minority). BANCA has noticed that in every village (16 LCGs) pro-conservation group has become stronger and more powerful and accepted by 95% of the villagers. All the 16 LCGs are requesting awareness raising programme to convince the minority groups so that eventually their atti-tudes may change towards conservation-mindedness. The cross-visit forum enabled frank discussion between LCGs, park staff and BANCA staff, including questions such as the role of park staff in supporting the patrolling efforts. In this way LCGs members were empowered to air and resolve controversial issues in the face of authority a real achievement in the Myanmar context. Reporting by LCGs to the Warden of NNP now (2008) happens quite often on shifting cultivation en-croachment into buffer/core area of the park, poaching and illegal extraction of wild orchids. In Yaloungpan and Kwelontha, villagers protect water sources/water holes and prohibit cutting of nearby trees by imposing Chin customary law. The penalty was usually a compensation in kind such as, the number of chicken, or pigs or mythuns, and is decided by traditionally respected Chin village elders. Key project results Among the existing 22 protected areas in the country, the NNP is the only park where patrolling against poaching and illegal extraction of forest products is being undertaken mainly by the villagers (LCGs). The mindsets of LCGs have changed towards conservation-mindedness. Park staff and LCGs can coop-erate and treat each other as important stakeholders. With the help of BANCA/BI/care/UNDP/CBOs, the capacity of villagers has been improved and the shifting cultivation to some extent can be checked in buffer/core area of NNP through permanent cultivation of coffee, avocado and Taro. References BirdLife International (2004) Important Bird Areas in Asia: key sites for conservation. Cambridge, UK : BirdLife International. (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 13). Fujikawa, K., N. Kuroiwa, A. Maeda, S. Gale, U Shein Gay Ngai and U Aung Din (2008) A Guide to the Forests of Natmataung - Natmataung National Park, My anmar-. Kochi Insatsu Co. Ltd, Kochi, Japan. 31 March 2008. IUCN (2004) Participatory Conservation: Paradigm Shifts in International Policy. A compilation of out-puts from global events related to participatory conservation. Published by IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK, in collaboration with Kalpavriksh, India. SLORC (1992) Forest Law 1992. The State Law and Order Restoration Council. Union of Myanmar, No-vember 1992.



SLORC (1994) Protection of Wildlife, Wild Plants and Conservation of Natural Areas Law 1994. The State Law and Order Restoration Council. Union of Myanmar. November 1992. Stattersfield, A.J., M.J.Crosby, A.J.Long and D.C.Wege (1998) Endemic Bird Areas of the World: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. BirdLife Conservation Series No. 7. BirdLife International. Uga,U (2001) Biodiversity Conservation in Myanmar: A Review with Reflections and Recommenda-tions. A Manuscript submitted as a Visiting Research Fellow to Conservation and Research Center of National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, Virginia, USA. September, 2001. Uga,U (2002) Requirements for Nature, Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation and Ecoregion Descrip-tions of Myanmar based on Biounits. A Manuscript submitted as a Visiting Research Fellow to Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Japan. May 6, 2002.

Uga,U (2008) National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) from Environmental Perspective. Consultancy Report, submitted to National Commission for Environmental Affairs (NCEA) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). WWF and IUCN (1995) Centres of Plant Diversity and Endemism: Indian Subcontinent. World Wildlife Fund and World Conservation Union, 1995.

U Uga BANCA

Traditional handicrafts could play an important role in providing alternative income generation, par-ticularly for women. (Photo: Jonathan C. Eames)



Regional news Two new species of fish discovered in Vietnam

Scientists have discovered in the central highlands and the central province of Quang Nam two new spe-cies of Glyptothorax, raising the number to 12 in Vietnam and 73 in the world. The two new species of Glyptothorax belong to the Sisoridae family and they were discovered by Heok Hee Ng from Singapore National University and Joerg Frevhof from the Leibniz Research Institute, Ger-many. The discovery was announced in an international magazine, Zootaxa 1873. Glyptothorax filicatus from the Mekong River drainage in central Vietnam, is distinguished from conge-ners by the pattern of grooves in its thoracic adhesive apparatus (a patch of skin folds on the chest of the fish) and a combination of proportional measurements of the head and body. This species is named after the frond-like pattern on its adhesive apparatus (the name is the Latin for "adorned with ferns"). Glypto-thorax strabonis from the Giang River drainage in central Vietnam, is distinguished from congeners by its small eye, as well as the shape of its thoracic adhesive apparatus and proportional measurements of the head and body. The two new species of fish are less than 10cm long. Taken from: Heok Hee Ng, Freyhof, J. (2008) Two new species of Glyptothorax (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from central Vietnam. Zootaxa 1873: 11-25

Bich Ngan VietNamNet

21 November 2008

The two new species of fish. Glyptothorax strabonis n. sp. Ng and Freyhof, 2008, left, and Glyptotho-rax filicatus n. sp. Ng and Freyhof, 2008, right. (Photos: Heok Hee Ng.)



Four new species of frog discovered in Cambodia

A new-to-science species of frog, with green blood and turquoise-coloured bones, has been discovered in Cambodias remote Cardamom Mountains by international conservation organisation Fauna and Flora International (FFI). The Samkos bush frog (Chiromantis samkosensis) is thought to be extremely rare. Its strange coloured bones and blood are caused by the pigment biliverdin, a waste product usually processed in the liver. In this species, the biliverdin is passed back into the blood giving it a green colour; a phenomenon also seen in some lizards. The green biliverdin is visible through the frogs thin, translucent skin, making it even better camouflaged and possibly even causing it to taste unpalatable to predators. The new frog is just one of four new-to-science frog species discovered by FFI in Cambodia. The Carda-mom bush frog (Philautus cardamonus) and Smith's frog (Rana faber) are named after the cardamom plant and in honour of the British herpetologist Malcolm Smith, respectively. The Aural horned frog (Megophrys auralensis) is so named due to the short horn-like protrusions above its eyes. These species have only ever been seen in the peaks of the Cardamom Mountains. Fauna and Flora International con-sultant naturalist and photographer Jeremy Holden, who discovered the Samkos bush frog, said: When I found the frog, I had a thrilling suspicion that we were looking at an entirely new species of amphibian. Photographing these frogs has been a challenge. They were extremely difficult to find, but thanks to their distinctive calls we managed to get some excellent shots and record them for posterity. FFIs Senior Conservation Biologist, Jenny Daltry, was the first scientist to discover Smiths frog: Finding a new spe-cies is always exciting, but really its just the start of many more questions. What sort of habitat does it need? How does it reproduce? Is it endangered? There is no doubt in my mind that there are new species waiting to be discovered in Cambodias Cardamom Mountains. FFI will continue to carry out surveys and strive to protect this incredibly rich and diverse area. When FFI began their surveys in the Cardamom Mountains in 2000, the entire national amphibian list stood at only nine species, hardly more than we have in the UK. Since then, FFI surveys have brought to light more than 40 species that had not been recorded in Cambodia before. Cambodias national list of amphibians now stands at 63 species.

FFI, 18 December 2008

Two new species of shrew discovered in Ngoc Linh, Vietnam Two new species of white-toothed shrews, Crocidura zaitsevi and C. sokolovi are described from Ngoc Linh Mountain (Kon Tum Province, Vietnam). Comparisons are provided with other species of Crocidura known to occur in Vietnam. Crocidura zaitsevi is very small in size, comparable only to C. kegoensis de-scribed from central Vietnam and distinguished by its moderately long tail and cranial features. Cro-cidura sokolovi is similar in size to C. attenuata but differs in pelage colour, relatively longer tail, and cra-nial and dental features. Both new species are currently known only from Ngoc Linh Mountain. Abstract taken from: Jenkins, P. D., Abramov, A. V., Rozhnov, V. V., Makarova, O. V. (2008) Description of two new species of white-toothed shrews belonging to the genus Crocidura (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) from Ngoc Linh Mountain, Vietnam. Zootaxa 1589: 5768



The four newly described species of frog, clockwise from top left: Samkos bush frog Chiromantis samkosensis, Cardamom bush frog Philautus cardamonus, Smith's frog Rana faber and Aural horned frog Megophrys auralensis (Photos: FFI)

New dragonfly for Vietnam

The recent biological surveys conducted by Wildlife At Risk (WAR), in cooperation with the Phu Quoc National Park, have yielded in the final week of 2008, a new recording of a very rare colorful damselfly. Initially WAR field staff took photos and one specimen in order to confirm the identity of the species. The species was then confirmed by the WAR entomologist as Rhinagrion mima (Karsch, 1891). The spe-cies was found along a small river in pristine lowland Dipterocarpus forest. This is the first recorded sighting of the species on the island of Phu Quoc, and also in Vietnam. The result has boosted the enthu-siasm and morale of WAR and Park field work staff.

Wildlife At Risk (WAR) 27 December 2008



New population of Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey discovered

A new population of the extremely rare Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey, so-called because of its unusual and distinctive up-turned nose, has recently been discovered in a remote forested area of northern Viet-nam. The exciting finding made by Fauna and Flora International (FFI) provides new hope for the mon-keys future. Believed to be extinct until the late 1980s, only around 200 Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus avunculus) are left in the world. As a result, the primate is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species. Unique to Vietnam, the species is now known to be present in just two of Vietnams northern-most provinces Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang. The new finding came about after FFI set out to discover whether any more populations of the rare mon-keys existed. While interviewing communities near the Chinese border last year, it emerged that villag-ers in the Tung Vai Commune had sighted the strange looking monkeys after seeing rare film footage of them that FFI had supplied to a national television network. On the strength of these reports, in April 2008 an FFI-led team of biologists managed to observe 15-20 individuals in the nearby forest, including three infants - an encouraging sign, indicating that this is a breeding popu-lation. The monkeys were located in a small forest patch in Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province, near the Chinese border. While observing this group, the biologists noted that the monkeys were very sensitive to the presence of people, giving warning signs to one another and fleeing the area whenever the team approached. It was apparent that the monkeys associated humans with danger perhaps due to ongoing threats from hunters. Excitingly, local reports indicate that another - possibly larger - group also exists. During the work, FFIs team managed to take a photo of one member of the new population capturing a fleeting glimpse of an adult male scampering through the trees. This is the only pho-tographic evidence of Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys in Quan Ba District. This new population provides hope for the future of this species, as the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is now known to survive in no more than five locations in Vietnam, and at some locations the populations are probably in decline. Habitat loss and hunting for the bush meat and traditional medicine trades have been pushing the species to the brink of extinction. At this new location, cardamom plantations and log-ging for the Chinese timber market are clearing the few forest refuges left for this unique primate and it looks as though FFI has arrived in the nick of time to drum up the local and international support neces-sary to protect it.

Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus avunculus in Wuan Ba District. (Photo: Le Khac Quyet)



The first significant steps have been taken to protect this population and FFI has brought together a range of stakeholders, from provincial officials to village heads, to plan the way forward. Added to the mix is support from the Swiss development charity Caritas, which is working alongside FFI in the same dis-trict. They are now planning to provide support to the poor rural communities living next to the monkeys forest, to im-prove local livelihoods and reduce human pressures on the forest ecosystem, thereby increasing the monkeys chance of survival. Already, cardamom production has stopped expanding in the for-est and there has been a gov-ernment programme to confis-cate hunting guns. All recent indications suggest that we have a fantastic opportunity to secure this population and significantly increase the chances for the survival of this species, said Paul Insua-Cao, FFIs Vietnam Primate Programme Manager. Most significant is all the excitement this has generated locally and the support that is coming from the local Vietnamese government agencies and Caritas Switzerland. With almost half the worlds primate species under threat from extinction, we must do everything we can. In 2002, FFI and its partners discovered the largest known population of Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys in Khau Ca forest, Ha Giang Province. With an estimated 70 individuals, and the only population not in decline, this group is now considered the most important for the survival of the species. FFI began work-ing to conserve this group immediately upon finding it and continues to support forest patrols and con-duct ecological research, while this year supporting the establishment of a protected area at Khau Ca forest. Conservation biologist Le Khac Quyet, has made a name for himself as one of the few people in the world who can claim to be an expert on this mysterious species and, while working for FFI, is cred-ited with discovering both the new population and the one in Khau Ca in 2002. It is fitting that he should have the last word: When I saw the Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys in Tung Vai Commune I was over-joyed. This new discovery further underlines the importance of learning more about the Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys range and distribution. There is still time to save this unique species, but with just 200 or so left and threats still strong, we need to act now.

FFI, 4 December 2008

Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus avunculus. (Photo: Le Khac Quyet)



Not all Garrulax are really Garrulax

The interspecific relationships among extant laughingthrushes have been unclear for a long time and this has resulted in a confusing taxonomic history. Recent advances in molecular methods have greatly im-proved the resolution of the phylogeny of birds; however, little work has been done on this specific group because of the inaccessibility to many species. This diverse group includes 50 species mostly dis-tributed in South China and South-east Asia, and were traditionally arranged into the genus Garrulax, for which the non monophyly had been questioned by previous molecular studies. In this study, we in-fer a phylogeny for 23 Garrulax species and 20 species from close related genera. Mitochondrial data or combined with nuclear sequences both indicate paraphyly of Garrulax dividing Garrulax species into two groups. Based on these results, we suggest resurrecting the genus name Trochalopteron Blyth, 1843 for one group and retaining Garrulax for the other pending further study. Using dating methods with a sec-ondary calibration point, we develop a profile of the speciation history of laughingthrushes, which sug-gests that the Hengduan Mountains might not be the centre of origin for these birds as previously sug-gested. Abstract taken from: Xu Luo, Yan Hua Qu, Lian Xian Han, Shou Hsien Li, Fu Min Lei (2009) A phylogenetic analysis of laughing-thrushes (Timaliidae: Garrulax) and allies based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. Zoologica Scripta 38: 922

Blue-winged Laughingthrush Garrulax squamatus. This enigmatic skulker is not a Garrulax after all, but instead would be better placed in the resurrected genus Trochalopteron. (Photo: Jonathan C. Eames)



Crested Bunting Melophus lathami is an Emberiza The phylogeny of the avian genus Emberiza and the monotypic genera Latoucheornis, Melophus and Mil-iaria (collectively the Old World Emberizini), as well as representatives for the New World Emberizini, the circumpolar genera Calcarius and Plectrophenax and the four other generally recognized tribes in the subfamily Emberizinae was estimated based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and introns 67 of the nuclear ornithine decarboxylase gene. Our results support monophyly of Old World Emberizini, but do not corroborate a sister relationship to New World Emberizini. Calcarius and Plectrophenax form a clade separated from the other Emberizini. This agrees with previous studies, and we recommend the use of the name Calcariini. Latoucheornis, Melophus and Miliaria are nested within Emberiza, and we propose they be synonymized with Emberiza. Emberiza is divided into four main clades, whose relative positions are uncertain, although a sister relation between a clade with six African species and one comprising the rest of the species (30, all Palearctic) is most likely. Most clades agree with traditional, morphology-based, classifications. However, four sister relationships within Emberiza, three of which involve the pre-viously recognized Latoucheornis, Melophus and Miliaria, are unpredicted, and reveal cases of strong mor-phological divergence. In contrast, the plumage similarity between adult male Emberiza (formerly La-toucheornis) siemsseni and the nominate subspecies of the New World Junco hyemalis is shown to be the result of parallel evolution. A further case of parallel plumage evolution, between African and Eurasian taxa, is pointed out. Two cases of discordance between the mitochondrial and nuclear data with respect to branch lengths and genetic divergences are considered to be the result of introgressive hybridization. Alstrm, P., Olsson, U., Lei, F., Hai-tao Wang, Wei Gao, Sundberg, P. (2008) Phylogeny and classification of the Old World Emberizini (Aves, Passeriformes) Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 47: 960973

Chinese Thrush Turdus mupinensis may not be a Turdus

The phylogeny of the widespread Turdus genus still remains controversial. We investigated phylogenetic relationships within the Turdus assemblage using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, with an empha-sis on the taxonomic status of T. mupinensis. Nineteen species from Turdus were analysed as ingroups and Myiophoneus caeruleus and Monticola cinclohynchus were selected as outgroups. Altogether 991 bp gene fragments from these species were obtained, in which 368 variable sites and 278 parsimony infor-mative sites were identified. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the genus Turdus is paraphyletic and that it forms a well supported clade including three mostly monotypic genera (Cichlherminia, Platychichla and Nesocichla). Three types of phylogenetic tree (MP, ML and Bayesian) support two steady clades (Europe-Asia clade and South America clade) in Turdus. Species from the Europe-Asia clade include T. rubrocans, T. pallidus, T. obscurus, T. naumanni, T. torquatus, T. boulboul and T. cardis, whilst species from the South America clade include P. leucops, N. eremita, T. chiguanco, T. fuscater, T. rufiventris and T. grayi. Ap-plying a substitution rate of 2% per million years, the divergence of the Europe-Asia clade was estimated to have occurred approximately 0.95-3.30 Mya, the South American clade divergence occurring at around 1.2-3.7 Mya. Our results also revealed that T. mupinensis was located at the base of all three phy-logenetic trees, which suggested that T. mupinensis might be the most primitive taxon among all ingroup clades. The divergence time between T. mupinensis and other Turdus species was estimated at occurring 3.6-5.7 Mya. The high divergence in mtDNA and obvious differences in morphology suggest that T. mupinensis may be considered as a species in a distinct genus from Turdus. Qiao-Wa Pan, Fu-Min Lei, Zuo-Hua Yin, Kristin, A., Kanuch, P. (2007) Phylogenetic relationships between Turdus species: mitochondrial cytochrome b gene analysis. Ornis Fennica 84: 1-11



Shrike-babblers Pteruthius are not babblers Timalidae, but in fact are Vireos Vireoonidae With the rise of molecular systematics and the use of DNA sequences in particular, the overall relation-ships among the major groups of passerines are beginning to be clarified and numerous taxa are being found to have been classified erroneously. One of these latter groups is the shrike-babblers (Pteruthius), a small group of passerine birds endemic to southern Asia. Pteruthius has most often been placed within the babbler family Timaliidae, which has often been regarded as a waste basket because it includes species whose relationships to other Old World songbirds as well as to each other have been uncertain. Recently, other authors produced the first phylogeny of the Timaliidae and discovered that Pteruthius did not group with other babblersas was expected on the basis of previous classificationsbut rather with cor-void outgroups. We analysed a dataset which included a total of 148 taxa (including two Pteruthius and two non-passerine outgroup taxa) and 4,126 aligned base pairs. The results of the maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses all show that Pteruthius does not group with the Timaliidae but is deeply nested within the core Corvoidea with strong support for a sister rela-tionship with a clade including Vir-eonidae and Erpornis. The results of this study corroborate the findings of Cibois (2003) that Pteruthius does not belong in the Timaliidae (Passerida). Instead, this genus falls within the Corvoidea, with a highly supported sister relationship to the Vireonidae + Erpornis. Erpornis (nee Yuhina zan-tholeuca) was recently discovered to be another aberrant taxon formerly placed in the Timaliidae. We recom-mend that the classification of the gen-era Pteruthius and Erpornis should be changed. These new phylogenetic re-sults demonstrate these genera do not belong in the Timaliidae but rather that they should be placed within the Vireonidae.

Paper summarised by Simon Mahood, Conservation Advisor,

BirdLife Vietnam Programme

Black-headed Shrike Vireo Pteruthinus rufiventer, a female of this poorly known species. How many other aberrant Old World species really belong to New World families? (Photo: Jonathan C. Eames)



Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam form a diverse and important region for the order Galliformes with at least 21 species, comprising 10 pheasants, seven partridges, three quails and one francolin. Several are en-demic to the region and several are considered globally threatened. Information was collated for each species on the Indochinese range, habitat use and conservation status. This information was used to de-termine gross patterns in conservation requirements, prioritised partly through the global importance of the Indochinese population. The galliform species at most immediate risk in Indochina is probably Green Peafowl, through heavy hunting exacerbated by increasing human access to former wildernesses. The endemic Edwardss Pheasant also merits species specific conservation attention. Other forest species occur widely throughout surviving habitat, which remains landscape-scale despite serious losses in re-cent decades. Non-forest species, notably three quails (none endemic) remain very poorly known and threat levels cannot be assessed. For galliform conservation in Indochina by far the most important ac-tion is turning the existing declared protected areas networks into functional reality conserving a multi-tude of landscapes, each of hundreds of square kilometres, across the region. Past assessments of threat level to Indochinese forest Galliformes have been alarmist: many species are persisting in heavily-hunted fragments of the 1050 sq. km size class, where many other forest vertebrates have been extirpated. Abstract taken from: Brickle, N. W., Duckworth, J. W., Tordoff, A. W., Poole, C. M. Timmins, R., McGowan, P. J. K. (2009) The status and conservation of Galliformes in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Biodiversity Conservation.

Green Peafowl Pavo muticus is described by Brickle et al. as one of the most threatened Galliforms in Indochina. They recommend that it is uplisted to Endangered. BirdLife International are already act-ing on this recommendation, this change may feature in the 2009 RedList. (Photo: Jonathan C. Eames)

Status of Indochinas Galliformes revised



Three Hog Badgers for the price of one

Hog-badgers (mustelid carnivorans classified in the genus Arctonyx) are distributed throughout East and South-East Asia, including much of China, the eastern Indian Subcontinent, Indochina and the large con-tinental Asian island of Sumatra. Arctonyx is usually regarded as monotypic, comprising the single spe-cies A. collaris F. Cuvier, 1825, but taxonomic boundaries in the genus have never been revised on the basis of sizeable series from throughout this geographical range. Based on a review of most available specimens in world museums, we recognize three distinctive species within the genus, based on cra-niometric analyses, qualitative craniodental features, external comparisons, and geographical and eco-logical considerations. Arctonyx albogularis (Blyth, 1853) is a shaggy-coated, medium-sized badger widely distributed in temperate Asia, from Tibet and the Himalayan region to eastern and southern China. Arc-tonyx collaris F. Cuvier, 1825, is an extremely large, shorter-haired badger, distributed throughout South-east Asia, from eastern India to Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The worlds largest extant badger, A. collaris co-occurs with A. albogularis in eastern India and probably in southern China, and fossil comparisons indicate that its geographical range may have extended into central China in the middle Pleistocene. The disjunctly distributed species Arctonyx hoevenii (Hubrecht, 1891), originally de-scribed within the order Edentata by a remarkable misunderstanding, is the smallest and darkest mem-ber of the genus and is endemic to the Barisan mountain chain of Sumatra. Apart from A. hoevenii, no other Arctonyx occurs on the Sunda Shelf below peninsular Thailand. The natural history of each species of Arctonyx, so far as is known, is briefly reviewed. Helgen, K. M., Lim, N. T-L., Helgen, L. E. (2008) The hog-badger is not an edentate: systematics and evolution of the genus Arctonyx (Mammalia: Mustelidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 154: 353385.

Around 250 live Asian Elephants have been smuggled from Myanmar in the past decade, mostly des-tined for elephant trekking tourism activities in neighbouring Thailand, a new report by the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC reveals today. Meanwhile blatant illegal ivory trade continues in Myanmar, with TRAFFIC surveys of 14 markets and three border markets in Thailand and China finding 9,000 pieces of ivory and 16 whole tusks for sale. Retailers generally displayed ivory and other elephant parts quite openly and rarely hesitated in disclosing smuggling techniques and other illegal activities to TRAFFIC staff posing as potential buyers. Chris Shepherd, Senior Programme Officer with TRAFFIC, said the report confirmed a serious lack of law enforcement and a blatant disregard for international con-ventions and national laws in Myanmar and neighbouring states. Females and juvenile elephants are particularly targeted to supply the demand from the tourism industry in Thailand, where they are put to work in elephant trekking centres, said Shepherd. Our research found evidence of corruption allowing the illicit smuggling of ivory and elephants to take place. No cross-border trade of live elephants has been reported to CITES by either Myanmar or Thailand. Some traders questioned claimed elephants had disappeared from parts of Myanmar, owing to numbers captured for the live trade. Anecdotal reports of elephant disappearances, together with the large volume of ivory and elephant parts consistently ob-served for sale at markets over a period of several years suggests that trade poses a significant threat to the survival of Asian Elephants in Myanmar, said Vincent Nijman, a co-author of the report. TRAFFIC and WWF call on authorities in Myanmar to work closely with enforcement officers in neighbouring Thailand and China to address the illegal trade in live elephants and ivory.

WWF, 10 December 2008

Myanmar hotspot for elephant smuggling and ivory trade



One of only two known Rafetus swinhoei escapes, is captured, held hostage and finally released again

After protracted negotiations, its ordeal is finally over and the precious turtle can be released back into its lake (Photo: Tran Van Minh)

A rare East Asian turtle, one of just four believed left in the world, was swept away by a flood, taken hostage by an enterprising fisherman and nearly ended up in a soup pot. Instead, the 70 kilogram animal returned to its lake Wednesday and conservationists celebrated their deal with the fisherman-the turtle's freedom in exchange for about US$200 and two new fishing nets. Douglas Hendrie and other conservationists had been trying to find the turtle for two weeks after floods washed the animal out of Dong Mo Lake near Hanoi. "Thank god it's over," said Hendrie, director of the Asian Turtle Programme at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo who also works with the conservation group, Education for Nature Vietnam. "We're happy that the turtle is back in the lake." Only three other mem-bers of the Rafetus swinhoei species, also known as Swinhoe's soft-shelled turtle or the Yangtze soft-shelled turtle, are known to exist. Two are in Chinese zoos and another lives in Ho Hoan Kiem, a lake in downtown Hanoi named for its association with a legendary turtle. Both Vietnamese turtles are male. An attempt earlier this year to mate the Chinese male, 100, with the sole surviving female, 80, was deemed unsuccessful when the resulting eggs failed to hatch.



According to legend, a magic turtle snatched a sword from the Vietnamese King Le Loi as he boated on the lake and returned it to the gods who had lent it to the king to help him defeat Chinese invaders. The lake has since been called Ho Hoan Kiem, or the Lake of the Returned Sword. Fisherman Nguyen Van Toan found the turtle early Wednesday and demanded US$1,400 in exchange for its release, arguing that a Hanoi restaurant owner had offered him 30 million dong (US$4,800) for the animal. Turtles are considered a delicacy in Vietnam and other Asian countries. Toan argued with au-thorities and conservationists for hours, occasionally picking up a stick to threaten the crowd of about 100 onlookers that gathered in his yard to watch the drama. He finally agreed to accept cash and new nets to replace the ones he ruined capturing the turtle. "It's a small reward for people who realised that it's important to protect one of the most endangered species in the world," said Nguyen Thi Van Anh, a colleague of Hendrie's from Education for Nature. Toan said he was satisfied with the outcome: "I'm very happy the turtle is returning to nature," he said.

Intellasia, 28 November 2008

Large seizure of reptiles in Cambodia

In cooperation with the Cambodian Forestry Administration, Wildlife Alliances Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT) rescued hundreds of live turtles and pythons from illegal reptile smugglers during an operation in Kg Chnnang province. On Sunday, November 9, 2008, the WRRT stopped two cars along national road No. 5, each carrying hundreds of kilograms of turtles, snakes, and tortoises -- many of them threatened or endangered. The drivers of the two cars, both Cambodian nationals, were believed to be taking the wildlife to Vietnam via Kandal Province to sell into the region's illegal wildlife trade. More than 485 kilograms (1069 pounds) of wildlife were crammed into the trunks of the two vehicles. All the species are believed to have been taken illegally from the wild in protected areas in Battambang prov-ince. WRRT released all the animals into their natural habitats shortly after seizure. According to the Asian Turtle Conservation Network, more than 50% of Asias turtle and tortoise species are listed as "Critically Endangered" or "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List, due to an enormous illegal trade for food and traditional cultural uses. Among the species were: 9 kg of Yellow-headed temple tur-tles Hiieremys annandalii (Endangered), 10 kg of Malayan snail-eating turtles Malayemys subtrijuga (Vulnerable), 104 kg of Asiatic softshell turtles Amyda cartilaginea (Vulnerable), 30 kg of king cobras Ophiophagus hannah - listed as an Appendix II animal within CITES and could become further threatened by illegal trade, 81 kg of reticulated pythons Python reticulatus, 56 kg of Burmese pythons Python molurus bivittatus - listed as an Appendix II animal within CITES and threatened by the leather market, tradi-tional medicine trade and the pet trade. According to Michael Zwirn, Director of U.S. Operations for Wildlife Alliance, The size of this bust il-lustrates the scope of the crisis for reptiles in Southeast Asia. Some of these turtle and tortoise species take years to grow to maturity. Poachers and illegal wildlife traders can wipe out the population of a river or lake in one shipment to Vietnam or China. Wildlife Alliances Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team is supported by the Wallace Research Foundation, David Bohnett Foundation, and many other individuals and charities in the United States and elsewhere.

Wildlife Alliance, 19 November 2008



Rings made of elephant hair flood central highland souvenir shops, Vietnam

To ethnic minority groups living in the central highland province of Dac Lac, a ring made of hair taken from an elephants tail is far more than an ordinary ornament. Because most people consider it to be an amulet that is expected to bring them luck in love, local couples often use elephant hair as a pawn in the game of love. Although no one has ever been able to prove the reliability of such a rumour, rings plaited with elephant hairs are now appearing in many souvenir shops. But the consequences of such beliefs in the significance of the elephant rings are leaving a tale of cruelty thieves are often the ones who cut off the tails of the massive beasts. The elephants hair tail is worth VND 200,000-300, 000 (US$12-18), depending on its length and a ring woven with elephants hair costs around VND 500,000 ($30). Any ring inlaid with white elephant hair can be sold at double the price because it is considered rare. Love-birds find that the exotic flavour is another attraction of the unique ring. This new trend has fuelled tourists quests for rings inlaid with elephant hair but at the same time has spawned a trade that involves gratuitous cruelty. Y KTuk, an eld-erly resident of Buon Don, the provinces most famous tourism village, couldnt hide his anger while recalling how his elephant lost his tail. "They sneak in at night when my family are sleeping. After his tail was cut off, my elephant was in so much pain that he couldnt eat for days. I cant bear witness to his suffering. "Most local ethnic minority groups like Ede or Mnong have a tradition of imposing stiff pun-ishment on people who steal elephants tail hairs. The stolen hairs should be burnt as an apology made to the "elephant god". However, a blind rush for high profits has blighted peoples eyes to the danger and suffering they are causing.

Vietnam News, 31 August 2008

Vietnam customs officials said Monday they had seized about five tons of frozen pangolin meat, a pro-tected species whose trade is illegal. The 270 boxes of pangolin meat were found Friday in northern Quang Ninh Province, said an official at the Cai Lan port customs office, asking not to be named. Offi-cials suspected the cargo was on its way to China, she said. Another source at the port's customs office, who also asked not to be named, said the meat came from 1,481 pangolins. Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and trading of the animal and its products is illegal. De-mand for pangolin meat, with its supposedly medicinal and aphrodisiac qualities, is widespread in China and in Vietnam, which has a poor conservation record.

Agence France Presse, 22 December 2008

Hopefully, the Vietnamese government will destroy this meat, instead of selling it back into the trade. 24 tones of pangolin meat and scales confiscated earlier in the year were sold to the government for use in traditional medicine, although the sale is yet to be completed due to fears that the meat will be re-exported in breach of CITES.Eds

Five tonnes of frozen pangolin meat confiscated in Vietnam



Tay Za logging in Karen State, Myanmar

Burmese business tycoon Tay Zas Htoo Trading Company has recently started logging timber in Karen rebel-held territory, according to a source close to a delegation of businessmen negotiating the deal in Three Pagodas Pass. According to the source, Tay Za got permission to begin logging in the Mae Kathr forest from the Karen National Union (KNU) by paying taxes in advance. The Mae Kathr forest had, until recently, been undisturbed for more than 60 years. It lies in Dooplaya District, about nine kilome-ters (5.5 miles) from Three Pagodas Pass in an area under the control of KNU Brigade 6. The source said that Htoo Trading Company has already cut down about 1,000 tons of timber in the forest. According to KNU Forestry Department data, the KNU has preserved two main forests, Mae Kathr and Kyunchaung, which both lie in Dooplaya District. Mae Kathr forest covers an area of 50,000 acres while Kyunchaung covers 20,000 acres. Both forests are rich in virgin hardwoods, including teak and iron-woods. A resident in Three Pagodas Pass told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the company has begun construction of timber-processing factories across a football park and 10 acres of land in Three Pagodas Pass. He said the company has lined up more than 20 trucks to carry the logs. According to the source close to Tay Zas delegation, three trucks are currently being deployed to ferry in and out workers who are preparing the road on which the timber is being transported. He said that Htoo Trading cuts and processes the logs at the factories in Three Pagodas Pass before transporting them to Kyar Inn Seikgyi Township in Karen State. However, Captain Htat Nay of KNU Brigade 6 denied that the rebel army had granted permission for Htoo Trading Company to log timber in the Mae Kathr forest. Speaking to The Irrawaddy by telephone on Tuesday he said that Tay Zas delegation has requested a permit to log the forest in the past, but that the KNU had refused permission. Previously, the KNU has only granted logging contracts to large tim-ber companies like the Thailand-based Sia Hook firm. Revenue from logging contracts is reportedly the KNUs major source of income, from which it subsidizes its war against the Burmese army by purchas-ing arms. Meanwhile, a source at the New Mon State Party (NMSP) on Tuesday said that the Burmese junta and its main ally, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), are currently preparing for a dry season military offensive against the KNU in the Brigade 6 region. He said this might have forced the KNUs hand into accepting the quick cash from a logging contract with Tay Za in case they are forced to withdraw from the region and lose control over logging rights.

The Irrawaddy, 11 November 2008

Hairy-nosed Otter found in Myanmar A skin of a Hairy-nosed Otter Lutra sumatrana collected in northern Myanmar (at 2643N, 9758E; alti-tude c.900 m) on 6 April 1939 and held in the Natural History Museum, London, has remained unpub-lished. The speciess ecology and distribution remain poorly known: this is the first record for Myanmar, was collected c.1800 km from the generally accepted range, and is from hill evergreen forest, a very dif-ferent habitat from the speciess current known localities. There is no plausible alternative explanation for the skin at this location other than the species inhabiting the area. Validating the speciess presence there may now be impossible, because of massive recent trade-driven declines of all otters there, as are occurring widely in mainland South-East Asia. Abstract taken from: Duckworth, J. W., Hills, D. M. (2009) A specimen of Hairy-nosed Otter Lutra suma-trana from far northern Myanmar. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin 25: 60-67.



Tiger and other cat parts in open sale in Myanmar

TRAFFIC surveys found parts of Tigers and other wild cat species openly on sale in Myanmar, with some dealers claiming their Tiger parts originated in India. Skin and bones, canines and claws from al-most 1,200 wild cats were observed in Myanmars wildlife markets during 12 surveys undertaken by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. They included parts of at least 107 Tigers and all eight cat species native to Myanmar. Irregular surveys over the last 15 years have recorded a total of 1,320 wild cat parts, representing a minimum of 1,158 individual animals. Although almost 1,200 cats were recorded, this can only be the tip of the iceberg, said Chris Shepherd, Programme Co-ordinator for TRAFFICs South-east Asia office. The cat parts were openly displayed for sale and the dealers quite frank about the illegality of the trade, which suggests a serious lack of law enforcement. People from neighbouring countries are the main buyers of these parts, as reflected by the locations of the marketsthree of the four markets surveyed were located on international borders with China and Thailand. Prices were quoted in Thai or Chinese currency, or even US Dollars. The sale of endangered cat parts, including Tigers of which only about 4,000 remain, is an appalling and brazen violation of the law in Myanmar and should not be tolerated, said Dr. Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF Interna-tionals Species Programme. Most of these species have very low population numbers and will not be able to withstand the amount of poaching that is feeding this trade. National legislation in Myanmar is imprecise as to how many cat species are totally protected, but at least five are. Native cats comprise Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Marbled Cat, Asiatic Golden Cat, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat and Jungle Cat. Five of them are listed in Appendix I of CITES (The Conven-tion on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which bans international trade. Myanmar has been a signatory to CITES since 1997. Myanmar has an amazing wealth and variety of wildlife. However, immediate action to close down these markets and prosecute those engaged in the trade of protected wildlife is essential, said Shepherd, adding that national legislation needed to be tightened and better cross-border co-operation with neighbouring countries, particularly Thailand and China was needed. Myanmar is a member of the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), a partnership that seeks to end illegal cross-border wildlife trade in the region.

TRAFFIC News 15 October 2008

Vietnamese embassy staffer in South Africa in 'illegal' rhino horn transaction

A Vietnamese embassy staff member, Mrs. Vo Moc Anh, has allegedly been caught red-handed on film in an illegal rhinoceros horn transaction in front of the embassy building in Pretoria. A still photo from SABCs nature investigations programme from top to bottom show a Vietnamese Embassy staffer alleg-edly buying a rhino horn outside the embassy. The footage was captured by the SABC's nature investi-gations programme, 50/50, two months ago at a time when conservationists fear that the rhino wars of the Eighties are flaring up again. This year alone more than 40 rhinos have been killed in South Africa, with about 30 of them thought to have been poached in the Kruger Park and 12 in KwaZulu-Natal parks. In addition, conservationists



have accused Zimbabwean and Mozambican conservation authorities of doing too little to stem a new wave of organized poaching, while warning that poaching activities could soon erupt in a "free for all". Under international law it is illegal to trade rhino horn products and in South Africa it is an offence, car-rying a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail and a R250, 000 [Rand] fine. Most fingers point to Vietnamese syndicates, which have sought to monopolise the rhino horn trade in recent years. A member of a special government investigating team told the Mail and Guardian this week that staff of the Vietnamese embassy were thought to be involved in rhino horn trafficking and were using diplomatic pouches to smuggle the horns to the Far East. The 50/50 footage - to be aired on Monday night - shows a woman thought to be the embassy receptionist talking to a known agent of a rhino horn smuggling syndicate, who hands her a horn. Smiling, she then heads into the embassy. 50/50 tried to get comment from the embassy for two months, without success. The embassy declined to com-ment to the MandG, but requested a meeting with the paper next week where it promised to respond to the allegations.

Last year the Vietnamese daily, Thahn Nien, reported that South African police had complained to the embassy that one of its officials was conveying rhino horns out of South Africa. Vietnamese authorities allegedly took action against the official, but he was not charged here. In June another Vietnamese na-tional was reportedly arrested in Vietnam for smuggling five horns, worth R2-million. An explosive re-port about horn smuggling, written by a member of the government task team, also alleged that Far East embassies in neighbouring Mozambique may be involved in the smuggling. The investigator, who asked

Black Rhinos Diceros bicornis Look-out the Vietnamese are coming! (Photo: Jonathan C. Eames)



not to be named, said 55 rhinos have been killed on the border of the Kruger Park in Mozambique, 18 in the past nine months. This and other forms of poaching posed a threat to the South Africa-Mozambican trans-frontier park. "It is definitely escalating," he said, adding that South African investigators had caught many offenders, but that Mozambican law enforcers let them down at the last moment. The 18 horns poached this year have not surfaced yet, leading investigators to believe that they have found their way out of Mozambique. "The Mozambican anti-poaching legal network is quite weak," he said. "In most cases nothing has happened." The investigator was unhappy that South African authorities were reluc-tant to get involved because they feared jeopardising bilateral relationships. He said that unlike their predecessors in the Eighties, the new Southern African horn syndicates were sophisticated and well or-ganized and the syndicate bosses rarely got their hands dirty. Prices range between R12, 000 and R20, 000 per kilogram for a horn, but in reselling it, syndicates can make up to R100, 000 per kilogram. Prices of horns have skyrocketed in recent years. International law allows hunters to shoot rhinos legally as trophies. But because rhino hunts are so expensive, it is cheaper to use hunting licences to smuggle poached horns than to shoot the animals. Investigators say conservation officials lack the capacity to check if the right rhino has been shot. In June South Africa's environment minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, announced a moratorium on all trade in horns, to counter the smuggling upsurge. Van Schalkwyk told Parliament: "This indiscriminate illegal trade in rhino is directly linked to organized crime and the fact that approximately 27 white rhino were poached in the Kruger National Park during the past two years, as well as a definite increase in incidents in other parts of the country." Internation-ally the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) also established a rhinoceros enforcement task force in July to combat poaching. In Asia poaching poses an even more direct threat to the species. South African National Parks is conducting a sensitive investigation into poaching in its parks. SAN-Parks head of communications Wanda Mkutshulwa confirmed the increase in rhino poaching. "We're working hard to stem the tide, as even one rhino poached is one too many," she said. "Our investigators are confident they will be able to come up with good results before long." According to the World Wildlife Fund rhino horn is a valuable ingredient in traditional Chinese medi-cine - despite the absence of scientific evidence of its curative properties. Contrary to popular belief, it is not used as an aphrodisiac. Considered a powerful heat-reducing remedy, horn is used to treat fever, delirium, high blood pressure and other ailments.

Mail and Guardian, Johannesburg,

14 November 2008



Important Bird Areas News

Permian team visit Western Siem Pang IBA

During December we were delighted to host a visit by a delegation from Permian including Stephen Rumsey, Edward Rumsey and Philip D. Round. Permian is supporting and investing in a number of avoided deforestation and ecosystem restoration projects in tropical forests with its partners in South-East Asia, South America and Africa. After the initial investment, these projects will become self-sustaining as a result of the income from the carbon credits they generate. It was therefore with the pos-sibility for a similar project in mind that, we visited western Siem Pang, on what was Stephen and Ed-wards first visit to Cambodia.

Following a courtesy call on the Stung Treng Governor, part of the delegation flew over the forest before we all then spent the next three days exploring the area on foot, my motorcycle and boat. Cambodia is one of a number of tropical countries that Permian is considering for future investment. Western Siem Pang is certainly is of sufficient conservation importance but its potential as a possible future site for Per-mian investment would depend on many factors, not least the volume of carbon sequestered by the site. Traditionally avoided deforestation projects have invested in evergreen forests which support a high carbon volume to area ratio. It seems certain that dry dipterocarp forests lock away far less and the next step is to determine just how much carbon is held by the site. We hope that an evaluation will occur in the first quarter of 2009.

Left to right. Bung Paeng, Bou Vorsak, Net Norint, Philip D. Round, Edward Rumsey, Stephen Rum-sey, Mem Mai, Jonathan C. Eames



Trapeang Tchook from the air, taken during the Permian visit to Western Siem Pang IBA. Note the outline of old paddy fields along the shore. Large numbers of White-shouldered Ibis were feeding here in December 2008. (Photo: Jonathan C. Eames)

Xuan Thuy, Vietnam, declared a World Biosphere Reserve The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) awarded a World Bio-Sphere Reserve certificate to a coastal wetland zone in the Red River Delta Monday. The zone, which covers Xuan Thuy-Ramsar National Park in Nam Dinh Province, Tien Hai Wetland Natural Reserve in Thai Binh Province, and Kim Son alluvial deposits in Ninh Binh Province, has become the sixth world bio-sphere reserve in Vietnam. The Xuan Thuy-Ramsar National Park, which serves as the backbone of the reserve, boasts a diverse bio-system and provides a sanctuary to some 200 bird species, including over 50 migrant bird species. Many of the species are classified as endangered, such as the spoon-billed sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus. With thousands of hectares of mangrove forest, wetlands and coastal and river mouth alluvial deposits, the zone acts as an incubator for approximately 500 species of sealife. The mangrove forests also serve to mitigate the effects of climate change and rough seas and protect dyke systems in the event of natural disasters.

Thanh Nien News 14 October 2008



Rarest of the rare Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus avunculus

The Critically Endangered Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus avunculus, endemic to Vietnam, is one of the 25 most threatened species of primate in the world. It was believed extinct until its rediscovery in Na Hang District, Tuyen Quang Province in the early 1990s. Despite conservation measures, this population may now be close to extinction. In May 2002 Le Khac Quyet of Fauna and Flora International discovered a second population in a small patch of limestone forest known as Khau Ca, in the buffer zone of Du Gia Nature Reserve in Ha Giang Province. Ongoing monitoring of the Tonkin Snub-nosed monkey in Khau Ca suggests this population contains roughly 70 individuals and is growing. As re-ported in this edition of The Babbler, Le Khac Quyet has discovered an additional population close the Chinese border. The main threats to the Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey are habitat loss and degredation including commercial exploitation of forest timber, exploitation of a range of non-timber forest products, shifting cultivation, fuel wood collection and grazing of livestock in the forest, and perhaps most impor-tantly, hunting. The species is one of the CEPF-RIT Priority Species, and it is hoped that funding pro-vided by CEPF can help to secure the long-term persistence of this spectacular primate.

Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkeys Rhinopithecus avunculus. (Photo: Le Khac Quyet)



Integrating Watershed and Biodiversity Management at Chu Yang Sin National Park, Vietnam

Between June and September 2008, the project held its annual Steering Committee Meeting and the World Bank conducted a review of the project. The minutes of the steering committee meeting were sent to all participants. The project implementation team and Mr. Linh (CYS NP director) met subsequently to refine the workplan for years four and five, based on comments from the World Bank and participants of the Steering Committee Meeting. These changes streamline the project; they will both speed up activ-ity implementation and improve the quality of outputs..

The period July to September is the main rainy season in the Central Highlands. The project and park staff worked together to complete the regulations for cooperation between CYS NP and the Forest Pro-tection Department in Dam Rong District (Lam Dong Province).

During this quarter the rangers conducted biodiversity monitoring in the Dak Gui and Dak Me areas of the park. They established ten new transects for monitoring of key indicator species. Data from patrols and illegal activities detected were collected from guard stations and mapped.

IWBM project staff met with FLITCH project staff in Krong Bong and Lak District to discuss the possibil-ity of collaboration and to encourage information sharing between the projects.

Three study teams were set up to implement studies on primates, even-toed ungulates and Gymno-sperms. The teams are now working on research proposals for submission to BirdLife project staff.

Five rangers attended a course on criminal investigation, and two rangers took part in a course on han-dling forest protection violations in Dong Nai Province and HCM City respectively. Two members of the awareness team participated in a training course in environmental education and communication in Tam ao - Vinh Phuc, organized by ENV.

BirdLife project staff have worked with park management staff to adjust the awareness programme and strategy so that it addresses key forest protection issues. The awareness team continue to implement the revised awareness and PR programme. They conducted village meetings with over 500 participants in total. These dealt with issues such as the linkages between community actions and environmental issues, and included activities which aim to build a strong and positive relationship between rangers and buffer zone residents.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework has been revised and will now be used to quarterly gather data on project effects.

Nina Ksor

Field Project Manager

Project updates



The Forestry Administration (FA) organized an internal meeting to review documents submitted in the reporting period to support the proposal to establish a Protected Forest in Western Siem Pang. To make sure all relevant stakeholders at provincial level strongly support our proposal, in July 2008, a short field trip was organised to draft boundary demarcation and gather additional data for the social economic impact assessment. On September 28th the Stung Treng governor wrote an official endorsement letter to BirdLife and FA to support the proposed area for wildlife conservation that can be developed into eco-tourism area and to alleviate poverty in the province in the future. Following the completion of support-ing documents for Western Siem Pang, FA senior staff lead by Mr. Men Phy Mean, Director of WPO, drafted a sub-decree to propose a new protected forest at this site. An internal meeting inside FA will be organized by the end of 2008 to review the draft sub decree before attaching other support documents and submission to MAFF. Sixty signs were produced in November 2008. They will be placed along important trails and trapeangs including areas where White-shouldered Ibis roost. These sign aim to inform people about sustainable use of trapeangs the sustainable use protocol and forest law.

Preventing the extinction of White-shouldered Ibis: progress report

Jatropha plantation inside Siem Pang District. Production of this bio-fuel crop is moving from the experiential stage to the commercial stage and constitutes a significant threat to dry forest IBAs in Cambodia. Photo: Jonathan C. Eames)



The Local Conservation Group (LCG) also conducted awareness activities through home visits and vil-lage meetings. During home visits, the LCG distributed posters to villagers. Four kinds of posters were distributed comprising a poster which aims to increase awareness about the importance of wildlife spe-cies and how to protect them by preventing hunting, trading and trapping. Secondly, a poster about the importance of trapaengs and their sustainable use. Thirdly, a poster about the importance of Western Siem and lastly a poster about World Wetlands Day. During the monitoring, the LCG also attempted to raise awareness of local people who fish in trapeangs, herd cattle, and collecting wetland edible vegeta-bles about how to use nature resources in a sustainable way. The LCG conducted regular monitoring in all important trapeangs in Western Siem Pang and awareness raising activities. During the reporting period (April-November 2008), we were informed by two villag-ers from Sresangke village and Phabang village about two important roosting areas of White-shouldered Ibis. The first place location is c. 500 metre from Trapeang Krouse (UTM 0648600 1568060) where 50 White-shouldered Ibis have been roosting in this area since August 2008. The second place located near Trapeang Sangke (UTM 0642123-1557825) where 34 White-shouldered Ibis have been roosting

the babbler 28

Documents

government of vietnam

birdlife secretariat

vietnam programme office

indochina region

cambodia programme office

conservation scene

international community

new species of frog