IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Duckworth, J.W.; Hedges, S. | |
| Tracking Tigers | |
| 1998 Full Book | |
All information traced pertinent to the status in Indochina (Lao, Vietnam, Cambodia and Yunnan Province) of tiger _Panthera tigris_, Asian elephant _Elephas maximus_, gaur _Bos gaurus_ and banteng _B. javanicus_ during the decade 1988-1997 is detailed by site. Information was taken from published papers, published and unpublished reports of wildlife surveys and other activities, supplemented by extensive discussion with people holding unpublished information. The information gathered is used together with review of existing work to formulate recommendations for future regional conservation of the species. Recent information is very scarce for Cambodia, scarce for Vietnam and Yunnan Province and patchy for Lao; this hampers comparison across the region. Furthermore, information in many source documents was not accurate. In the last 30 years tiger number have probably plummeted in Vietnam. There is little evidence for viable numbers away from the western border of the country. Even here animals are scattered and numbers are probably low. In Lao tigers still inhabit most remaining forest blocks, but densities are very low. In Cambodia reports suggest that tigers are still widespread but densities are probably low. The limited law enforcement in Cambodia may mean that numbers are dropping faster in there than elsewhere. Tigers seem very scarce in Yunnan Province, perhaps being reduced to isolated individuals. The very high trade value of all the focal species in Indochina coupled with absence of effective anti-poaching and trade control measures is probably the most important short-term determinant of decline. Low prey densities may be an equal problem for tigers. National action plans for the conservation of very large mammals should be drafted by the governments of the four countries and be endorsed as formal government policy. Basic distributional survey are still needed across the region for all the species, especially tiger and banteng. Presence-absence surveys are the major research need and should be based around signs searches. Clearer appreciation of the identification problems of focal species signs is needed. Populations cannot be estimated for these species on distribution surveys. Prolonged study at individual sites would be needed, but currently it is more important to measure population density gradients (in time and space) than population size itself. Long-term resolution of tiger conflict is best addressed by re-establishing natural ungulate numbers. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |