The Babbler No. 21 - Birdlife International in Indochina
The Babbler No. 21 - Birdlife International in Indochina
The Babbler No. 21 - Birdlife International in Indochina
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
April 2007<br />
Number <strong>21</strong><br />
Welcome<br />
Jonathan C. Eames<br />
Features<br />
Crested Ibis conservation project <strong>in</strong><br />
Shaanxi Prov<strong>in</strong>ce, Ch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
New approaches to Bustard<br />
conservation <strong>in</strong> India<br />
Regional news<br />
National PM Hun Sen opposes Tonle<br />
Sap becom<strong>in</strong>g a World Heritage Site<br />
Community attitudes towards<br />
protected areas <strong>in</strong> Myanmar<br />
Vulture restaurants can reduce<br />
diclofenac deaths<br />
Commercial tiger breed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
Vietnam<br />
Important Bird Area News<br />
Ch<strong>in</strong>dw<strong>in</strong> dam threatens Htamanthi<br />
Wildlife Sanctuary<br />
Sugar cane plantation threat to<br />
Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary<br />
Rarest of the rare<br />
Spotted Greenshank<br />
Project updates<br />
Cambodia activities<br />
Vietnam activities<br />
Myanmar activities<br />
Spotlight Organization<br />
Book reviews<br />
Staff news<br />
From the Archive<br />
Portfolio<br />
BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
#4/209, Doi Can, Hanoi, Vietnam<br />
Tel: + 84 4 722 3864 /<br />
Fax: + 84 4 722 3835<br />
Email: birdlife@birdlife.netnam.vn<br />
www.birdlife<strong>in</strong>doch<strong>in</strong>a.org<br />
If you have any contribution or suggestion<br />
for the next issue, please contact<br />
Giao@birdlife.netnam.vn by June 1 st .<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong><br />
BirdLife <strong>International</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
This issue of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> carries features from elsewhere <strong>in</strong> Asia, on endangered<br />
bird species, with close relatives <strong>in</strong> our region that are a focus of our work. When<br />
I fist began to take an <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> Asian bird conservation the Crested Ibis was<br />
only known from one or two captive geriatric birds <strong>in</strong> Japan. It seemed doomed.<br />
<strong>The</strong> discovery of colonies <strong>in</strong> Shaanxi Prov<strong>in</strong>ce, Ch<strong>in</strong>a and the subsequent<br />
conservation effort has seen a dramatic <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> their numbers and heir downlist<strong>in</strong>g<br />
from Critical to merely Endangered. <strong>The</strong> range size of the species has not<br />
<strong>in</strong>creased however, and its existence is precarious. Could the White-shouldered<br />
Ibis go the same way? Unless we can conserve viable populations <strong>in</strong> Cambodia’s<br />
protected areas, twenty years from now we could be faced with the same<br />
problem. <strong>The</strong> dry forest landscapes of northern and eastern Cambodia are poised<br />
for dramatic change. Although BirdLife cont<strong>in</strong>ues token conservation efforts <strong>in</strong><br />
western Siem Pang IBA the future of this site hangs <strong>in</strong> the balance. In this issue<br />
we report on the status of a major land concession that if confirmed by the<br />
Cambodian Government, would seriously underm<strong>in</strong>e efforts to conserve this<br />
species.<br />
Other good news we report on this quarter is the rediscovery of the Large-billed<br />
Reed-warbler Acrocephalus or<strong>in</strong>us by Philip Round <strong>in</strong> Thailand. This story is made<br />
even more remarkable because even the exisitsnce of the species was doubted by<br />
some and it was overlooked <strong>in</strong> recent conservation literature.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g this quarter we have launched a new project which aims to monitor<br />
biodiversity across southern Ch<strong>in</strong>a, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. This<br />
is a component of the Asian Development Bank’s Biodivserity Conservation<br />
Corridors Initiative. We are delighted to have secured such an important role <strong>in</strong><br />
this project and are look<strong>in</strong>g forward to work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> close collaboration with our<br />
BirdLife colleagues at the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand and Hong Kong<br />
Birdwatch<strong>in</strong>g Society.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g this quarter we have also seen some staff com<strong>in</strong>gs-and-go<strong>in</strong>gs. We say<br />
goodbye to Do Bao Quyen, Dang Nguyen Hong Hanh and Ngo Van Tuan from the<br />
Hanoi office and welcome Thura W<strong>in</strong> Htun who has been work<strong>in</strong>g on the vulture and<br />
Gurney’s Pitta research projects <strong>in</strong> Myanmar recently.<br />
I hope very much that <strong>in</strong> the next issue we can report the f<strong>in</strong>al outcome of our<br />
long-stand<strong>in</strong>g efforts to have Beuong Prek Lapouv designated a protected area.<br />
<strong>The</strong> unsusta<strong>in</strong>able demand for water at this site <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly threatens its<br />
viability. Our collaborative efforts at the Integrated Fam<strong>in</strong>g and Biodivesrity Areas<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Ton Le Sap floodpla<strong>in</strong> will be re-doubled <strong>in</strong> the com<strong>in</strong>g quarter follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
important new support from Fondation Ensemble. So we have much to do and<br />
hopefully much to report on <strong>in</strong> the next issue due early July.<br />
Jonathan C. Eames<br />
Programme Manager<br />
BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a
2 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Features<br />
Crested Ibis Nipponia nippon Conservation <strong>in</strong> Shaanxi Prov<strong>in</strong>ce, Ch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Wild Crested Ibises were rediscovered Yangxian <strong>in</strong> 1981 and have thrived<br />
s<strong>in</strong>ce. (Photo taken on May 26, 2006)<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
It is now 25 years s<strong>in</strong>ce the rediscovery<br />
of the Crested Ibis Nipponia nippon <strong>in</strong><br />
Yangxian, Ch<strong>in</strong>a. <strong>The</strong> bird lives <strong>in</strong> close<br />
proximity to people, feed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> farmers’<br />
fields and nest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> nearby trees. It is<br />
excit<strong>in</strong>g that a project <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a has<br />
successfully brought man and bird<br />
together allow<strong>in</strong>g the ibis to be pulled<br />
back from the br<strong>in</strong>k of ext<strong>in</strong>ction.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Crested Ibis used to be commonly<br />
seen <strong>in</strong> many areas of Japan as well as<br />
<strong>in</strong> northeastern and central Ch<strong>in</strong>a,<br />
Taiwan, Korean Pen<strong>in</strong>sula and Ussurisk<br />
<strong>in</strong> Russia. Toward the latter half of the<br />
twentieth century it disappeared. <strong>The</strong>re<br />
were no sight<strong>in</strong>gs of the bird <strong>in</strong> the wild<br />
after 1964. <strong>The</strong> species were about to<br />
be declared ext<strong>in</strong>ct.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n <strong>in</strong> May 1981, seven <strong>in</strong>dividuals<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g three juveniles were<br />
discovered <strong>in</strong> the mounta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong><br />
Yangxian, Shaanxi Prov<strong>in</strong>ce 1,200 m<br />
above sea level. <strong>The</strong> news attracted<br />
worldwide attention. Governmental<br />
policies were put <strong>in</strong> place to establish<br />
systems to protect the ibis <strong>in</strong> the wild and its habitat. <strong>The</strong> number of <strong>in</strong>dividual birds has gradually <strong>in</strong>creased and the<br />
ext<strong>in</strong>ction risk reduced.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Japanese Crested Ibis is different from other ibis species <strong>in</strong> that it <strong>in</strong>habits the vic<strong>in</strong>ity of human settlement,<br />
roost<strong>in</strong>g and breed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> tall trees and feed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> rice fields, ponds, rivers and dams close to people. In Yangxian, the<br />
ibis shares its mounta<strong>in</strong> home with farmers. Over the last 25 years local residents have shown that they can live <strong>in</strong><br />
harmony with the birds.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g February through June ibis build their nest, lay and <strong>in</strong>cubate eggs, and raise their chicks. <strong>The</strong>y feed <strong>in</strong> shallow<br />
water <strong>in</strong> rice paddies and rivers near their nests. From July to January, they fly further a-field, even to neighbor<strong>in</strong>g<br />
prefectures, <strong>in</strong> groups of three to five birds, feed<strong>in</strong>g on riverbanks, reservoirs and rice paddies.<br />
<strong>The</strong> project <strong>in</strong> Yangxian, began with just seven adult birds 25 years<br />
ago. At the end of the breed<strong>in</strong>g season of 2006, there were as<br />
many as 500. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the breed<strong>in</strong>g season of 2005, ibis fledged<br />
young at 62 out of 74 nests, with 123 young birds fledged <strong>in</strong> total.<br />
This year (2006?) more nests were successful (80 out of 108), but<br />
the number of young that fledged was only 106. <strong>The</strong> survival rate<br />
decreased by 18%. It is thought that the critical factor is a<br />
shortage of food because the area of cultivated rice fields this year<br />
has been reduced due to unusually dry weather over recent years.<br />
At the same time as the project to protect the birds <strong>in</strong> their natural<br />
habitat was begun, a captive breed<strong>in</strong>g program was <strong>in</strong>itiated. It<br />
wasn’t until 1990 that this had any positive results but now the<br />
Crested Ibis are breed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the three zoos: Yangxian and<br />
Louguantai <strong>in</strong> Shaaxi Prov<strong>in</strong>ce, and <strong>in</strong> Beij<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
At the Yangxian zoo, 37 chicks were born this year br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
total to 163. In Louguantai, where there are 260 birds <strong>in</strong> captivity,<br />
Wild Crested Ibis breed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Yangxian <strong>in</strong><br />
2005, where there are now about 500 wild<br />
birds.<br />
26 pairs bred and 36 chicks fledged. <strong>The</strong> total number of ibis which have been raised <strong>in</strong> Shaanxi Prov<strong>in</strong>ce now stands at<br />
430. Increas<strong>in</strong>g numbers of birds means higher costs for food, staff<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>frastructure and ma<strong>in</strong>tenance. Insufficient<br />
space and fund<strong>in</strong>g is said to be hold<strong>in</strong>g the project back for the time be<strong>in</strong>g.
3 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
<strong>The</strong> time seems right to re<strong>in</strong>troduce the captive-bred birds <strong>in</strong>to the wild. Research and experiments for re<strong>in</strong>troduction<br />
have been ongo<strong>in</strong>g for a number of years. A few places have been nom<strong>in</strong>ated as candidate sites for re-<strong>in</strong>troduc<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
ibis.<br />
An experimental release of captive-bred <strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>in</strong>to areas where wild ibis rema<strong>in</strong> has begun. In 2004 and 2005, 23<br />
sub-adults were released fitted with satellite transmitters <strong>in</strong> Huayang, Yangxian. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the trac<strong>in</strong>g reports, 17 of<br />
these <strong>in</strong>dividuals have already settled <strong>in</strong> the wild. Initially the released birds moved around separately from the wild ibis<br />
but recently the released birds have begun to blend with wild ones. Of the 12 <strong>in</strong>dividuals released last year 1 pair mated<br />
and another released <strong>in</strong>dividual mated with a wild bird, each pair rais<strong>in</strong>g one chick dur<strong>in</strong>g the 2006 breed<strong>in</strong>g season.<br />
<strong>The</strong> plan for re<strong>in</strong>troduction of the ibis to its former habitat must be essentially different from the one for conserv<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
birds <strong>in</strong> their present habitats. <strong>The</strong> work <strong>in</strong> Yangxian, Ch<strong>in</strong>a on the conservation of the Crested Ibis, and its<br />
re<strong>in</strong>troduction to areas with<strong>in</strong> its former range <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a will provide much useful <strong>in</strong>formation, which can be used <strong>in</strong> other<br />
areas for example the ibis project on Sado island <strong>in</strong> Japan.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Development of wild Ibis population: L<strong>in</strong>e graph shows from the top: egg production,<br />
hatched number, fledged number, and number of breed<strong>in</strong>g pairs.<br />
Dr. Su Unshan – Chief Researcher, Institute for Environmental Culture Creation, Ch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
New Approaches to Bustard Conservation <strong>in</strong> India<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are 22 species of bustards <strong>in</strong> the world. India is home to three of the rarest: Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis<br />
nigriceps, Lesser Florican Sypheotides <strong>in</strong>dica and Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis.<br />
Although these, and the w<strong>in</strong>ter visit<strong>in</strong>g Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis macqueeni, have been given the highest degree of<br />
protection under Schedule I of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, their numbers cont<strong>in</strong>ue to decl<strong>in</strong>e at an<br />
alarm<strong>in</strong>g rate.<br />
Indian and <strong>in</strong>ternational conservations are work<strong>in</strong>g to f<strong>in</strong>d new ways to protect these birds. Even though Great Indian<br />
Bustard is found <strong>in</strong> small numbers <strong>in</strong> Pakistan, Lesser Florican <strong>in</strong> Pakistan and Nepal, and Bengal Florican <strong>in</strong> Nepal,<br />
Vietnam and Cambodia, their chances of long term survival are dependent on India play<strong>in</strong>g a proactive role <strong>in</strong> their<br />
protection.
4 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Great Indian Bustard<br />
<strong>The</strong> Great Indian Bustard was formerly widely distributed <strong>in</strong> India, its ma<strong>in</strong> stronghold be<strong>in</strong>g the Thar desert and parts<br />
of Pakistan, Spread of agriculture, overgraz<strong>in</strong>g and destruction of grasslands by livestock, and illegal hunt<strong>in</strong>g have<br />
resulted <strong>in</strong> a drastic decl<strong>in</strong>e. Presently, the species is conf<strong>in</strong>ed to pockets of habitat <strong>in</strong> six states of India namely<br />
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.<br />
In the mid 1980s, the total population was estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,000 with Rajasthan possibly hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
half of the estimated number. However, surveys s<strong>in</strong>ce the late 1990s show further decl<strong>in</strong>e, especially <strong>in</strong> Madhya<br />
Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan.<br />
Some conservation measures have been taken <strong>in</strong> all six states and n<strong>in</strong>e sanctuaries conta<strong>in</strong> or used to have the Great<br />
Indian Bustard. However, most of these sanctuaries were established <strong>in</strong> private agricultural or common graz<strong>in</strong>g lands.<br />
Respective state governments ignored the ‘settlements of rights’ leav<strong>in</strong>g the Forest Department <strong>in</strong> charge of manag<strong>in</strong>g<br />
these protected areas but with virtually no legal control over the land. As a result habitat alteration by expansion of<br />
agriculture or settlements, development of roads or canals, and the spread of <strong>in</strong>dustry is still go<strong>in</strong>g on.<br />
Three sanctuaries (Karera, Sorsan and Rannibennur) have already lost all their bustards. Conservationists fear that this<br />
will happen <strong>in</strong> other sanctuaries with<strong>in</strong> two-three years unless immediate measures are taken.<br />
Lesser Florican<br />
In the past, Lesser Florican was a common ‘game’ bird of Indian grasslands, especially <strong>in</strong> Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya<br />
Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. It was found <strong>in</strong><br />
almost the whole of India. <strong>No</strong>w, perhaps less than 2,500<br />
Lesser Florican survive <strong>in</strong> the whole world, mak<strong>in</strong>g it one<br />
of the most endangered birds of India. Like the Great<br />
Indian Bustard, its habitat has shrunk by more than<br />
90%.<br />
Agricultural change threatens floricans like this Lesser<br />
Florican. Photo: Asad Rahmani<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Conservation of this species is difficult as it is a monsoon<br />
breeder, chang<strong>in</strong>g its breed<strong>in</strong>g grounds depend<strong>in</strong>g upon<br />
monsoonal conditions. Lesser Floricans may visit<br />
sanctuaries <strong>in</strong> very small numbers or not at all if ra<strong>in</strong>fall<br />
is not favourable.<br />
This monsoon breed<strong>in</strong>g pattern however, does mean that<br />
conservation of this species and protection of natural<br />
fodder (grass) are compatible. By the time the grass is<br />
ready for harvest<strong>in</strong>g, the ma<strong>in</strong> breed<strong>in</strong>g period of the<br />
florican is over. Delay<strong>in</strong>g grass cutt<strong>in</strong>g by a week and /or<br />
leav<strong>in</strong>g a small patch of grassland uncut, allows prefledged<br />
florican chicks and other species such as<br />
partridges and quails to survive. However, before specific<br />
prescriptions can be given for their protection, long term<br />
studies and plann<strong>in</strong>g have to be undertaken.<br />
Presently, there are only two exist<strong>in</strong>g Lesser Florican sanctuaries <strong>in</strong> India – Sailana and Sardarpur, both <strong>in</strong> Madhya<br />
Pradesh. Increas<strong>in</strong>g land hunger means that the chances of develop<strong>in</strong>g additional grassland sanctuaries, especially large<br />
ones, are remote. <strong>The</strong> possibility for <strong>in</strong>tegrat<strong>in</strong>g Florican conservation and grassland development is more <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g. In<br />
Gujarat and Rajasthan, for example, livestock husbandry is a major occupation or rural people and there is tremendous<br />
demand for natural fodder.<br />
Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican <strong>in</strong>habit a landscape consist<strong>in</strong>g of grasslands, graz<strong>in</strong>g land and crop fields. It is<br />
therefore essential to <strong>in</strong>volve local people <strong>in</strong> their protection.<br />
A number of possible paths for conservation of these birds and their habitat are be<strong>in</strong>g explored urgently by the Indian<br />
Bird Conservation Network and BNHS (BirdLife <strong>in</strong> India) work<strong>in</strong>g with the RSPB (BirdLife <strong>in</strong> the UK) and BirdLife<br />
<strong>International</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se <strong>in</strong>clude: look<strong>in</strong>g at protection us<strong>in</strong>g the concept of Community Reserve or Conservation Reserve, suggested under<br />
the recently amended Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; and of tak<strong>in</strong>g resource to various provision of the Indian<br />
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, restrict<strong>in</strong>g certa<strong>in</strong> activities <strong>in</strong> bustard habitats without displac<strong>in</strong>g or disturb<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
human populations. <strong>The</strong> concept of work<strong>in</strong>g with Site Support Groups, developed by BirdLife, could also prove to be a<br />
good model <strong>in</strong> bustard conservation.<br />
Dr. Asad R. Rahmani – Director, Bombay Natural History Society
5 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Regional news<br />
Cambodian Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister Hun Sen Opposes Tonle Sap Lake<br />
Becom<strong>in</strong>g A World Heritage Site<br />
Cambodian Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister Hun Sen said the Tonle Sap River bas<strong>in</strong> should not be designated a World Heritage site on<br />
the grounds that fish<strong>in</strong>g and the development of oil and m<strong>in</strong>eral resources might be constra<strong>in</strong>ed as a result.<br />
“Soon there will be oil under-ground – not only <strong>in</strong> the sea,” he said Monday at a two-day conference hosted by the Asian<br />
Development Bank <strong>in</strong> Phnom Penh. “When we admit it <strong>in</strong>to World Heritage (list<strong>in</strong>g), we have to discuss it with others. It<br />
is ours – why do we need to consult with them if it is ours?” he added. Hun Sen also said that he was concerned such a<br />
designation might imp<strong>in</strong>ge on the region’s thriv<strong>in</strong>g fish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustry. “Khmer people have been catch<strong>in</strong>g fish s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />
Angkorian times,” he said. “<strong>The</strong>y are used to gett<strong>in</strong>g fish for eat<strong>in</strong>g and ...they would not be able to,” if the Tonle Sap<br />
area became a World Heritage site, he said.<br />
Teruo J<strong>in</strong>nai, who heads the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization <strong>in</strong> Cambodia, said Tuesday that<br />
designation as a World Heritage site would not affect fish<strong>in</strong>g. Less clear, he said, was what such a designation would<br />
portend for natural resource development. An application for World Heritage designation for the Tonle Sap would have<br />
to be made by the Cambodian Government, and no such application has been made. However, UNESCO, which serves<br />
as the secretariat for the World Heritage list, has been encourag<strong>in</strong>g the Government to apply, he said.<br />
In 1997, the Tonle Sap lake and surround<strong>in</strong>g floodpla<strong>in</strong> were designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which<br />
established zones with different levels of protection and development for the area but also permitted natural resource<br />
extraction, Teruo J<strong>in</strong>nai said. <strong>The</strong>re are no f<strong>in</strong>ancial penalties for violat<strong>in</strong>g protective conditions set out for World<br />
Heritage sites. Urooj Malik, the director of ADB’s agriculture, environment, and natural resources division <strong>in</strong> Southeast<br />
Asia, said he believed the Tonle Sap should be designated a World Heritage site. “Nearly three million people depend on<br />
this area for their livelihood,” he said. “It’s not just a national resource. It’s a regional resource because of its<br />
connection to the Mekong River.”<br />
Farm<strong>in</strong>g Threatened Wildlife to Ext<strong>in</strong>ction<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Lor Chandara and Erika K<strong>in</strong>etz, <strong>The</strong> Cambodian Daily, March 7, 2007<br />
Turtles are among the groups with the highest proportion of species under threat of ext<strong>in</strong>ction. Asia is the epicentre of<br />
threat to this group, largely because of demand for their meat for soup and shells for traditional Ch<strong>in</strong>ese medic<strong>in</strong>e. A<br />
recent publication reveals the scale of turtle farm<strong>in</strong>g operations <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a and suggests that these are a major threat to<br />
the survival of Ch<strong>in</strong>a’s turtle species 1 . Although farm<strong>in</strong>g of species <strong>in</strong> captivity is sometimes suggested to be a<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>able alternative to exploitation of species <strong>in</strong> the wild, the authors of this publication state that turtle farms are a<br />
problem because they are also the ma<strong>in</strong> purchasers of wild-caught turtles. As well as launder<strong>in</strong>g cheaply-caught wild<br />
turtles, farmers seek wild breeders because successive generations of farm-raised turtles show a marked decrease <strong>in</strong><br />
reproductive capability. <strong>The</strong> authors thus believe that these farms pose a major conservation threat, which they do not<br />
th<strong>in</strong>k can be regulated sufficiently to provide a conservation opportunity. Further, because of the need for – and<br />
depletion of – wild breed<strong>in</strong>g stock, these unsusta<strong>in</strong>able farms are even putt<strong>in</strong>g themselves out of bus<strong>in</strong>ess. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs should be an alarm call not just to Ch<strong>in</strong>a, but also to other countries <strong>in</strong> the region – such as Vietnam and<br />
Thailand – which are <strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g heavily <strong>in</strong> farm<strong>in</strong>g of wildlife species such as turtles, snakes, crocodiles, and bears.<br />
1<br />
Shi Haitao, Parham, J. F., Lau, M. and Chen Tien-Hsi (2007) Farm<strong>in</strong>g Endangered Turtles to Ext<strong>in</strong>ction <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a.<br />
Conservation Biology <strong>21</strong> (1): 5-6.<br />
John Pilgrim, Conservation Advisor, BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a
6 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Community Attitudes Towards Protected Areas <strong>in</strong> Myanmar<br />
A study has recently been published of attitudes of local people towards three protected areas <strong>in</strong> Myanmar 1 . <strong>The</strong>re is a<br />
lot of prior evidence l<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g socio-economic status to attitudes towards protected areas, with well-educated and<br />
wealthier people generally look<strong>in</strong>g more favourably on protected areas. <strong>The</strong>se f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs were reiterated <strong>in</strong> this study, but<br />
it also showed significant – <strong>in</strong>deed much greater – l<strong>in</strong>ks between attitudes towards protected areas and people’s<br />
perceptions of benefits and conflicts. Specifically, perceived conservation benefits (of forest, wildlife, and climate) were<br />
found to <strong>in</strong>crease the likelihood that a person liked a protected area 28-fold. Likewise, perceived management benefits<br />
(such as road construction) <strong>in</strong>creased this likelihood tenfold, and perceived extraction benefits by fivefold. Conversely,<br />
people who perceived extraction restrictions were found to have one seventh the chance of lik<strong>in</strong>g a protected area.<br />
Likewise, perceived conflicts with protected area staff or crop damage by wildlife decreased the chance of lik<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
protected area to one fifth. A key f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g of the study was thus that perceived positive benefits of protected areas had a<br />
much higher impact on overall attitudes towards protected areas than either perceived costs or socio-economic<br />
variables.<br />
This study was conducted at Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary, and Chatth<strong>in</strong> Wildlife<br />
Sanctuary, but has a lot of implications for other areas <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a. Throughout the region, protected area managers<br />
are <strong>in</strong>adequately resourced to manage their areas without the cooperation of local communities, but environmental<br />
education, conservation and development activities have been sparse to date. This study emphasises not only the<br />
importance of ensur<strong>in</strong>g benefits (such as susta<strong>in</strong>able natural resource extraction) from protected areas, but moreover<br />
the importance of conservation awareness-rais<strong>in</strong>g work to <strong>in</strong>crease understand<strong>in</strong>g and positive perceptions of protected<br />
areas.<br />
1 Allendorf, T., Kha<strong>in</strong>g Kha<strong>in</strong>g Swe, Thida Oo, Ye Htut, My<strong>in</strong>t Aung, My<strong>in</strong>t Aung, Allendorf, K., Hayek, L.-A., Leimgruber,<br />
P. and Wemmer, C. (2006) Community attitudes toward three protected areas <strong>in</strong> Upper Myanmar (Burma).<br />
Environmental Conservation 33: 344-352.<br />
John Pilgrim, Conservation Advisor, BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Freshwater Biodiversity <strong>in</strong> Asia<br />
A recent publication has summarised the importance of, threats to, status of, and conservation challenges for<br />
freshwater biodiversity globally 1 . It highlights the fact that, although freshwater makes up only 0.01% of the world’s<br />
water and c. 0.8% of the Earth’s surface, it supports almost 6% of all described species. <strong>The</strong> authors po<strong>in</strong>t out that<br />
<strong>in</strong>land waters and freshwater biodiversity constitute a valuable natural resource, <strong>in</strong> economic, cultural, aesthetic,<br />
scientific and educational terms. However, freshwater habitats are experienc<strong>in</strong>g decl<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> biodiversity far greater than<br />
those <strong>in</strong> any terrestrial ecosystems. <strong>The</strong> authors recognise the overwhelm<strong>in</strong>g human demands on freshwater habitats,<br />
and thus believe that both human and biodiversity needs must ultimately be compromised. <strong>The</strong> lead author of this<br />
recent publication has written several previous papers focus<strong>in</strong>g on Tropical Asia. <strong>The</strong>se highlight the poor state of<br />
knowledge of the freshwater biodiversity of Tropical Asia 2 and the exceptional levels of threat to freshwater biodiversity<br />
<strong>in</strong> the region, from pollution, watershed deforestation, overexploitation, <strong>in</strong>vasive species, and flow modification by<br />
dams 3 .<br />
1<br />
Dudgeon, D., Arth<strong>in</strong>gton, A. H., Gessner, M. O., Kawabata, Z.-I., Knowler, D. J., Lévêque, C., Naiman, R. J., Prieur-<br />
Richard, A.-H., Soto, D., Stiassny, M. L. J. and Sullivan, C. A. (2006) Freshwater biodiversity: importance, threats,<br />
status and conservation challenges. Biological Review 81: 163-182.<br />
2<br />
Dudgeon, D. (2003) <strong>The</strong> contribution of scientific <strong>in</strong>formation to the conservation and management of freshwater<br />
biodiversity <strong>in</strong> tropical Asia. Hydrobiologia 500: 295-314.<br />
3<br />
Dudgeon, D. (2005) River Rehabilitation for Conservation of Fish Biodiversity <strong>in</strong> Monsoonal Asia. Ecology and Society<br />
10 (2): 15.<br />
John Pilgrim, Conservation Advisor, BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007
7 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Large‐billed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus or<strong>in</strong>us Rediscovered <strong>in</strong><br />
Thailand<br />
Ornithologists across the world are celebrat<strong>in</strong>g with the news that a wetland bird<br />
that has eluded scientists ever s<strong>in</strong>ce its discovery <strong>in</strong> India <strong>in</strong> 1867 has been<br />
refound. Twice. <strong>The</strong> Large-billed Reed-warbler Acrocephalus or<strong>in</strong>us is the world’s<br />
least known bird. A s<strong>in</strong>gle bird was collected <strong>in</strong> the Sutlej Valley, Himachal<br />
Pradesh, India, <strong>in</strong> 1867, but many had questioned whether it was <strong>in</strong>deed<br />
represented a true species and wasn’t just an aberrant <strong>in</strong>dividual of a common<br />
species.<br />
But on 27 March 2006, ornithologist Philip Round, Assistant Professor <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Department of Biology, Mahidol University, was bird r<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g (band<strong>in</strong>g) at a<br />
wastewater treatment centre (the Royally <strong>in</strong>itiated Laem Phak Bia Environmental<br />
Research and Development Project) near Bangkok, Thailand.<br />
“Although reed-warblers are generally drab and look very similar, one of the birds<br />
I caught that morn<strong>in</strong>g struck me as very odd, someth<strong>in</strong>g about it didn’t quite add<br />
up; it had a long beak and short w<strong>in</strong>gs,” said Round. “<strong>The</strong>n, it dawned on me—I<br />
was probably hold<strong>in</strong>g a Large-billed Reed-warbler. I was dumbstruck, it felt as if I<br />
was hold<strong>in</strong>g a liv<strong>in</strong>g dodo.”<br />
“I knew it was essential to get cast-iron proof of its identity. I took many<br />
photographs, and carefully collected two feathers for DNA analysis, so as not to<br />
harm the bird.”<br />
Round contacted Professor Staffan Bensch, from Lund University, Sweden, who<br />
had previously exam<strong>in</strong>ed the Indian specimen and confirmed it did represent a valid species. He exam<strong>in</strong>ed photographs<br />
and DNA of the Thai bird and confirmed the two were the same species.<br />
"A priority now is to f<strong>in</strong>d out where the Large-billed Reed-warbler’s ma<strong>in</strong> population<br />
lives, whether it is threatened, and if so, how these threats can be addressed.” —Dr<br />
Stuart Butchart, BirdLife <strong>International</strong><br />
Ornithologist Philip Round at the site of the dramatic rediscovery - a<br />
wastewater treatment centre near Bangkok. Photo: Philip<br />
Round/<strong>The</strong> Wetland Trust<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Large-billed Reed-warbler<br />
Acrocephalus or<strong>in</strong>us : the world's<br />
least known bird. Photo: Philip<br />
Round/<strong>The</strong> Wetland Trust<br />
“This rediscovery of the Large-billed Reedwarbler<br />
on the shores of Inner Gulf of<br />
Thailand (a BirdLife Important Bird Area, IBA)<br />
illustrates the importance of wetland habitats<br />
and the remarkable biodiversity they are<br />
home to,” said Ms Kritsana Kaewplang, BCST<br />
Director. “It also demonstrates the<br />
contribution of rout<strong>in</strong>e monitor<strong>in</strong>g and r<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of migratory birds at even well-known sites.”<br />
“This remarkable discovery gives Indian<br />
ornithologists an added <strong>in</strong>centive to cont<strong>in</strong>ue<br />
our search for the Large-billed Reed-warbler<br />
<strong>in</strong> India,” said Dr Asad Rahmani, Director of<br />
the Bombay Natural History Society. “Like the<br />
discovery of Bugun Liocichla last year <strong>in</strong><br />
Arunachal Pradesh, it shows us just how much<br />
we still have to learn about our remarkable<br />
avifauna.”<br />
BirdLife <strong>International</strong>’s Dr Stuart Butchart,<br />
commented: “Almost noth<strong>in</strong>g is known about<br />
this mysterious bird. <strong>The</strong> Indian specimen has<br />
short, round w<strong>in</strong>gs and we speculated it is
8 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
resident or short-distance migrant, so its appearance <strong>in</strong> Thailand is very surpris<strong>in</strong>g. A priority now is to f<strong>in</strong>d out where<br />
the Large-billed Reed-warbler’s ma<strong>in</strong> population lives, whether it is threatened, and if so, how these threats can be<br />
addressed.”<br />
In a further twist to this remarkable tale, six months after the rediscovery, another Large-billed Reed-warbler specimen<br />
was discovered <strong>in</strong> the collection of <strong>The</strong> Natural History Museum at Tr<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong> a drawer of Blyth’s Reed-warblers<br />
(Acrocephalus dumetorum) collected <strong>in</strong> India dur<strong>in</strong>g the 19th Century. Once aga<strong>in</strong>, Professor Staffan Bensch confirmed<br />
the identification us<strong>in</strong>g DNA. “F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g one Large-billed Reed-warbler after 139 years was remarkable, f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g a second—<br />
right under ornithologists’ noses for that length of time—is noth<strong>in</strong>g short of a miracle,” said Butchart. <strong>The</strong> second<br />
specimen is from a different part of India and is bound to fuel debate as to the whereabouts of more Large-billed Reedwarblers.<br />
“<strong>No</strong>w people are aware Large-billed Reed-warblers are out there, we can expect someone to discover the<br />
breed<strong>in</strong>g grounds before long. Myanmar or Bangladesh are strong possibilities, but this species has proved so elusive<br />
that it could produce yet another surprise,” said Butchart.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
BirdLife <strong>International</strong>, March 7, 2007<br />
Camera‐Trapp<strong>in</strong>g Tigers Vital to Sav<strong>in</strong>g Endangered Species <strong>in</strong> Asia<br />
Captur<strong>in</strong>g a tiger on camera has always been Ed Pollard's goal, but now it's a necessity. His Wildlife Conservation<br />
Society has staked its prestige on a pledge to boost tiger numbers by half across six Asian sites over the next 10 years.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area <strong>in</strong> north-eastern Cambodia is one of the locations. So collect<strong>in</strong>g accurate data<br />
on tiger numbers and food sources is crucial. <strong>The</strong> $10 million <strong>in</strong>itiative, called Tigers Forever, was officially launched <strong>in</strong><br />
January. As few as 5,000 tigers survive <strong>in</strong> the wild <strong>in</strong> Asia, down from some 100,000 a century ago. WCS's other targets<br />
for tiger conservation is <strong>in</strong> India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.<br />
For the Tigers Forever project, the New York-based group has 15 pairs of cameras cover<strong>in</strong>g paths and trails across<br />
nearly 80 square miles of the Cambodian forest's core. <strong>The</strong>y are moved every few weeks, set <strong>in</strong> pairs because the<br />
stripes on a tiger are not symmetrical, and the animal must be photographed on both sides before identification<br />
is def<strong>in</strong>ite.<br />
When the first films were collected last month, there was almost schoolboy-style excitement. <strong>The</strong> researcher who<br />
retrieved them reported a fresh tiger track on a trail lead<strong>in</strong>g straight to one of the cameras. But someth<strong>in</strong>g must have<br />
lured the beast off the path before it broke the beam that would have triggered the cameras.<br />
<strong>The</strong> conservation group has been operat<strong>in</strong>g here s<strong>in</strong>ce 2002, the year it got its first and so far only tiger photo.<br />
But paw pr<strong>in</strong>ts are found quite often, especially <strong>in</strong> the softer ground dur<strong>in</strong>g the ra<strong>in</strong>y season, and there have been<br />
regular sight<strong>in</strong>gs. Native tracker Den Amboyn says he came face to face with a tiger on a logg<strong>in</strong>g road last year. "I was<br />
scared but I managed to get away," he says.<br />
Of all the sites <strong>in</strong> Asia, the Cambodian one has the fewest tigers, probably no more than ten. But country director Joe<br />
Walston is confident of hitt<strong>in</strong>g the target, <strong>in</strong> part because the zone has plenty of prey. "As tiger habitat it's close to<br />
optimal," he says.<br />
Increased protection is part of the plan. Some of the Tigers Forever money will go toward build<strong>in</strong>g three more ranger<br />
stations at key po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> the jungle over the next three years. With every identified tiger now at a premium, Pollard is<br />
tantalized by a story told by the forest-dwell<strong>in</strong>g Phnong people, who say they know of a tiger that lives <strong>in</strong> a cave but<br />
whose whereabouts can't be revealed because the wood is sacred. Pollard has spent many hours por<strong>in</strong>g over maps,<br />
try<strong>in</strong>g to f<strong>in</strong>d it. "I th<strong>in</strong>k I know where it is now," he says, "or at least I th<strong>in</strong>k I'm gett<strong>in</strong>g close."<br />
Keo Seima, <strong>International</strong> Herald Tribune, March 1, 2007
9 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Myanmar Bird and Nature Society survey <strong>in</strong> Tan<strong>in</strong>tharyi Division<br />
With unseasonable downpours constantly send<strong>in</strong>g his bird research team scrambl<strong>in</strong>g for shelter or forc<strong>in</strong>g them to spend<br />
time pack<strong>in</strong>g their survey equipment <strong>in</strong>to waterproof bags, U <strong>The</strong>t Zaw Na<strong>in</strong>g did not expect to make many new<br />
discoveries <strong>in</strong> the dense forests of southern Tan<strong>in</strong>tharyi Division. It is therefore not surpris<strong>in</strong>g that the ornithologist was<br />
thrilled that among the more than 200 bird species spotted dur<strong>in</strong>g an eight-day trip to the forest last month were two<br />
species previously undocumented <strong>in</strong> Myanmar.<br />
“We didn’t expect it at all,” said U <strong>The</strong>t Zaw Na<strong>in</strong>g, secretary of the Myanmar Bird and Nature Society. “Despite the bad<br />
weather, what we recorded was pretty high <strong>in</strong> terms of both species and population.”<br />
Of the two new species, the yellow-wattled lapw<strong>in</strong>g had previously been sighted only <strong>in</strong> Malaysia <strong>in</strong> the Southeast Asia<br />
region. <strong>The</strong> other new species was the brown fulvetta Alcippe brunneicauda. <strong>The</strong> October 14 to <strong>21</strong> trip followed an<br />
excursion <strong>in</strong> September to Alaungdaw Kathapha National Park <strong>in</strong> Saga<strong>in</strong>g Division arranged jo<strong>in</strong>tly by the society and<br />
three foreign bird experts. Mr Martjan Lammert<strong>in</strong>k, a Dutch bird expert who jo<strong>in</strong>ed last month’s trip, told <strong>The</strong> Myanmar<br />
Times prior to his departure for Tan<strong>in</strong>tharyi Division that the area was particularly <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g because it was a complex<br />
zone where the ranges of many bird species – <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g those from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia – overlapped. “So<br />
you get an exceptionally high diversity of bird species,” he said. “<strong>No</strong>where on earth can so many bird species be found<br />
<strong>in</strong> a tropical forest as <strong>in</strong> southern Tan<strong>in</strong>tharyi.”<br />
Despite this great diversity, and despite the fact that it is the only place where the nearly ext<strong>in</strong>ct Gurney’s pitta Pitta<br />
gurneyi can be found, the area is under siege by development that threatens the health of the local environment. Mr<br />
Lammert<strong>in</strong>k said the ma<strong>in</strong> threat was from a project to replace the <strong>in</strong>digenous forests <strong>in</strong> the area with palm tree<br />
plantations to boost the country’s production of edible oil. While environmentalists acknowledge that such projects are<br />
vital to boost the development of the country, they say that such growth should be approached <strong>in</strong> a balanced,<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>able manner that does not irreparably destroy the environment. “This k<strong>in</strong>d of valuable forest can be found<br />
nowhere else except Tan<strong>in</strong>tharyi, so we should preserve it <strong>in</strong>stead of destroy<strong>in</strong>g part of our national heritage,” said U<br />
<strong>The</strong>t Zaw Na<strong>in</strong>g. He said the forests <strong>in</strong> the three areas of Kawthoung district where last month’s survey took place were<br />
still <strong>in</strong> very good condition, characterised by dense forests with many big trees that provide ideal habitat for a wide<br />
range of bird species.<br />
Without additional protection, the endangered Gurney’s pitta species is expected to go ext<strong>in</strong>ct with<strong>in</strong> ten years, U <strong>The</strong>t<br />
Zaw Na<strong>in</strong>g said, add<strong>in</strong>g that although the bird is also found <strong>in</strong> Thailand forests contiguous with Tan<strong>in</strong>tharyi Division, the<br />
habitat <strong>in</strong> Thailand is even more severely degraded than <strong>in</strong> Myanmar. “While plant<strong>in</strong>g oil palms is important for the<br />
economy, we also need to create reserves to protect some of the rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g forestland <strong>in</strong>stead of clear<strong>in</strong>g it all,” he said.<br />
“Such areas also have economic value as ecotourism sites that attract tourists for their rich diversity of flora and fauna<br />
species.”<br />
U <strong>The</strong><strong>in</strong> Aung, assistant director of Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division of the Forestry Department under the<br />
M<strong>in</strong>istry of Forestry, said that areas like the forests of Tan<strong>in</strong>tharyi Division constitute irreplaceable ecosystems uniquely<br />
suited to support<strong>in</strong>g specific plant and animal species that would be unable to survive elsewhere. “Oil palms can be<br />
planted <strong>in</strong> many areas other than Tan<strong>in</strong>tharyi Division, but the local forests and their animal <strong>in</strong>habitants can’t just move<br />
somewhere else,” he said. “Endangered animals that live <strong>in</strong> the forest will simply disappear if the trees are cleared.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Kh<strong>in</strong> Hn<strong>in</strong>n Phyu, <strong>The</strong> Irrawaddy, <strong>No</strong>vember 20-26, 2006
10 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Commercial Tiger Breed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Vietnam<br />
A Government of Vietnam m<strong>in</strong>istry proposes confiscat<strong>in</strong>g as many as 37 illegally bred tigers <strong>in</strong> southern Vietnam, state<br />
media said on Tuesday, but questions rema<strong>in</strong> about what the government would do with the animals. Only about 150<br />
tigers survive <strong>in</strong> the wild <strong>in</strong> Vietnam, where much of their natural habitat has been destroyed, so releas<strong>in</strong>g them <strong>in</strong>to the<br />
wild might not be an option, accord<strong>in</strong>g to conservationists. "We have made recommendations to the authorities on how<br />
to deal with the tigers, but the issue is fraught with problems," said Tim Knight, spokesman for the conservation group,<br />
Wildlife at Risk, <strong>in</strong> Ho Chi M<strong>in</strong>h City. "From a conservation po<strong>in</strong>t of view, keep<strong>in</strong>g them for breed<strong>in</strong>g purposes would be<br />
the best th<strong>in</strong>g."<br />
<strong>The</strong> reports said the tigers were found <strong>in</strong> B<strong>in</strong>h Duong prov<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>in</strong> districts about 40 km (25 miles) north of Ho Chi M<strong>in</strong>h<br />
City. <strong>The</strong>y are be<strong>in</strong>g kept privately by <strong>in</strong>dividuals and organisations. <strong>The</strong> official Vietnam News Agency and newspapers<br />
said Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister Nguyen Tan Dung had told the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agriculture and Rural Development to "work out<br />
measures" to deal with the tigers <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce. <strong>The</strong>y said the m<strong>in</strong>istry "proposed to confiscate all illegally bred tigers<br />
and transfer them to authorised organisations to raise <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e with the state's regulations". It did not say where the<br />
animals might be taken.<br />
Breed<strong>in</strong>g tigers <strong>in</strong> captivity is [not] difficult and the enormous demand <strong>in</strong> Vietnam and other Asian countries to consume<br />
parts of exotic animals for cul<strong>in</strong>ary or medic<strong>in</strong>al purposes threatens many species. Communist-run Vietnam signed the<br />
Convention on <strong>International</strong> Trade <strong>in</strong> Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, <strong>in</strong> 1994, but wildlife groups<br />
have criticised the country for <strong>in</strong>consistent enforcement.<br />
Pollution Changes Bird Diversity at Mai Po, Hong Kong<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Reuters News Service, March 14, 2007<br />
Water pollution <strong>in</strong> Deep Bay has caused changes <strong>in</strong> migratory bird species at the Mai Po wetland by kill<strong>in</strong>g off the food of<br />
some birds while encourag<strong>in</strong>g the growth of food favoured by others, conservationists say. Crabs were dy<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the<br />
contam<strong>in</strong>ated waters while worms, snails and algae were thriv<strong>in</strong>g, said the local chapter of the global conservation body<br />
WWF, which manages the nature reserve. <strong>The</strong> green group yesterday urged a jo<strong>in</strong>t work<strong>in</strong>g group of the Hong Kong and<br />
Shenzhen Governments to disclose water quality data from the Shenzhen side of the bay, as pollution rema<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
unchanged despite a big reduction <strong>in</strong> the discharge of effluent by Hong Kong.<br />
WWF Mai Po reserve officer Bena Smith said Hong Kong discharge 13.4 tonnes of effluent a day <strong>in</strong>to Deep Bay <strong>in</strong> 2005,<br />
a 40 percent decrease from 1996. But he said water quality rema<strong>in</strong>ed poor and this was reflected <strong>in</strong> the chang<strong>in</strong>g<br />
species of water birds at Mai Po. One species that has <strong>in</strong>creased significantly <strong>in</strong> recent years is the pied avocet<br />
Recurvirostra avosetta a w<strong>in</strong>ter migratory bird. Fewer than 1,000 were recorded <strong>in</strong> 1990, but this <strong>in</strong>creased to more<br />
than 8,000 last year. On the other hand, the number of Saunder’s Gulls Larus saundersi has fallen from 170 <strong>in</strong> 1990 to<br />
50 last year. <strong>The</strong> gull is classified as vulnerable with only 3,000 recorded worldwide. Mr. Smith attributed the change to<br />
pollution <strong>in</strong> Deep Bay. He said micro-organisms that were more tolerant to pollution, such as worms, snails and larvae,<br />
had been <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g, attract<strong>in</strong>g flocks of water birds that feed on them, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the pied avocet. But pollutants, such<br />
as heavy metals and tox<strong>in</strong>s, have wiped out less-tolerant mar<strong>in</strong>e life, like small crabs, which Saunder’s gulls eat.<br />
<strong>The</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g group was formed <strong>in</strong> 1992 to tackle water pollution <strong>in</strong> Deep Bay. Both governments have agreed on a plan<br />
to clean up the bay by 2015. But water quality rema<strong>in</strong>ed poor <strong>in</strong> 2005, particularly the <strong>in</strong>ner bay area, the latest<br />
Environment Protection Department figures show. Nitrogen compound levels were the highest of all Hong Kong waters.<br />
“Academics estimated that more than 80 per cent of pollution came from Shenzhen, but we don’t know the situation on<br />
Shenzhen’s side,” Mr. Smith said. He said the department should make annual reports on the water quality of both sides<br />
and start regular monitor<strong>in</strong>g of heavy metals <strong>in</strong> Deep Bay. He said the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation<br />
Department should also release monitor<strong>in</strong>g data of sediment quality. <strong>The</strong> director of the Institute of Public and<br />
Environment Affairs, Ma Jun, said Shenzhen ranked 26 among 300 ma<strong>in</strong>land cities on transparency of water data. An<br />
environment department spokeswoman said Hong Kong and its Guangdong counterparts had been <strong>in</strong>form<strong>in</strong>g the public<br />
of the f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs through press brief<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />
Olga Wong, South Ch<strong>in</strong>a Morn<strong>in</strong>g Post, February 28, 2007
11 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Newly Discovered Myanmar Fish Already <strong>in</strong> Decl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
<strong>The</strong> celestial pearl danio (male, top; female, bottom), was<br />
discovered recently <strong>in</strong> Myanmar. Photographs courtesy Khun<br />
Kamphol Udomritthiruj<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Just months after the discovery of a colorful new<br />
fish <strong>in</strong> South-East Asia, worldwide demand and<br />
<strong>in</strong>tense exportation are already caus<strong>in</strong>g concern<br />
about the readily available supply of the species.<br />
<strong>The</strong> celestial pearl danio Celestichthys<br />
margaritatus was first found <strong>in</strong> August by a<br />
commercial aquarium-fish dealer near the town<br />
of Hopong <strong>in</strong> Myanmar. At first the danio's<br />
location was kept a secret. But it wasn't long<br />
before word leaked out to other commercial<br />
dealers, said Tyson Roberts, an ichthyologist<br />
who has collected fish <strong>in</strong> Myanmar for almost 30<br />
years. With<strong>in</strong> a few months one Thai company<br />
alone had exported about 15,000 of the fish, he<br />
po<strong>in</strong>ted out.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce then exportation—ma<strong>in</strong>ly to Japan, <strong>No</strong>rth<br />
America, and Europe—has probably been ten<br />
times that amount, Roberts added. "Captive<br />
breed<strong>in</strong>g may be the only way for the aquarium<br />
hobbyist to ensure a supply of the species <strong>in</strong> the<br />
future, s<strong>in</strong>ce it reportedly is already nearly<br />
fished out <strong>in</strong> the area where it was discovered,"<br />
he wrote by email. Roberts is the author of a<br />
paper on the celestial pearl danio that appeared<br />
<strong>in</strong> last week's issue of the journal the Raffles<br />
Bullet<strong>in</strong> of Zoology. He also named the new<br />
species, after white spots on its body that<br />
rem<strong>in</strong>ded him of stars and pearls.<br />
Maryann Mott, National Geographic News, March <strong>21</strong>, 2007<br />
First Captive White‐rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis Hatched <strong>in</strong><br />
India…….<br />
One of the world’s most threatened birds has bred <strong>in</strong> captivity for the first time <strong>in</strong> India. <strong>The</strong> news has given scientists<br />
and conservationists further hope for sav<strong>in</strong>g Asia’s decl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g vulture populations. <strong>The</strong> s<strong>in</strong>gle chick, a White-rumped<br />
Vulture Gyps bengalensis, was hatched at a breed<strong>in</strong>g centre <strong>in</strong> P<strong>in</strong>jore, Haryana, as part of a breed<strong>in</strong>g programme<br />
undertaken by BNHS (BirdLife <strong>in</strong> India) and the RSPB (BirdLife <strong>in</strong> the UK). Scientists had not expected the birds to breed<br />
successfully <strong>in</strong> captivity until at least 2008. “<strong>The</strong> egg was laid <strong>in</strong> <strong>No</strong>vember and s<strong>in</strong>ce then, we have been wait<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
hop<strong>in</strong>g.” said Dr Vibhu Prakash, Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal Scientist for the vulture breed<strong>in</strong>g programme at BNHS “This success shows<br />
that we have got the conditions right, so now we can plan ahead with confidence to breed many more vultures <strong>in</strong> the<br />
future.”<br />
Captive breed<strong>in</strong>g is be<strong>in</strong>g used <strong>in</strong> India to help ensure that Asian vulture populations recover after populations of three<br />
vulture species - White-Rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture Gyps <strong>in</strong>dicus and Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris -<br />
decl<strong>in</strong>ed by more that 95 percent <strong>in</strong> just three years <strong>in</strong> the 1990s. Subsequent research found a l<strong>in</strong>k between the<br />
apparent vulture decl<strong>in</strong>es and a veter<strong>in</strong>ary drug, diclofenac, be<strong>in</strong>g used <strong>in</strong> treat<strong>in</strong>g livestock. Many millions of vultures<br />
are thought to have died as a result of feed<strong>in</strong>g on the carcasses of livestock treated with the drug.
12 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
“This success shows that we have got the conditions right, so now we can plan ahead<br />
with confidence to breed many more vultures <strong>in</strong> the future.” —Dr Vibhu Prakash, Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal<br />
Scientist, BNHS<br />
Vultures, be<strong>in</strong>g highly efficient scavengers, are a crucial part of<br />
South Asia’s ecosystems. In recent years they have cont<strong>in</strong>ued to<br />
decl<strong>in</strong>e by between 22 and 48 percent each year. Vulture numbers<br />
are now so low that the birds’ survival is largely dependent on<br />
captive breed<strong>in</strong>g success, as well as stopp<strong>in</strong>g the use of diclofenac.<br />
<strong>The</strong> drug is currently be<strong>in</strong>g phased out <strong>in</strong> India, Pakistan and Nepal.<br />
Chris Bowden, Head of the RSPB’s Vulture Conservation Programme<br />
said: “<strong>The</strong> hatch<strong>in</strong>g of this vulture chick is a hugely important<br />
milestone and shows that the vulture breed<strong>in</strong>g programme really can<br />
help save the vultures once diclofenac is removed from the<br />
environment.”<br />
In January 2006, scientists from the RSPB and the Zoological Society<br />
of London proved that the drug meloxicam was a suitable, and safe,<br />
alternative to diclofenac. Conservationists are now promot<strong>in</strong>g the use<br />
of this safer drug <strong>in</strong> veter<strong>in</strong>ary practice:<br />
“<strong>The</strong> <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g availability of meloxicam means that farmers and<br />
vets can switch to the new drug. But this must happen immediately if<br />
we are to avoid los<strong>in</strong>g the last rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g wild vultures,” urged Dr<br />
Asad Rahmani, Director of the Bombay Natural History Society.<br />
….Only to Later Die<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
BirdLife <strong>International</strong>, January 9, 2007<br />
Two rare vultures said to be the first of their species bred <strong>in</strong> captivity have died after only a few weeks, a scientist said<br />
on Thursday, <strong>in</strong> a blow for conservationists try<strong>in</strong>g to save the endangered South Asian birds from ext<strong>in</strong>ction. <strong>The</strong><br />
Oriental white-backed vulture chicks had been warmly greeted when they hatched <strong>in</strong> January at a breed<strong>in</strong>g centre <strong>in</strong><br />
P<strong>in</strong>jore <strong>in</strong> the north Indian state of Haryana. Both chicks died later <strong>in</strong> January, Vibhu Prakash, the pr<strong>in</strong>cipal scientist of<br />
the Bombay Natural History Society's vulture breed<strong>in</strong>g programme, told Reuters on Thursday. Prakash blamed the<br />
parents. "<strong>The</strong>y were first-time parents and they just didn't know what to do with their chicks," he said. "That happens<br />
very often even <strong>in</strong> the wild." <strong>The</strong> society is try<strong>in</strong>g to save South Asia's Oriental white-backed, long-billed and slenderbilled<br />
vultures from ext<strong>in</strong>ction. <strong>The</strong> population of these birds has dropped by more than 97 percent <strong>in</strong> the last 15 years,<br />
accord<strong>in</strong>g to Brita<strong>in</strong>'s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.<br />
Scientists say the decl<strong>in</strong>e is largely due to farmers dos<strong>in</strong>g their cattle with the anti-<strong>in</strong>flammatory drug diclofenac,<br />
poison<strong>in</strong>g the birds one step up the food cha<strong>in</strong>. Prakash said the society was tak<strong>in</strong>g the bad news <strong>in</strong> its stride. "This is<br />
just a part of what happens <strong>in</strong> nature" he said. "We were not expect<strong>in</strong>g breed<strong>in</strong>g to happen so soon anyway." He said<br />
dozens of vultures at the centre would reach parent<strong>in</strong>g age <strong>in</strong> the next two or three years, when breed<strong>in</strong>g would beg<strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> earnest.<br />
Reuters News Service, February 23, 2007<br />
Vulture Restaurants can Reduce Diclofenac Deaths<br />
<strong>The</strong> captive breed<strong>in</strong>g success gives hope to<br />
conservationists work<strong>in</strong>g to save Asia's<br />
decl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g vulture populations. Photo: BNHS<br />
Provid<strong>in</strong>g regular and reliable supplies of uncontam<strong>in</strong>ated carcases is a well-established tool <strong>in</strong> vulture conservation.<br />
Among their many applications, vulture restaurants are used to provide a safe food source <strong>in</strong> areas where carcasses are<br />
commonly baited with poisons. A team from the Peregr<strong>in</strong>e Fund set out to f<strong>in</strong>d whether vulture restaurants could be<br />
used <strong>in</strong> the Indian subcont<strong>in</strong>ent to reduce exposure to the veter<strong>in</strong>ary anti-<strong>in</strong>flammatory drug diclofenac. Recent<br />
catastrophic decl<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> three Gyps species, Slender-billed Gyps tenuirostris, Indian G. <strong>in</strong>dicus and White-rumped<br />
Vulture Gyps bengalensis have been attributed to the toxic effects of the drug upon birds which have fed on treated<br />
livestock. Affected vultures die of visceral gout.
13 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
A dead White-rumped Vulture, a victim of diclofenac<br />
exposure. Photo: Munir Virani/<strong>The</strong> Peregr<strong>in</strong>e Fund<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs are described <strong>in</strong> the current issue of Bird<br />
Conservation <strong>International</strong>. [1] <strong>The</strong> restaurant was<br />
established at the White-rumped Vulture colony at Toawala,<br />
<strong>in</strong> Punjab prov<strong>in</strong>ce, Pakistan. <strong>The</strong> vultures were offered the<br />
carcases of donkeys, purchased locally and held for a week to<br />
ensure that any diclofenac residues had been elim<strong>in</strong>ated.<br />
Mean daily mortality <strong>in</strong> the colony when carcases were<br />
provided was 0.072 birds per day (8 birds <strong>in</strong> 111 days),<br />
compared with 0.387 birds per day (41 birds <strong>in</strong> 106 days)<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g non-provision<strong>in</strong>g control periods. <strong>The</strong> researchers<br />
collected 50 dead adult and sub-adult vultures dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
study period. Visceral gout, <strong>in</strong>dicative of renal failure possibly<br />
due to diclofenac poison<strong>in</strong>g, was found <strong>in</strong> 29 of the 30 dead<br />
vultures that were available for necropsy. At least five<br />
vultures were found dead with visceral gout while the<br />
restaurant was operat<strong>in</strong>g. “Even under optimum conditions it<br />
is not possible to elim<strong>in</strong>ate diclofenac exposure entirely<br />
where alternative carcass sources are readily available,” the<br />
authors assert. <strong>The</strong> authors conclude that restaurants can reduce, but not elim<strong>in</strong>ate, diclofenac exposure.<br />
“Supplementary feed<strong>in</strong>g may prove to be a useful management tool for slow<strong>in</strong>g decl<strong>in</strong>es locally <strong>in</strong> the short term,” until<br />
diclofenac can be withdrawn from veter<strong>in</strong>ary use. Education of veter<strong>in</strong>arians and livestock owners to avoid treatment of<br />
term<strong>in</strong>ally ill livestock, or to bury or burn carcasses of recently treated livestock, may also be helpful. Otherwise,<br />
“ext<strong>in</strong>ction is <strong>in</strong>evitable <strong>in</strong> all populations forag<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> areas where diclofenac is <strong>in</strong> veter<strong>in</strong>ary use and treated carcasses<br />
become vulture food at sufficient frequency to cause deaths and negative population growth.”<br />
[1] Vulture restaurants and their role <strong>in</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g diclofenac exposure <strong>in</strong> Asian vultures, MARTIN GILBERT, RICHARD T.<br />
WATSON, SHAKEEL AHMED, MUHAMMAD ASIM and JEFF A. JOHNSON, Bird Conservation <strong>International</strong> (2007) 17:1–16.<br />
A rare Sumatran rh<strong>in</strong>oceros Dicerorh<strong>in</strong>us sumatrensis the first born <strong>in</strong><br />
captivity <strong>in</strong> more than 100 years, arrived <strong>in</strong> the country of his<br />
ancestors on Tuesday as part of an <strong>in</strong>ternational breed<strong>in</strong>g<br />
programme. Andalas had set off from the Los Angeles zoo for the 40hour<br />
journey that took him via Amsterdam to the capital of<br />
Indonesia, Jakarta, where he landed on Tuesday even<strong>in</strong>g. Highrank<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Indonesian officials, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the forestry m<strong>in</strong>ister, greeted<br />
the rh<strong>in</strong>o at Jakarta's ma<strong>in</strong> Soekarno-Hatta airport as light ra<strong>in</strong> fell.<br />
However, their view of Andalas was limited as he was brought out of<br />
the plane <strong>in</strong>side a closed wooden box with only gaps for air<br />
ventilation, and quickly put <strong>in</strong>to a lorry for the last stages of the long<br />
journey to his new home on the island of Sumatra. "<strong>The</strong> rh<strong>in</strong>o seems<br />
to be healthy after the trip," said Marcellius Adi, an official with a<br />
wildlife research group. He still faced land and sea travel to reach the<br />
Sumatran Rh<strong>in</strong>o Sanctuary <strong>in</strong> the Way Kambas National Park. "<strong>The</strong><br />
reason this move is so significant is that it is the first relocation of<br />
this species back to Indonesia, the species' homeland," Rob<strong>in</strong><br />
Radcliffe of Cornell University College of Veter<strong>in</strong>ary Medic<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> New<br />
York said before the trip began. Only a few African rh<strong>in</strong>os have been<br />
BirdLife <strong>International</strong>, March 20, 2006<br />
Zoo‐Born Sumatran Rh<strong>in</strong>oceros Dicerorh<strong>in</strong>us sumatrensis shipped to<br />
Indonesia<br />
<strong>The</strong> Sumatran rh<strong>in</strong>oceros Dicerorh<strong>in</strong>us<br />
sumatrensis has a viable future probably only<br />
<strong>in</strong> Sumatra, through small populations are<br />
found elsewhere <strong>in</strong> South-East Asia.<br />
Photo: Gerald Cubitt.<br />
moved from captivity back to the wild. Andalas, born <strong>in</strong> the C<strong>in</strong>c<strong>in</strong>nati Zoo <strong>in</strong> September 2001, is the first Sumatran<br />
rh<strong>in</strong>o not born <strong>in</strong> the wild <strong>in</strong> 112 years.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are only about 300 Sumatran, or hairy, rh<strong>in</strong>os still surviv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the wild <strong>in</strong> south-East Asia. <strong>The</strong> Javan rh<strong>in</strong>o is the<br />
rarest species. "But the Sumatran rh<strong>in</strong>o is considered more endangered, even though there are more of them because<br />
they are isolated and fragmented <strong>in</strong> habitats. <strong>The</strong>ir population has been <strong>in</strong> a steady decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the last 20 years," said<br />
Radcliffe, who works for the <strong>International</strong> Rh<strong>in</strong>o Foundation. "Sumatran rh<strong>in</strong>os are closely related to the woolly rh<strong>in</strong>o<br />
which became ext<strong>in</strong>ct dur<strong>in</strong>g the last Ice Age. It is a very prehistoric rh<strong>in</strong>o," he said. <strong>The</strong> hairy Sumatran rh<strong>in</strong>o is the<br />
smallest of the rh<strong>in</strong>o species but can still weigh from 1,300 to 1,800 pounds (600 to 800 kg), so transport<strong>in</strong>g Andalas is<br />
not a simple task. <strong>The</strong> lorry set off with Andalas to the western end of Java, from where a ferry was scheduled to take<br />
him on to Sumatra for an eight-ten hour drive to the sanctuary.<br />
Reuters Service News, Feb. <strong>21</strong>, 2007
14 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Clouded Leopards <strong>in</strong> Borneo a Different Species<br />
Scientists have discovered that the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra is an<br />
entirely new species of cat. <strong>The</strong> secretive ra<strong>in</strong>forest animal was orig<strong>in</strong>ally thought to be the same species as the one<br />
found <strong>in</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>land South-East Asia. <strong>The</strong> news comes just a few weeks after a WWF report showed that scientists had<br />
identified at least 52 new species of animals and plants over the past year <strong>in</strong> Borneo. <strong>The</strong> global conservation<br />
organization says these repeated f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs show how crucial it is to conserve the habitat and species of the world’s third<br />
largest island. Researchers at the US National Cancer Institute say the differences between the Borneo and the<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>land clouded leopard were found to be comparable to the differences between other large cat species such as lion,<br />
tiger, leopard, jaguar and snow leopard. <strong>The</strong>y believe the Borneo population from the ma<strong>in</strong>land population some 1.4<br />
million years ago. “Genetic research results clearly <strong>in</strong>dicate that the clouded leopards of Borneo should be considered a<br />
separate species,” said Dr Stephen O’Brien, Head of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, US National Cancer Institute.<br />
“DNA tests highlighted around 40 differences between the two species.” <strong>The</strong> results of the genetic study are supported<br />
by separate research on geographical variation <strong>in</strong> the clouded leopard, based ma<strong>in</strong>ly on fur patterns and colouration of<br />
sk<strong>in</strong>s held <strong>in</strong> museums and collections.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> moment we started compar<strong>in</strong>g the sk<strong>in</strong>s of the ma<strong>in</strong>land clouded leopard and the leopard found on Borneo, it was<br />
clear we were compar<strong>in</strong>g two different species,” said Dr Andrew Kitchener, from the Department of Natural Sciences,<br />
National Museums Scotland. “It’s <strong>in</strong>credible that no one has ever noticed these differences.” <strong>The</strong> Borneo clouded leopard<br />
has small cloud mark<strong>in</strong>gs, many dist<strong>in</strong>ct spots with<strong>in</strong> the cloud mark<strong>in</strong>gs, greyer fur, and a double dorsal stripe. It is<br />
altogether darker than the ma<strong>in</strong>land species. Clouded leopards from the ma<strong>in</strong>land have large clouds on their sk<strong>in</strong> with<br />
fewer, often fa<strong>in</strong>t, spots with<strong>in</strong> the cloud mark<strong>in</strong>gs, and they are lighter <strong>in</strong> colour, with a tendency toward tawnycoloured<br />
fur and a partial double dorsal stripe.<br />
“Who said a leopard can never change its spots? For over a hundred years we have been look<strong>in</strong>g at this animal and<br />
never realized it was unique,” said Stuart Chapman, WWF <strong>International</strong> Co-ord<strong>in</strong>ator of the Heart of Borneo programme.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> fact that Borneo’s top predator is now considered a separate species further emphasizes the importance of<br />
conserv<strong>in</strong>g the Heart of Borneo.”<br />
Clouded leopards are the biggest predators on Borneo, sometimes as large as small Leopards, and noted for hav<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
longest can<strong>in</strong>e teeth relative to body size of any cat. By tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to consideration the forest conditions <strong>in</strong> Borneo, a total<br />
number of 5,000 to 11,000 Bornean clouded leopards are estimated to live there. <strong>The</strong> total number <strong>in</strong> Sumatra could be<br />
<strong>in</strong> the range of 3,000 to 7,000 <strong>in</strong>dividuals. However, further studies are needed to obta<strong>in</strong> better population data.<br />
Destruction of their habitat is the ma<strong>in</strong> threat they face. <strong>The</strong> last great forest home of the Bornean Clouded Leopard is<br />
the Heart of Borneo, a 220,000 sq.km wild, mounta<strong>in</strong>ous region – about five times the size of Switzerland – covered<br />
with equatorial ra<strong>in</strong>forest <strong>in</strong> the centre of the island.<br />
Last month <strong>in</strong> Bali (Indonesia), the m<strong>in</strong>ister of the three Bornean Governments – Brunei Darussalem, Indonesia and<br />
Malaysia – signed a historic Declaration to conserve and susta<strong>in</strong>ably manage the Heart of Borneo. This has put the area<br />
on the global stage of conservation priorities.<br />
HSBC: World’s Local Bank Raises Money for Global Forest<br />
Destruction<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Vietnam News, March <strong>21</strong>, 2007<br />
HSBC appears to be violat<strong>in</strong>g its own forest sector guidel<strong>in</strong>es by arrang<strong>in</strong>g the stock exchange list<strong>in</strong>g for Malaysian<br />
timber giant Saml<strong>in</strong>g, a company notorious for destroy<strong>in</strong>g tropical forests and the abuse of local communities, said<br />
Global Witness, Monday.<br />
Global Witness found evidence that Saml<strong>in</strong>g Global was illegally sourc<strong>in</strong>g timber from a Cambodian wildlife sanctuary <strong>in</strong><br />
the 1990s, and has followed its activities ever s<strong>in</strong>ce. Saml<strong>in</strong>g and its related companies have caused controversy <strong>in</strong><br />
Cambodia and Papua New Gu<strong>in</strong>ea, and cont<strong>in</strong>ue to do so <strong>in</strong> Guyana and Malaysia. Saml<strong>in</strong>g is sell<strong>in</strong>g a 25.3% stake on<br />
the Hong Kong stock exchange, with which it hopes to raise a reported $280 million for pay<strong>in</strong>g off debts and expand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>to new areas. HSBC, which announces its results today, is jo<strong>in</strong>t arranger of the deal with Credit Suisse and Macquarie<br />
Securities. Public trad<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the shares beg<strong>in</strong>s on 7 March.<br />
"While HSBC is plant<strong>in</strong>g trees to reward its retail customers for request<strong>in</strong>g onl<strong>in</strong>e statements, Saml<strong>in</strong>g is cutt<strong>in</strong>g them<br />
down. By help<strong>in</strong>g Saml<strong>in</strong>g to raise a war-chest for new logg<strong>in</strong>g projects, HSBC is turn<strong>in</strong>g its own environmental<br />
commitments <strong>in</strong>to mean<strong>in</strong>gless greenwash," said Anthea Lawson, a campaigner at Global Witness. HSBC's 2004 "Forest<br />
Land and Forest Products Sector Guidel<strong>in</strong>e" says it will not deal with commercial operations logg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> primary tropical<br />
moist forest, high conservation value forest, or logg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> violation of local or national laws.
15 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Logg<strong>in</strong>g untouched tropical forest is precisely what Saml<strong>in</strong>g and its related companies have done for years <strong>in</strong> Cambodia,<br />
Malaysia, Guyana and Papua New Gu<strong>in</strong>ea. In the Malaysian prov<strong>in</strong>ce of Sarawak, Saml<strong>in</strong>g is one of the companies<br />
logg<strong>in</strong>g the last rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g areas of primary forest. <strong>The</strong> local Penan people face an on-go<strong>in</strong>g battle to prevent the<br />
destruction of the forest and their livelihoods. In addition, <strong>21</strong>0,000 hectares of a concession <strong>in</strong> Guyana logged by<br />
Saml<strong>in</strong>g subsidiary Barama is high conservation value forest. Global Witness also has evidence that Saml<strong>in</strong>g and its<br />
related companies have violated laws <strong>in</strong> Cambodia, Guyana and Papua New Gu<strong>in</strong>ea.<br />
HSBC's guidel<strong>in</strong>e also says that the bank prefers to deal with customers who operate managed forests that are certified<br />
by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC, or equivalent, or who are ‘follow<strong>in</strong>g a credible path towards achiev<strong>in</strong>g<br />
compliance with<strong>in</strong> a maximum of five years'. Global Witness notes, however, that <strong>in</strong> January 2007 Barama had its FSC<br />
certification suspended after an <strong>in</strong>dependent audit found ‘systematic major nonconformities'. Barama had failed to<br />
conduct appropriate environmental impact assessments and did not have a forest management plan for the certified<br />
area. In addition the company is logg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Amer<strong>in</strong>dian lands without the free and <strong>in</strong>formed consent of local populations.<br />
Only last month HSBC donated $8 million for research <strong>in</strong>to the long-term effects of climate change on forests. But<br />
equally important is effect of <strong>in</strong>dustrial-scale logg<strong>in</strong>g on forests and, therefore, on climate change. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to last<br />
year's Stern Review, emissions from deforestation contribute more than 18% of global emissions, a greater share than<br />
the global transport sector. "HSBC's association with Saml<strong>in</strong>g makes a mockery of its forest policy and commitments on<br />
climate change. HSBC must term<strong>in</strong>ate its relationship with Saml<strong>in</strong>g with immediate effect, and consider carefully what<br />
to do with the profits raised from this list<strong>in</strong>g," said Anthea Lawson.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Global Witness, March 5, 2007<br />
Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy 2006‐2020 Published<br />
<strong>The</strong> first Forestry Development Strategy 2001-2010 for Vietnam, was approved on 22 nd January, 2002 by the M<strong>in</strong>ister of<br />
Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) through the Decision number 199/QĐ-BNN-PTLN to provide guidance for<br />
forestry activities. However, <strong>in</strong> the socio-economic context of rapid development, the sectoral development orientation<br />
should be comprehensively adjusted to match with the national socio-economic development orientation and to meet<br />
the <strong>in</strong>novation needs, the trend of <strong>in</strong>ternational economic <strong>in</strong>tegration, and thus, to create conditions for the mobilization<br />
of more domestic and foreign resources for sectoral development <strong>in</strong>vestment.<br />
<strong>The</strong>refore, MARD has prepared a Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy for the period 2006-2020. <strong>The</strong> new strategy<br />
builds upon elements of the previous strategy and the Forest Sector Support Program (FSSP) Framework (<strong>The</strong> FSSP<br />
Memorandum of Agreement was signed by MARD and 19 (now 25) <strong>in</strong>ternational partners <strong>in</strong> <strong>No</strong>vember 2001). <strong>The</strong> new<br />
strategy provided new updated viewpo<strong>in</strong>ts and orientation to meet the requirement of <strong>in</strong>novation, <strong>in</strong>tegration and<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>able development. <strong>The</strong> strategy formulation began <strong>in</strong> February, 2004. On 5 February 2007, the Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister<br />
signed the decision <strong>No</strong>. 18/2007/QD-Ttg which approved the Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy 2006-2020. This<br />
is the result of such a scientific and meticulous progress with consultation of former leaders of the forest sector,<br />
scientists, national and <strong>in</strong>ternational experts, donor community, local authorities and the people.<br />
In October – <strong>No</strong>vember, 2006, under the direction of MARD leaders and the coord<strong>in</strong>ation of FSSP Coord<strong>in</strong>ation Office, 5<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g groups were established to build action plan, identify top priorities for implement<strong>in</strong>g the Strategy till 2010. In<br />
order to foster the implementation of the Strategy after the approval by the Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister, on 14 th March, 2007, the<br />
M<strong>in</strong>ister Cao Duc Phat sent an announcement to M<strong>in</strong>istry agencies, giv<strong>in</strong>g steer<strong>in</strong>g ideas for the implementation of<br />
Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy, particularly assigned the related units to implement strategy programs.<br />
At present, FSSP Coord<strong>in</strong>ation Office is tightly cooperat<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>International</strong> Cooperation Department to prepare for<br />
organiz<strong>in</strong>g a round table meet<strong>in</strong>g (tentatively <strong>in</strong> May, 2007) to mobilize ODA sources for the Strategy<br />
implementation.With such an <strong>in</strong>terest of leaders at all levels and the strong support of donor community, national and<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational forestry organizations, we hope that <strong>in</strong> the near future, Vietnam Forestry will advance with new steady<br />
steps on the way of global <strong>in</strong>tegration.<br />
Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy 2006-2020 and other related documents are available at<br />
www.vietnamforestry.org.vn<br />
Forest Sector Support Programme Coord<strong>in</strong>ation Office<br />
M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam
16 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Important Bird Areas News<br />
Ch<strong>in</strong>dw<strong>in</strong> Dam Threatens Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary (MY014)<br />
Tamamthi dam, Hydro-power and Multi-purpose project is situated between 25 o <strong>No</strong>rth and 95 o East and 26 o <strong>No</strong>rth and<br />
96 o East, and the dam site itself is located at Tazone village which lies 50 km north of Homal<strong>in</strong> town <strong>in</strong> Upper Saga<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Division, Union of Myanmar. <strong>The</strong> catchment area covers approximately 27,025 km 2 , a huge area of the Ch<strong>in</strong>dw<strong>in</strong><br />
watershed. <strong>The</strong> average annual ra<strong>in</strong>fall (Tazone) is 1,920 mm and annual flow of water <strong>in</strong>to the dam is expected to be<br />
about 101,638,904,878 m 3 . <strong>The</strong>se watersheds comprise <strong>in</strong>tact forests <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Tamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary and<br />
Hukaung Tiger Reserve along with natural forests at the headwaters and on both sides of the Ch<strong>in</strong>dw<strong>in</strong> River. More than<br />
six percent of the Tamanthi Wildlife sanctuary will be <strong>in</strong>undated <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the vital habitats of globally endangered large<br />
mammals like tiger Panthera tigris, elephant Elephus maximus, and the endemic Myanmar’s Roofed Turtle Kachuga<br />
travittata will be lost forever as no other site is for this species is currently known. <strong>The</strong> proposed dam will be of<br />
composite construction (rockfill with concrete spillway and powerhouse) with an earth core and a crest level of 184<br />
meters asl. <strong>The</strong> project will <strong>in</strong>clude construction of a 80 meter high and 1,600 m long dam at Tazone on Ch<strong>in</strong>dw<strong>in</strong> River<br />
and will create 1,396 km 2 water spread area. <strong>The</strong> dam will also create a full reservoir capacity of 2,317,224,609 m 3 of<br />
which 17 268 745 974 m 3 is the effective storage capacity. <strong>The</strong>re will be seven ta<strong>in</strong>ter gates with spillways each 14<br />
meters wide and 16 meter high. <strong>The</strong> spillway discharge will be 37,997 m 3 per second. Six penstocks will be used each<br />
with a 9.1 m diameter. <strong>The</strong> power plant will be 200 m long and will house vertical Francis turb<strong>in</strong>es for a maximum rated<br />
output of 1200 MW (200 MW x 6 generat<strong>in</strong>g Units). <strong>The</strong> total expected production of the scheme will be 6,685 million<br />
kilowatt-hours (KWh) per year.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) was requested to conduct an EIA of this dam by the<br />
Government of Myanmar, M<strong>in</strong>istry of Electric Power (2), focus<strong>in</strong>g ma<strong>in</strong>ly on the negative impacts on biodiversity.<br />
Because of a short notice and limited time (45 days) BANCA was only able to conduct a rapid assessment. <strong>The</strong> team<br />
departed from Yangon on the 28 th of August and returned back on the 10 th of October. <strong>The</strong> team managed 30 days <strong>in</strong><br />
the field for the study. A total of 43 persons participated <strong>in</strong> this biodiversity studies. <strong>The</strong> study group was divided <strong>in</strong>to<br />
two ma<strong>in</strong> groups, flora and fauna with a leader <strong>in</strong> each group. <strong>The</strong> fauna group was then sub divided <strong>in</strong>to 5 study<br />
groups of 4 participants. As for the flora group it consists of 14 members and was sub divided <strong>in</strong>to groups whenever<br />
necessary. <strong>The</strong> rest participated as members of the support team.<br />
<strong>The</strong> expert teams managed to record 332 species of birds, 59 species of mammals, 333 species of <strong>in</strong>sects, 57 species of<br />
reptiles and amphibians, 67 species of fish, and 526 species of plants, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g 4 species listed as critically endangered,<br />
11 species as endangered, 12 species as vulnerable and 8 species as near threatened. <strong>The</strong> study team advised the<br />
M<strong>in</strong>istry of Hydroelectric Power (2) to seriously consider mitigation measures for all those species listed as critical,<br />
endangered, vulnerable and near threatened, but especially for one particular endemic species, Myanmar Roofed Turtle,<br />
it was advised that special attention needs to be paid for its survival s<strong>in</strong>ce there is a possibility that it would become<br />
globally ext<strong>in</strong>ct after construction of the dam. This turtle which was found quite abundantly <strong>in</strong> Myanmar 100 years ago<br />
now appears to be approach<strong>in</strong>g ext<strong>in</strong>ction <strong>in</strong> the wild due to chronic over harvest<strong>in</strong>g of eggs and adults. <strong>No</strong>w it is only<br />
found <strong>in</strong> the section of the Ch<strong>in</strong>dw<strong>in</strong> River which will be flooded after construction of the dam. <strong>The</strong> team also advised to<br />
conduct further basel<strong>in</strong>e studies of both flora and fauna as well as studies to identify mitigation measures for globally<br />
threatened species affected by the dam.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Dr. Ht<strong>in</strong> Hla, Chairman of Wildbird Adventure Travels and Tours<br />
BANCA Executive Committee<br />
Sugar Cane Plantation<br />
Threat to Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (MY05)<br />
<strong>The</strong> largest “paper-park” <strong>in</strong> Myanmar has just had a few strips torn-off and could be headed for the garbage b<strong>in</strong>.<br />
BirdLife has recently learnt that 200,000 ha, some 10% of the protected area has been allocated as concessions for two<br />
companies to grow sugar cane. Recent eye-witness reports <strong>in</strong>dicate that the clear<strong>in</strong>g of forest along the Ledo Road has<br />
already begun.<br />
Although BirdLife does not yet know which areas will be affected it seems certa<strong>in</strong> that if they are dest<strong>in</strong>ed for sugar cane<br />
they must be either areas of alluvial grassland or lowland forest. Lowland grasslands are now almost entirely destroyed<br />
throughout tropical Asia and those <strong>in</strong> and around the Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary constitute the largest and most<br />
important grasslands <strong>in</strong> the region. <strong>The</strong>se grasslands and the wetlands with<strong>in</strong> them support such globally threatened
17 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
species such as White-w<strong>in</strong>ged Duck Cair<strong>in</strong>a scutulata and Green peafowl Pavo muticus. <strong>The</strong>se areas could also be the<br />
last hide-out of the P<strong>in</strong>k-headed Duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea if it is not already ext<strong>in</strong>ct. This grassland habitat also<br />
supports globally threatened mammals like Tiger Panthera tigris and Hog Deer Cervus porc<strong>in</strong>us and possibly relict<br />
populations of Wild Water Buffalo Bubalus bubalis.<br />
Populations of the globally threatened Green Peafowl<br />
Pavo muticus would be adversely affected (right).<br />
Photo: J C Eames<br />
This dead buffalo was photographed <strong>in</strong> the Hukaung<br />
Valley. But was it wild or feral? Local people claim<br />
that they are wild (right). Photo: J C Eames<br />
J C Eames, Programme Manager of BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Has the Hog Deer Cervus porc<strong>in</strong>us had its bacon <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Hukaung Valley? (left)<br />
Photo: J C Eames<br />
<strong>The</strong> grasslands <strong>in</strong> and around the Hukaung Valley are<br />
the largest rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> tropical Asia (left)<br />
Photo: J C Eames
18 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Cont<strong>in</strong>ued Ch<strong>in</strong>ese Logg<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Ru<strong>in</strong>s Mount Imawbun, Myanmar<br />
“Ch<strong>in</strong>a has clamped down on illegal logg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> northern Myanmar by clos<strong>in</strong>g its border to the timber trade and order<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Ch<strong>in</strong>ese workers to leave the country. <strong>The</strong> order was issued by the Prov<strong>in</strong>cial Government of Yunnan, Ch<strong>in</strong>a. It <strong>in</strong>cluded<br />
the trade <strong>in</strong> timber and m<strong>in</strong>erals and referred to Ch<strong>in</strong>ese logg<strong>in</strong>g and m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g workers.” So stated the X<strong>in</strong>hua New<br />
Agency on 27 March 2006 under the headl<strong>in</strong>e, ‘Yunnan Public Security Border Defense Brigade takes actions to ensure<br />
the Yunnan-Myanmar timber and m<strong>in</strong>eral trad<strong>in</strong>g cooperation.’ Although welcomed at the time and declared an<br />
“unprecedented move” by Global Witness, BirdLife can confirm that <strong>in</strong> January 2007 the logg<strong>in</strong>g trade was <strong>in</strong> full flow.<br />
Fieldwork conducted by BirdLife <strong>in</strong> the Mount Imawbun area of north-east Kach<strong>in</strong> State <strong>in</strong> January 2007 saw ample daily<br />
evidence of logg<strong>in</strong>g and m<strong>in</strong>eral extraction by Ch<strong>in</strong>ese companies. On the night of Friday 12 January we counted more<br />
than 100 fully laden logg<strong>in</strong>g trucks leav<strong>in</strong>g an area known as “the triangle” cross<strong>in</strong>g the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese-built suspension bridge<br />
across the Nmai River and pass<strong>in</strong>g through the town of Chibwe en route to the <strong>in</strong>ternational frontier. At a truck stop at<br />
3,000 m just short of the Myanmar-Yunnan boarder at Kangfeng, the team watched fully laden Ch<strong>in</strong>ese logg<strong>in</strong>g trucks<br />
role <strong>in</strong> every night so the drivers could get a hot meal and put snow-cha<strong>in</strong>s on their trucks before the drive to the<br />
border. Trucks park<strong>in</strong>g overnight had to set fires under their eng<strong>in</strong>es to thaw-out the frozen diesel.<br />
<strong>The</strong> team also observed huge blocks (30 m 3 ) of freshly quarried marble also be<strong>in</strong>g trucked out. <strong>The</strong> first time that this<br />
had been observed by BirdLife <strong>in</strong> this area. As Ch<strong>in</strong>ese Lunar New Year approached their seemed to be more logg<strong>in</strong>g<br />
traffic queu<strong>in</strong>g-up as drivers made haste to return to the motherland.<br />
From our highest vantage po<strong>in</strong>ts at 3,400 m and for as far as we could see, the tell-tale signs of logg<strong>in</strong>g roads and the<br />
landslips that so often accompany them could be seen on every ridge to the horizon. Dur<strong>in</strong>g this trip the team also saw,<br />
for the first time, saw-mills on the Myanmar side of the border.<br />
<strong>The</strong> extraction of such enormous volumes of timber from this area has seriously reduced the biodiversity value of this<br />
world famous site first surveyed by plant hunter Capt. Frank K<strong>in</strong>gdon Ward and later by the Anglo-American Verney-<br />
Cutt<strong>in</strong>g expedition dur<strong>in</strong>g the late 1930s. Despite the work done by these scientists and others, confirm<strong>in</strong>g the global<br />
conservation importance of this site, BirdLife no longer believes it is worth propos<strong>in</strong>g the Mount Imawbun area as a<br />
national park. <strong>The</strong> forest structure has been so damaged that not only has canopy cover been significantly reduced, the<br />
middle story has been gutted across huge areas. Bird species that hunt by sally<strong>in</strong>g and glean<strong>in</strong>g are likely to have been<br />
hardest hit. <strong>The</strong> globally threatened Ward’s Trogon Harpactes wardi is likely to have been badly affected.<br />
Imawbun now stands as a memory to human greed and reckless and totally unsusta<strong>in</strong>able logg<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
An active saw mill on the Myanmar side of the border.<br />
<strong>No</strong>te fully laden Ch<strong>in</strong>ese trucks at centre and jeep<br />
parked right of center (right).<br />
Photo: J C Eames<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Log depot near Tsawlaw. <strong>No</strong>te loaded trucks and<br />
yellow crane at upper depot for load<strong>in</strong>g timber (left)<br />
Photo: J C Eames
19 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Drivers of un-laden return<strong>in</strong>g<br />
trucks melt their frozen diesel at a<br />
3,000 m truck-stop (right)<br />
Photo: J C Eames<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Team members <strong>in</strong>vestigate a Ch<strong>in</strong>ese<br />
logg<strong>in</strong>g truck that has run-off the road<br />
(left) Photo: J C Eames<br />
J C Eames, Programme Manager of BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Bi Doup‐Nui Ba National Park Damaged by Infrastructure<br />
Development (VN036)<br />
Bi Doup-Nui Ba National Park (Lam Dong Prov<strong>in</strong>ce) is one of the most important IBAs <strong>in</strong> Vietnam, conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a high<br />
number of threatened and restricted-range species endemic to the Da Lat Plateau. <strong>The</strong> forests there are contiguous with<br />
those of Chu Yang S<strong>in</strong> National Park (Dak Lak Prov<strong>in</strong>ce) and together comprise one of the largest cont<strong>in</strong>uous extents of<br />
high quality forest <strong>in</strong> the country. <strong>The</strong> park staff are work<strong>in</strong>g hard to try to conserve the biodiversity of this important<br />
area. However, as these photos from late 2006 show, this area is undergo<strong>in</strong>g rapid change as a result of development of<br />
a new road from Da Lat to Nha Trang. <strong>The</strong> road has caused much direct impact to the park (photo 1). <strong>The</strong> road is<br />
<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g market opportunities for people who live <strong>in</strong> the park and surround<strong>in</strong>g areas, an admirable development<br />
achievement, and this is <strong>in</strong> turn spurr<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>creased cultivation (photo 2) of crops such as coffee. However, it is not clear<br />
that such major agricultural expansion has been carefully planned to m<strong>in</strong>imise its impacts on the biodiversity of the<br />
park, despite the efforts of a recent pilot biodiversity corridor project <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce. Of perhaps even greater concern<br />
is the impact of other large developments attracted <strong>in</strong>to the area by the new road. One such development is a trout<br />
farm, fed by the headwaters of the Da Nhim River (photo 3). Although fish farm<strong>in</strong>g is a very pollut<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong> many<br />
countries, this same river is the one that feeds the Da Nhim Reservoir, ma<strong>in</strong> water supply for Da Lat. Surely not only<br />
conservationists, but also all residents of Da Lat, should be concerned about such a development?
20 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Photos: John Pilgrim<br />
Photo 1: <strong>The</strong> new road, cutt<strong>in</strong>g through some<br />
of the best montane forest left <strong>in</strong> Vietnam<br />
(left).<br />
Photo 2: Small-scale agriculture up to the<br />
edge of, if not sometimes beyond, the forest<br />
edge (below)<br />
Photo 3: Experimental trout farm,<br />
established by the M<strong>in</strong>istry of<br />
Fisheries, on the headwaters of the Da<br />
Nhim River (left)<br />
John Pilgrim, Conservation Advisor, BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a
<strong>21</strong> BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Sticky End for Black‐shanked Douc Langurs of Chu Yang S<strong>in</strong><br />
National Park (VN030)<br />
On January 31, 2007, rangers of forest station <strong>No</strong>. 5 of the Chu Yang S<strong>in</strong> National Park saw a group of five H’Mong<br />
hunters while patroll<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the Park. One hunter was caught with 40 dried Endangered Black-shanked Doucs Pygathrix<br />
nigripes while the other hunters run away. <strong>The</strong> apprehended hunter was Hoang Seo Quang, of Bai Bay village, Ea Trang<br />
commune, Ma Drak district, Dak Lak prov<strong>in</strong>ce. He said he went hunt<strong>in</strong>g with four villagers for over ten days. After<br />
catch<strong>in</strong>g these Black-shanked Doucs, the hunters sk<strong>in</strong>ned them, ate their meat and dried their bones for sell<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
people who make bone glue.<br />
This is a major hunt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>cident <strong>in</strong> the Park. Despite local rangers’ efforts, wildlife hunt<strong>in</strong>g is still rampant <strong>in</strong> Chu Yang<br />
S<strong>in</strong> National Park. Most of the hunters are ethnic H’Mong people who migrated to this area from mounta<strong>in</strong>ous prov<strong>in</strong>ces<br />
<strong>in</strong> northern Vietnam. <strong>The</strong> Global Environment Facility/World Bank (GEF/WB) funded Integrat<strong>in</strong>g Watershed and<br />
Biodiversity Management <strong>in</strong> Chu Yang S<strong>in</strong> National Park, Dak Lak Prov<strong>in</strong>ce, Vietnam project, is currently be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
implemented by BirdLife, who have been carry<strong>in</strong>g out a conservation awareness education programme <strong>in</strong> some<br />
prioritised villages <strong>in</strong> coord<strong>in</strong>ation with the park authorities.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Hunter Hoang Seo Quang and dried Endangered<br />
Black-shanked Douc Langurs Pygathrix nigripes<br />
from Chu Yang S<strong>in</strong> National Park.<br />
Photos: Loc Xuan Nghia<br />
Loc Xuan Nghia, Ranger of Chu Yang S<strong>in</strong> National Park
22 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Mong Reththy Group Defends Siem Pang Land Concession (KH008)<br />
<strong>The</strong> Mong Reththy Group on Thursday defended a government-granted land concession <strong>in</strong> Stung Treng prov<strong>in</strong>ce that<br />
was named by rights workers as a possible example of land grabb<strong>in</strong>g that will be reported to Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister Hun Sen.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, NGO Forum, the Community Legal Education Center and Legal Aid of<br />
Cambodia presented five alleged land grabb<strong>in</strong>g cases at a press conference on Wednesday. <strong>The</strong> groups said they plan to<br />
present their <strong>in</strong>formation to Hun Sen to assist <strong>in</strong> his recently proclaimed "war" on land grabbers.<br />
Among the five are two economic land concessions granted by the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agriculture: 100,852 hectares <strong>in</strong> Stung<br />
Treng prov<strong>in</strong>ce given to tycoon Mong Reththy's Green Sea Industry Co, Ltd, and 10,000 hectares <strong>in</strong> Mondolkiri prov<strong>in</strong>ce<br />
allocated to the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese firm Wuzhishan. Licadho President Kek Galabru said that the Mong Reththy concession is far <strong>in</strong><br />
excess of the 10,000 hectare limit placed on economic land concessions by the Land Law, and that Wuzhishan has been<br />
responsible for tak<strong>in</strong>g a great deal of territory away from <strong>in</strong>digenous peoples. Tann Monivann, vice president at the<br />
Mong Reththy Group, said that the concession was perfectly legal because the agreement was signed <strong>in</strong> 2000, before<br />
the Land Law came <strong>in</strong>to effect. However, the Agriculture M<strong>in</strong>istry's Web site states that the Green Sea concession<br />
contract was signed on <strong>No</strong>v 23, 2001-nearly three months after the passage of the Land Law. Tann Monivann said that<br />
the Government had already cut the size of the concession <strong>in</strong> half-and if the Government wanted to take the entire<br />
concession back, his company would comply, but would expect compensation.<br />
M<strong>in</strong>ister of Agriculture Chan Sarun welcomed the NGOs' decision to work with the prime m<strong>in</strong>ister on land grabb<strong>in</strong>g, but<br />
decl<strong>in</strong>ed to comment on any specific land concessions. He did say that his m<strong>in</strong>istry was go<strong>in</strong>g to ask all companies to<br />
return any lands <strong>in</strong> excess of 10,000 hectares to the state by March 2008. "If any company did not do anyth<strong>in</strong>g on the<br />
land-like plant<strong>in</strong>g-the government will take back the land," he added.<br />
<strong>The</strong> three rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g cases <strong>in</strong>volve unspecified military officials allegedly grabb<strong>in</strong>g land. In Banteay Meanchey prov<strong>in</strong>ce,<br />
1,320 hectares of land were allegedly taken from the families of demobilized soldiers who were only compensated<br />
$17.50 for three hectares of land. In Battambang prov<strong>in</strong>ce's Bavel district, 20,000 hectares of land supposed to be set<br />
aside as a social land concession for the poor was allegedly sold off to speculators by military officials, the NGOs claim.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Chhay Channyda and John Maloy, <strong>The</strong> Cambodia Daily, March 30, 2007<br />
Increased Water Demand Forces Early Sarus Crane Departure<br />
from Boeung Prek Lapouv (KH039)<br />
This dry season Sarus Cranes Grus antigone sharpi first arrived at Boeung Prek Lapouv on 9 December 2006. <strong>The</strong><br />
population had <strong>in</strong>creased to 81 <strong>in</strong>dividuals by 22 December, reached 149 by 29 December 2006 and 226 on 4 January<br />
2007 and 297 on 7 February 2007. All the Sarus Cranes departed Boeung Prek Lapouv dur<strong>in</strong>g the second week of<br />
February 2007 because the wetland had become dry. Wildlife Protection Office staff believe that the cranes could feed<br />
for longer at Boeung Prek Lapouv, <strong>in</strong>to March and April if the water-level rema<strong>in</strong>s higher <strong>in</strong> the lower areas of the site<br />
where the ma<strong>in</strong> food items of the cranes are found. <strong>The</strong> reasons that the wetland dries-up earlier <strong>in</strong> the season <strong>in</strong>clude<br />
<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g demand for water and reduced flood<strong>in</strong>g of the site (presumably caused by lower ra<strong>in</strong>fall). People are<br />
<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly pump<strong>in</strong>g water out of the wetland for irrigated dry season rice cultivation. This issue is of grave concern. It<br />
would be a cruel and bitter irony that after struggl<strong>in</strong>g long and hard to get this site formal protection, it can no longer<br />
support the species it was designed to conserve.<br />
Seng Kim Hout– BirdLife <strong>International</strong> Cambodia Programme
23 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Rarest of the rare<br />
EN – Spotted Greenshank Tr<strong>in</strong>ga guttifer<br />
2006 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by BirdLife <strong>International</strong> - the official Red List Authority for birds for<br />
IUCN): Endangered<br />
Justification This species is listed as Endangered because it has a very small,<br />
decl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g population as a result of the development of coastal wetlands throughout<br />
its range, pr<strong>in</strong>cipally for <strong>in</strong>dustry, <strong>in</strong>frastructure projects and aquaculture.<br />
Family/Sub-family Scolopacidae<br />
Species name author (<strong>No</strong>rdmann, 1835)<br />
Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)<br />
Identification 29-32 cm. Medium-sized sandpiper with slightly upturned, bicoloured bill and shortish yellow legs.<br />
Breed<strong>in</strong>g adults are boldly marked, with whitish spots and spangl<strong>in</strong>g on blackish upperside, heavily streaked head and<br />
upper neck, broad blackish crescentic spots on lower neck and breast and darker lores. In flight, shows all-white<br />
uppertail-coverts and rather uniform greyish tail. Toes do not extend beyond tail tip. Juvenile is browner above than<br />
non-breed<strong>in</strong>g adult, has whitish notch<strong>in</strong>g on scapular and tertial fr<strong>in</strong>ges, pale buff w<strong>in</strong>g-covert fr<strong>in</strong>ges and fa<strong>in</strong>tly<br />
brown-washed breast with fa<strong>in</strong>t dark streaks at sides. Similar spp. Common Greenshank T. nebularia has longer,<br />
greener legs, longer neck, less obviously bicoloured bill, and more obviously streaked crown, nape and breast-sides.<br />
Voice Call is dist<strong>in</strong>ctive kwork or gwaak.<br />
Population estimate Population trend Range estimate<br />
(breed<strong>in</strong>g/resident)<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Country endemic?<br />
500 - 1,000 decreas<strong>in</strong>g 244,000 km 2 <strong>No</strong><br />
Range & population Tr<strong>in</strong>ga guttifer breeds <strong>in</strong> eastern Russia along the south-western and northern coasts of the<br />
Sea of Okhotsk and on Sakhal<strong>in</strong> Island. Its non-breed<strong>in</strong>g range is not fully understood, but significant numbers have<br />
been recorded <strong>in</strong> South Korea, ma<strong>in</strong>land Ch<strong>in</strong>a, Hong Kong (Ch<strong>in</strong>a), and Taiwan (Ch<strong>in</strong>a) on passage, and <strong>in</strong><br />
Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Pen<strong>in</strong>sular Malaysia <strong>in</strong> w<strong>in</strong>ter. It has also been recorded on<br />
passage or <strong>in</strong> w<strong>in</strong>ter <strong>in</strong> Japan, <strong>No</strong>rth Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (which may prove to be an important part<br />
of its w<strong>in</strong>ter<strong>in</strong>g range), S<strong>in</strong>gapore, the Philipp<strong>in</strong>es and Indonesia. <strong>The</strong>re are unconfirmed records from Nepal and<br />
Guam (to US). It probably has a population of 500-1,000 <strong>in</strong>dividuals.<br />
Ecology Its breed<strong>in</strong>g habitat is a comb<strong>in</strong>ation of sparse larch Larix forest for nest<strong>in</strong>g, wet coastal meadows<br />
<strong>in</strong>terspersed with piles of driftwood, and coastal mudflats which are used by the adults for feed<strong>in</strong>g. W<strong>in</strong>ter<strong>in</strong>g birds<br />
usually frequent estuaries, coastal mudflats and lowland swamps, and sometimes damp meadows, saltpans and ricefields.<br />
Threats <strong>The</strong> key threats are the development of coastal wetlands throughout Asia for <strong>in</strong>dustry, <strong>in</strong>frastructure and<br />
aquaculture, and the degradation of its breed<strong>in</strong>g habitat <strong>in</strong> Russia by graz<strong>in</strong>g re<strong>in</strong>deer. Pollution <strong>in</strong> coastal wetlands,<br />
hunt<strong>in</strong>g and human disturbance are further threats.<br />
Conservation measures proposed Conduct surveys to the south-west of Okhotsk and between the Ul'beya river and<br />
Cape Onatsevich (Russia). Research its status and conservation at potentially important w<strong>in</strong>ter<strong>in</strong>g grounds <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Irrawaddy delta (Myanmar). Establish further protected areas <strong>in</strong> its breed<strong>in</strong>g grounds, at least at Konstant<strong>in</strong> Bay <strong>in</strong><br />
Khabarovsk (Russia). Draft management plans for coastal wetlands to promote their conservation. Ban the hunt<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
all shorebirds <strong>in</strong> its breed<strong>in</strong>g grounds. Provide full legal protection.
24 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Project updates<br />
Vulture Restaurants Across Cambodia<br />
Supplementary feed<strong>in</strong>g of vultures at so-called vulture restaurants has been undertaken s<strong>in</strong>ce 2004 <strong>in</strong> Cambodia with<strong>in</strong><br />
the framework of the Cambodia Vulture Conservation Project which <strong>in</strong>volves a coalition of agencies compris<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
Forestry Adm<strong>in</strong>istration (FA) of the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Department of Nature<br />
Conservation and Protection (DNCP) of the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Environment and several INGOs namely BirdLife <strong>International</strong><br />
(<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g support from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), BirdLife <strong>in</strong> the UK), the Wildlife<br />
Conservation Society (WCS) and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). <strong>The</strong> monthly vulture restaurants have been<br />
set-up across the range of Gyps vultures <strong>in</strong> Cambodia <strong>in</strong> western Siem Pang IBA, Stung Treng prov<strong>in</strong>ce; Cheap<br />
Protected Forest, Preah Vihear prov<strong>in</strong>ce; Srepok Wilderness Area, Mondulkiri prov<strong>in</strong>ce; Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary,<br />
Ratanakiri prov<strong>in</strong>ce; and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, Mondulkiri prov<strong>in</strong>ce. More than 238 vultures, the largest<br />
s<strong>in</strong>gle record for Indoch<strong>in</strong>a dur<strong>in</strong>g the last 15 years, were recorded dur<strong>in</strong>g the second national census <strong>in</strong> 2006. <strong>The</strong><br />
three species of vultures recorded are the White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed Vulture Gyps<br />
tenuirostris (both Critically Endangered), and Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus (Near-threatened but <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly<br />
considered Critically Endangered).<br />
Census Date<br />
Vulture Species<br />
WRV SBV RHV<br />
First Census<br />
10 July 2004 88 34 40<br />
26 July 2004 90 25 42<br />
Second Census<br />
10 May 2006 149 27 58<br />
24 May 2006 83 31 32<br />
Vulture restaurants provide the birds with a regular, uncontam<strong>in</strong>ated and safe source of food because it is believed that<br />
food scarcity is the s<strong>in</strong>gle greatest limit<strong>in</strong>g factor effect<strong>in</strong>g vulture populations <strong>in</strong> Cambodia. <strong>The</strong> food provided is also a<br />
bait lur<strong>in</strong>g vultures to the restaurant site where they may be monitored. <strong>The</strong> restaurants may also lure vultures back to<br />
an area where they may no longer regularly occur and may also provide food for other scaveng<strong>in</strong>g raptors. <strong>The</strong><br />
restaurant provides the birds with important nutrients (vultures require 300g food/day, and one cow has approximately<br />
sufficient meat to susta<strong>in</strong> one vulture per year) especially calcium because one of many factors caus<strong>in</strong>g the decl<strong>in</strong>e of<br />
vultures is calcium scarcity. Research has shown that nestl<strong>in</strong>gs at some colonies suffer from abnormalities of skeletal<br />
development caused by a lack of calcium <strong>in</strong> their diet. In areas of Africa where bone-crush<strong>in</strong>g hyaenas have been<br />
eradicated, the parent vultures are no longer able to f<strong>in</strong>d the calcium-rich bone fragments, created by the hyenas<br />
feed<strong>in</strong>g habits, to feed their fast grow<strong>in</strong>g young. <strong>The</strong> restaurants have also triggered opportunities for implementation of<br />
education, awareness and conservation activities.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
160<br />
140<br />
120<br />
100<br />
80<br />
60<br />
40<br />
20<br />
0<br />
May 10<br />
2004<br />
July 26<br />
2004<br />
May 10<br />
2006<br />
May 24<br />
2006<br />
First Census Second Census<br />
Kry Masphal and Bou Vorsak, BirdLife <strong>International</strong> Cambodia Programme<br />
WRV<br />
SBV<br />
RHV
25 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Community Development Committees <strong>in</strong> Western Siem Pang<br />
<strong>The</strong> selection of community development committee members <strong>in</strong><br />
Lakay Mem Mai village, Siem Pang district, Stung Treng prov<strong>in</strong>ce.<br />
Photo: Mem Mai, SSG member.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Villages <strong>in</strong> western Siem Pang, Stung Treng<br />
prov<strong>in</strong>ce, Cambodia are not well developed.<br />
Most villagers are still poor and their educational<br />
level is low. In an attempt to empower local<br />
people to make more decisions themselves on<br />
issues that affect their lives, BirdLife and Wildlife<br />
Protection Office (WPO) staff recently <strong>in</strong>itiated a<br />
process to establish Commune Development<br />
Committees at five villages. <strong>The</strong>se are at Porng<br />
Kreal, Kheh Kraom, Kheh Svay, Phabang and<br />
Lakay. BirdLife and WPO hope that these<br />
committees will provide a discussion forum for<br />
local communities and enable them to<br />
communicate more effectively with their local<br />
Commune Development Councils. As reported<br />
elsewhere <strong>in</strong> this issue of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong>,<br />
livelihoods of villagers <strong>in</strong> Siem Pang are<br />
threatened by land concessions, which if granted<br />
would deny local people access to natural<br />
resources.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se activities form part of the ongo<strong>in</strong>g DGIS<br />
TMF funded project <strong>in</strong> western Siem Pang.<br />
Prach Pich Phirun – BirdLife <strong>International</strong><br />
Cambodia Programme<br />
BirdLife and DNCP Hold National Ramsar Work<strong>in</strong>g‐Group<br />
Meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Phnom Penh<br />
With support from the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Environment of Japan, BirdLife <strong>International</strong> Cambodia Programme <strong>in</strong> collaboration<br />
with Department of Nature Conservation and Protection (DNCP), M<strong>in</strong>istry of Environment, conducted a national Ramsar<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g group meet<strong>in</strong>g on 2 nd March 2007 <strong>in</strong> Phnom Penh. <strong>The</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> objective of this meet<strong>in</strong>g was to br<strong>in</strong>g together the<br />
civil society groups and government agencies who are work<strong>in</strong>g to manage wetlands <strong>in</strong> Cambodia <strong>in</strong> order to develop a<br />
work plan <strong>in</strong> advance of the meet<strong>in</strong>g of the parties to the Ramsar Convention <strong>in</strong> the Republic of Korea <strong>in</strong> 2008.<br />
<strong>The</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>g was presided over by Mr. Chay Samith, Director of DNCP, together with the active participation of other 27<br />
representatives from NGO partners, local and <strong>in</strong>ternational organizations and relevant government agencies active or<br />
responsible for Ramsar matters. <strong>The</strong>se <strong>in</strong>cluded all three Cambodian Ramsar sites directors, representatives from the<br />
M<strong>in</strong>istry of Environment, M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agriculture Forestries and Fisheries and M<strong>in</strong>istry of Industry.<br />
After Mr. Bou Vorsak, Act<strong>in</strong>g Cambodia Progam Manager for the BirdLife Cambodia Programme f<strong>in</strong>ished his presentation<br />
on Important Bird Areas and Potential Ramsar Sites <strong>in</strong> Cambodia, Mr. Sok Vong, Director of the Wetland Office, DNCP,<br />
requested members of the meet<strong>in</strong>g to consider the BirdLife shadow list of Ramsar sites and nom<strong>in</strong>ate their preferred<br />
areas for designation under the Ramsar Convention. Many different op<strong>in</strong>ions were expressed, reflect<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>stitutional<br />
conflicts on certa<strong>in</strong> matters relat<strong>in</strong>g to site management. <strong>The</strong> delegates failed to recommend any sites cit<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>sufficient<br />
<strong>in</strong>formation on the sites as the ma<strong>in</strong> reason. <strong>The</strong> participants decided to have a further meet<strong>in</strong>g to discuss these<br />
matters and reach consensus.<br />
Later on 28 th March 2007 <strong>in</strong> Bangkok the output of the Cambodian national meet<strong>in</strong>g was presented at a regional<br />
meet<strong>in</strong>g, with the participation of representatives of Ramsar Adm<strong>in</strong>istration Authorities of Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam<br />
and Thailand, and civil society groups, which were represented by BirdLife country programmes and their partners.<br />
Bou Vorsak– BirdLife <strong>International</strong> Cambodia Programme
26 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Boeung Prek Lapouv Sarus Crane Conservation Area Reduced:<br />
Formal Designation Closer<br />
Follow<strong>in</strong>g the second full session of the work<strong>in</strong>g group to consider the draft sub-decree for the establishment of Boeung<br />
Prek Lapouv Sarus Crane Conservation Area (BPLSCCA) on 26 October 2007 at the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agriculture, Forestry and<br />
Fisheries (MAFF), the draft sub-decree was forwarded to the Council of M<strong>in</strong>isters on 7 December 2006. Two separate<br />
meet<strong>in</strong>gs to consider the decree were held <strong>in</strong> the Council of M<strong>in</strong>isters with the Council of Jurists and Economic, Social<br />
and Cultural Observation Unit on 10 January 2007 and aga<strong>in</strong> on 16 January 2007 to review and revise the text before<br />
submitt<strong>in</strong>g it for an <strong>in</strong>ter-m<strong>in</strong>isterial meet<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>in</strong>ter-m<strong>in</strong>isterial meet<strong>in</strong>g was held on 7 February 2007 <strong>in</strong> the Council of M<strong>in</strong>isters and chaired by H.E. Bun Uy,<br />
Secretary of State. <strong>The</strong> occasion of the meet<strong>in</strong>g provided the opportunity to H.E. Lim Sokun, Secretary of State for<br />
MAFF to address the objectives of BPLSCCA. H.E. Srey Ben, the Governor of Takeo Prov<strong>in</strong>ce expressed his op<strong>in</strong>ions<br />
regard<strong>in</strong>g the reserve establishment. He claimed (<strong>in</strong>correctly) that; 1. <strong>The</strong>re were houses and paddyfields with<strong>in</strong> the<br />
proposed core area boundary and that the BirdLife/Forestry Adm<strong>in</strong>istration (FA) Site-support Group had set reserve<br />
boundary posts.<br />
Perta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to these po<strong>in</strong>ts, H.E. Bun Uy felt compelled to establish a committee with components from the Council of<br />
M<strong>in</strong>isters and relevant m<strong>in</strong>istries <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, M<strong>in</strong>istry of Land Management,<br />
Urbanization and Construction and M<strong>in</strong>istry of Environment to consider these claims and report back to the stand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
committee. <strong>The</strong> committee led by Mr. Men Phymean, Director of the Wildlife Protection Office of FA conducted a mission<br />
to the site on 15 February 2007 <strong>in</strong> order to verify and discuss the po<strong>in</strong>ts raised by the Takeo Governor <strong>in</strong> collaboration<br />
with the authorities of Takeo prov<strong>in</strong>ce, Borei Chulsa and Koh Andeth Districts, Kampong Krosang Commune, <strong>The</strong> Royal<br />
Cambodian Armed Forces, and relevant prov<strong>in</strong>cial Departments of Agriculture, Land Management, Urbanization,<br />
Construction and Cadastre, Water Resources and Meteorology; Environment. <strong>The</strong> team found no houses or paddyfields<br />
with<strong>in</strong> the proposed core zone (as was already known to BirdLife and FA) and that the demarcation posts mentioned<br />
marked the boundary of the <strong>in</strong>undated forest which had been placed <strong>in</strong> June 2006 by the Takeo Fisheries Office <strong>in</strong><br />
collaboration with the local authorities and not BirdLife/FA.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>in</strong>ter-m<strong>in</strong>isterial meet<strong>in</strong>g will resume follow<strong>in</strong>g another mission <strong>in</strong> March to meet H.E. the Governor of Takeo and<br />
local authorities to discuss a revised boundary for BPLSCCA reduc<strong>in</strong>g the core zone as requested by the Governor to<br />
accommodate projected agricultural land demands and population growth. <strong>The</strong> proposed reserve area is now reduced<br />
from 10,787 ha to 9,407 ha and the core zone from 1,694 ha to 1,174 ha. It is also proposed to move the reserve<br />
boundary away from the <strong>in</strong>ternational border area as Cambodia and Vietnam have yet to reach a f<strong>in</strong>al decision on this<br />
issue.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Old Boeung Prek Lapouv Sarus Crane Conservation
27 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
New Boeung Prek Lapouv Sarus Crane Conservation Area<br />
<strong>The</strong> committee and relevant Takeo prov<strong>in</strong>cial agencies discuss reserve establishment proposals dur<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
field mission. Photo: Seng Kim Hout<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Seng Kim Hout– BirdLife <strong>International</strong> Cambodia Programme
28 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
First Slender‐billed Vulture Nest <strong>in</strong> Cambodia<br />
<strong>The</strong> discovery of South-East Asia’s only known Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris breed<strong>in</strong>g colony has highlighted<br />
further Cambodia’s role as a stronghold for Asia’s plummet<strong>in</strong>g vulture populations.<br />
Cambodian conservationists found five nests <strong>in</strong> the Seasan Important Bird Area (IBA) whilst undertak<strong>in</strong>g surveys of<br />
birds near the Mekong river <strong>in</strong> Cambodia’s Stung Treng Prov<strong>in</strong>ce.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris nest<strong>in</strong>g<br />
site is the first to be discovered <strong>in</strong> South-East Asia.<br />
Photo: WCS Cambodia Programme<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
“We discovered the nest on top of a hill where two other<br />
vulture species were also found,” said Song Chansocheat, of<br />
the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Environment/WCS Cambodia Programme.<br />
“Amaz<strong>in</strong>gly, there were also a host of other globally<br />
threatened species of birds and primates. It’s a very special<br />
place.”<br />
“It’s an important discovery, particularly because it’s the first<br />
of its k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong> South-East Asia.” said Jonathan C. Eames,<br />
Programme Manager for BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a.<br />
Slender-billed Vulture was once common <strong>in</strong> parts of South<br />
and South-East Asia but <strong>in</strong> recent years the population has<br />
decl<strong>in</strong>ed sharply, some estimates suggest<strong>in</strong>g by as much as<br />
99%. Veter<strong>in</strong>ary use of Diclofenac, a drug used to treat<br />
cattle, has been the driv<strong>in</strong>g force beh<strong>in</strong>d the dramatic vulture<br />
decl<strong>in</strong>es seen <strong>in</strong> South Asia. However, use of the drug, now<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g phased out across the region, appears non-existent <strong>in</strong><br />
Cambodia. As a result the K<strong>in</strong>gdom is now an important<br />
stronghold for vultures– as long as conservation work can<br />
ensure that populations are adequately protected.<br />
“Even without the shadow of Diclofenac, vultures <strong>in</strong><br />
Cambodia share other threats like persecution and<br />
particularly, a lack of adequate food sources <strong>in</strong> the wild –<br />
itself a symptom of Asia’s disappear<strong>in</strong>g megafauna [large<br />
prey].” said Bou Vorsak, Act<strong>in</strong>g Programme Manager at the<br />
BirdLife Cambodia Programme. “Vulture conservation is therefore dependent on f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g out which areas are important to<br />
vultures and tak<strong>in</strong>g steps, with local communities and prov<strong>in</strong>cial governments, to ensure they are adequately<br />
conserved.”<br />
“It’s an important discovery, particularly because it’s the first of its k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong> South-East<br />
Asia.” —Jonathan C. Eames , Programme Manager for BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cambodia Vulture Conservation Programme has been work<strong>in</strong>g to promote scientific research, with efforts on-theground<br />
to protect sites and to raise awareness of vultures as important aspects of Asian biodiversity. One of the most<br />
significant outcomes has been the use of ‘vulture restaurants’ – purposely placed dead livestock – as a means of<br />
attract<strong>in</strong>g vultures to allow project staff to survey and monitor populations. <strong>The</strong> exercise is also an important<br />
opportunity to provide supplementary food for the vultures, which appears to be the ma<strong>in</strong> limit<strong>in</strong>g factor on vulture<br />
populations.<br />
“It’s entirely possible that the supplementary food sources of the nearby vulture restaurants have directly boosted the<br />
reproductive success of Slender-billed Vultures at this new nest site.” commented Vorsak.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cambodia Vulture Conservation Project, is a collaborative project of the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agriculture, Forestry and<br />
Fisheries, the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Environment, BirdLife <strong>International</strong> Cambodia Programme, the Wildlife Conservation Society<br />
Cambodia Programme, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature Cambodia Programme. <strong>The</strong> project has been supported by<br />
the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund and the RSPB (BirdLife <strong>in</strong> the UK).<br />
BirdLife <strong>International</strong>, February 15, 2007
29 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve Established<br />
with BirdLife and MacArthur Foundation Support<br />
BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a has been implement<strong>in</strong>g a project entitled “Complet<strong>in</strong>g Protected Areas Systems <strong>in</strong><br />
Priority Landscapes <strong>in</strong> Cambodia and Vietnam” funded by the John D. and Cather<strong>in</strong>e T. MacArthur Foundation. <strong>The</strong><br />
project started on 1 st March 2006 and will end on 28 th February 2009. It aims to support and strengthen mandated<br />
authorities at Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary (Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri prov<strong>in</strong>ces, Cambodia) and Bac Huong Hoa<br />
Proposed Nature Reserve (Quang Tri prov<strong>in</strong>ce, Vietnam) to establish and manage representative protected areas that fill<br />
gaps <strong>in</strong> exist<strong>in</strong>g conservation coverage with<strong>in</strong> priority landscapes and, thereby, contribute to their wider conservation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> project is implemented with two objectives (1) to establish Bac Huong Hoa as a nature reserve and (2) to<br />
strengthen conservation management at Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve and Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary.<br />
In the framework of the project, BirdLife has supported Quang Tri Prov<strong>in</strong>cial Forest Protection Department (FPD) to<br />
develop a proposal to establish Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve. <strong>The</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry of Agriculture and Rural Development<br />
appraised this proposal <strong>in</strong> October 2006. On 5 th December 2006, the M<strong>in</strong>istry issued a letter, <strong>No</strong>. 3251 BNN-LN to agree<br />
<strong>in</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciple on the establishment of this nature reserve. On 14 March 2007, Quang Tri Prov<strong>in</strong>cial People’s Committee<br />
issued decision <strong>No</strong>. 479/QD-UBND on the establishment of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve and approved the <strong>in</strong>vestment<br />
plan for Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve. <strong>The</strong> above-mentioned project will support the establishment of this new<br />
protected area, by strengthen<strong>in</strong>g the capacity of Quang Tri FPD to manage it effectively and by cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g to promote<br />
<strong>in</strong>novative management approaches <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g local communities.<br />
Ngo Van Tuan, Programme Officer of BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
BirdLife Launches<br />
ADB BCCI Regional Biodiversity Monitor<strong>in</strong>g Project<br />
BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a recently hosted an <strong>in</strong>ception meet<strong>in</strong>g for a new project to <strong>in</strong>itiate a local-stakeholderbased<br />
monitor<strong>in</strong>g programme for the Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (BCCI). This project is part of an<br />
Asian Development Bank (ADB) regional technical assistance programme for promot<strong>in</strong>g establishment of sound<br />
environmental management systems and <strong>in</strong>stitutions that ma<strong>in</strong>stream environmental management and biodiversity<br />
conservation <strong>in</strong> the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). <strong>The</strong> project is cof<strong>in</strong>anced by ADB, the Governments of the<br />
Netherlands and Sweden, and the Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund (PRF). This project will run until the end of 2009,<br />
although it is a pilot and has considerable potential for cont<strong>in</strong>uation <strong>in</strong>to the future.<br />
<strong>The</strong> project aims to develop a framework for site-level monitor<strong>in</strong>g of biodiversity and threats <strong>in</strong> the GMS economic<br />
corridors, and test it <strong>in</strong> the BCI pilot sites. Pilot sites exist <strong>in</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g landscapes: Cardamom and Elephant<br />
Mounta<strong>in</strong>s (Cambodia), Eastern Pla<strong>in</strong>s Dry Forests - Mondulkiri (Cambodia), Dong Hua Sao – Xepian Biodiversity<br />
Corridor <strong>in</strong> the Tri-border Forests (Laos), Western Forest Complex – Kaeng Krachan (Thailand), Ngoc L<strong>in</strong>h – Xe Xap <strong>in</strong><br />
the Central Annamites (Vietnam) and Xishuangbanna Biodiversity Corridor <strong>in</strong> the Mekong headwaters landscape <strong>in</strong><br />
Yunnan (Ch<strong>in</strong>a). <strong>The</strong> project is expected to develop a site-level monitor<strong>in</strong>g framework for the GMS economic corridors,<br />
pilot basic site-level monitor<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> the GMS economic corridors, pilot detailed site-level monitor<strong>in</strong>g at the BCI pilot<br />
sites, and collate, analyse and provide monitor<strong>in</strong>g data to the GMS 'Environment Operations Centre' (EOC) 1 .<br />
This first three-day meet<strong>in</strong>g comprised representatives from the BirdLife <strong>International</strong> Asia Division, BirdLife<br />
<strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a, Bird Conservation Society Thailand (BCST), and the Hong Kong Bird Watch<strong>in</strong>g Society<br />
(HKBWS), and was also attended on the first day by representatives from the GMS EOC and the Netherlands<br />
Environmental Assessment Agency. Further meet<strong>in</strong>gs will aim to br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> all other relevant stakeholders, <strong>in</strong> order to<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiate implementation of the project. BirdLife hopes that by engag<strong>in</strong>g its partners at national and local levels, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />
national NGOs, grassroots conservation groups, <strong>in</strong>dividual researchers and local birdwatch<strong>in</strong>g groups, it will successfully<br />
develop and pilot a framework for site-level monitor<strong>in</strong>g of biodiversity and threats <strong>in</strong> GMS Economic Corridors. Results<br />
from such monitor<strong>in</strong>g have immense potential to help decision-makers make <strong>in</strong>formed decisions that m<strong>in</strong>imise the<br />
effects of economic development on biodiversity.<br />
Dang Nguyen Hong Hanh – BirdLife <strong>International</strong> Vietnam Programme<br />
1<br />
Recognis<strong>in</strong>g the environmental challenges faced by the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) <strong>in</strong> promot<strong>in</strong>g susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />
economic growth and development, the GMS Work<strong>in</strong>g Group on Environment (WGE) requested the Asian Development<br />
Bank (ADB) to <strong>in</strong>itiate a 'Core Environment Programme' (CEP). In May 2005, the GMS Environment M<strong>in</strong>isters' Meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
Shanghai endorsed the launch of the CEP and its flagship component, the Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative<br />
(BCI). This meet<strong>in</strong>g also endorsed the establishment, by early 2006, of an 'Environment Operations Centre' (EOC) to<br />
support its implementation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007
30 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Mega Transect Counts Vultures Across Myanmar<br />
In December 2006 BirdLife and BANCA launched a new vulture research project entitled Prediction and management of<br />
potential decl<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> Gyps species vultures <strong>in</strong> Myanmar. <strong>The</strong> Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB, the BirdLife<br />
Partner <strong>in</strong> the United K<strong>in</strong>gdom) funds this project. <strong>The</strong> team, lead by Nay Myo Shwe with Thura W<strong>in</strong> Htun and Samyo<br />
Zaw, supervised by Dr Ht<strong>in</strong> Hla, has an ambitious programme to conduct a mega-transect across Myanmar’s Kach<strong>in</strong> and<br />
Shan States, Saiga<strong>in</strong>g Division and Ch<strong>in</strong> State before mid-2007. In addition to conduct<strong>in</strong>g vulture restaurants the team<br />
are collect<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formation on locations of vulture nest<strong>in</strong>g colonies, vulture deaths and <strong>in</strong>vestigat<strong>in</strong>g the use of<br />
Diclofenac. Follow<strong>in</strong>g tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> Kach<strong>in</strong> State dur<strong>in</strong>g December 2006 (reported <strong>in</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> 20) the team began their<br />
transect <strong>in</strong> eastern Kach<strong>in</strong> State, cross<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to Shan State later <strong>in</strong> the month. By 9 February they had conducted ten<br />
restaurants and their results are posted below.<br />
Sites Species Total<br />
Red-headed<br />
Vulture<br />
Sacrogyps<br />
calvus<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
White-rumped<br />
Vulture Gyps<br />
bengalensis<br />
Slender-billed<br />
Vulture G.<br />
teniurostris<br />
Himalayan Griffon<br />
Vulture G. himalayensis<br />
1 - 27 20 10 57<br />
2 - 13 8 6 27<br />
3 - - - - -<br />
4 - - - - -<br />
5 - - - - -<br />
6 - - - 19 (19 J) 19<br />
7 2 (1AM,1AF) 5 (5J) 9 (5A, 4J) 49 (49 J) 65<br />
8 - - - - -<br />
9 - 60 (52A, 8J) 7 (5A, 2J) 1 (1J) 68<br />
10 1 (1AM) 5 (4A, 1J) 2 (1A, 1J) 8 (8J) 16<br />
Total 3 110 46 93 252<br />
M = Male, F = Female, A = Adult, J = Juvenile<br />
<strong>The</strong> three most commonly recorded species of vulture dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the survey. From Left to right; Himalayan Griffon Vulture Gyps<br />
himalayensis, White-rumped Vulture G. bengalensis and<br />
Slender-billed Vulture G. teniurostris. Photo: J C Eames<br />
<strong>The</strong> total number of vultures recorded was 252<br />
birds belong<strong>in</strong>g to four species. <strong>The</strong> most<br />
commonly recorded species was White-rumped<br />
Vulture Gyps bengalensis (110) that was recorded<br />
at 50% of restaurants. <strong>The</strong> Himalayan Griffon<br />
Vulture G. himalayensis was the next most frequently<br />
recorded species (93), which was recorded at 60% of<br />
restaurants. A total of 46 Slender-billed Vulture G.<br />
teniurostris were recorded at 50% of restaurants.<br />
<strong>The</strong> least recorded species was Red-headed<br />
Vulture Sacrogyps calvus (3) recorded at 20% of<br />
restaurants. Vultures were recorded at 60% of<br />
restaurants with 68 be<strong>in</strong>g the highest number of<br />
birds recorded. <strong>No</strong> reliable reports of nest<strong>in</strong>g<br />
colonies were received nor was use of Diclofenac<br />
confirmed.<br />
J C Eames, Programme Manager, BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a
31 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Return to Imawbun<br />
For the third successive field season and for the f<strong>in</strong>al time as part of the Darw<strong>in</strong> Initiative funded project, a jo<strong>in</strong>t<br />
BirdLife/Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA)/Berl<strong>in</strong> Museum ornithological team returned to<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ue their study of the avifauna of Mount Imawbun <strong>in</strong> north-east Kach<strong>in</strong> State dur<strong>in</strong>g January and February.<br />
Previous studies by the team had collected data from camps located at 2,000, 2,700 and 3,000 m. This year the team<br />
worked from camps at 500 m, 1,500 m and 3,000 m.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2007 field team saw the welcome return of Dr Frank Ste<strong>in</strong>heimer of the Nature Kunde Museum Berl<strong>in</strong>, and Scientific<br />
Associate of <strong>The</strong> Natural History Museum. <strong>The</strong> team <strong>in</strong>cluded old hands Kopan and Gideon of BANCA and Maung Nu<br />
from the Natmataung National Park, <strong>in</strong> addition to Jonathan C Eames, Programme Manager, BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
Indoch<strong>in</strong>a.<br />
Work this year focused on the lower elevation forests which occur <strong>in</strong> the steep-sided valley bottoms. <strong>The</strong> team had<br />
hoped to f<strong>in</strong>d the Snowy-throated <strong>Babbler</strong> Stachyris ogelie and the recently described Naungmun Scimitar <strong>Babbler</strong><br />
Jabouilleia naungmungensis but no accessible primary forest rema<strong>in</strong>s at this elevation only second growth which may be<br />
too dry or lack the under-story required by these species. At 1,500 m the team aga<strong>in</strong> found themselves <strong>in</strong> bamboo and<br />
second growth, as a result of a long history of shift<strong>in</strong>g cultivation <strong>in</strong> the valleys. Whilst trapp<strong>in</strong>g here was more<br />
productive, no excit<strong>in</strong>g discoveries were made. At the high camp at 3,000 m bird diversity is much reduced and hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
trapped at this elevation <strong>in</strong> 2006, no further nett<strong>in</strong>g was undertaken this year. Rather, the team concentrated on<br />
search<strong>in</strong>g for signs of pheasants. Although Tragopan Tragopan spp. and Blood Pheasant Ithag<strong>in</strong>is cruentus dropp<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
were found <strong>in</strong> places, there were no signs of Sclater’s Monal Lophophorus sclateri. <strong>The</strong> dryness of the forest at this time<br />
of year may force pheasants to forage lower down <strong>in</strong> gullies that reta<strong>in</strong> some moisture.<br />
More <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g species observed dur<strong>in</strong>g the expedition <strong>in</strong>cluded a flock of 13 male Rufous-necked Hornbills Aceros<br />
nipalensis, Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide Indicator xanthonotus, Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta<br />
formosa, Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria, Long-billed Wren-<strong>Babbler</strong> Rimator malacoptilus, the newly split Grey-bellied<br />
Wren <strong>Babbler</strong> Spelaeornis reptatus and a flock of ten Scarlet F<strong>in</strong>ches Haematospiza sipahi.<br />
Unlike past years’ few mammals were recorded. <strong>The</strong> tracks of Black Bear were found daily at 3,000 m, often consist<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of what appeared to be mother and cub travel<strong>in</strong>g together. Grey Goral Nemorhaedus goral and Red Panda Ailurus<br />
fulgens were recorded but sadly <strong>in</strong> the form of recently hunted <strong>in</strong>dividuals.<br />
In contrast to previous years’ there were no calamities and the trip was rather unexceptional and uneventful. Anticyclonic<br />
conditions prevailed until the full moon towards the end of the period. At 3,000 m up to 15 cm of snow covered<br />
the ground, drift<strong>in</strong>g to 1 m <strong>in</strong> places. Night time temperatures dropped to – 5 o Celsius, which challenged the teams’<br />
w<strong>in</strong>ter cloth<strong>in</strong>g!<br />
Dr Frank Ste<strong>in</strong>heimer makes friends with a<br />
Mounta<strong>in</strong> Scops Owl Otus spilocephalus (right)<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Photos: J C Eames<br />
Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii rema<strong>in</strong> locally common on<br />
gravel shoals along the larger rivers (left)
32 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
<strong>The</strong> first documented record of Wallcreeper<br />
Tichodroma muraria (right)<br />
A tree of Scarlet F<strong>in</strong>ches Haematospiza<br />
sipahi (right)<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
<strong>The</strong> recently split Grey-bellied Wren <strong>Babbler</strong><br />
Spelaeornis reptatus (left)
33 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Mounta<strong>in</strong> Scops Owl Otus spilocephalus was a<br />
frequently trapped species (right)<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2007 expedition saw the welcome<br />
return of master cook Nyunt Kh<strong>in</strong> (right)<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
A group of Lisu the worst for wear after a<br />
celebration to <strong>in</strong>augurate a new house <strong>in</strong><br />
the valley (left)
34 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Imawbun shows its north-west face (above, left)<br />
Few signs of pheasants were found on the higher slopes this year<br />
(above, right)<br />
<strong>The</strong> only Red Panda Ailurus fulgens recorded on the 2007<br />
expedition fell to a Lisu hunter (left)<br />
Expedition team back <strong>in</strong> Mytky<strong>in</strong>a (above)<br />
J C Eames, Programme Manager, BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a
35 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Spotlight organization<br />
Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA) was founded <strong>in</strong> 1995, by a group of four socially aware<br />
and activist university graduate students, committed to the issues of Natural Resources Management. CEPA has now ten<br />
years of experience <strong>in</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g on these critical issues of environmental protection, particularly <strong>in</strong> the fields of rural<br />
communities and fisheries.<br />
CEPA realizes and believes that the problems of natural resource management and the environment are first and<br />
foremost the most important problems fac<strong>in</strong>g the country and are <strong>in</strong> need of immediate and permanent solutions.<br />
Initially, few NGOs were <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> this type of work. We established the "Culture and Environment Preservation<br />
Association" <strong>in</strong> order to address these critical issues.<br />
CEPA is a non-profit organisation and not related to any political party <strong>in</strong> Cambodia. CEPA was registered on April 10,<br />
1996 and is officially recognized by the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Interior of Royal Government of Cambodia.<br />
Vision<br />
An <strong>in</strong>dependent society that preserves its culture and protects its environment while collaborat<strong>in</strong>g with partners,<br />
government agencies, researchers and <strong>in</strong>ternational communities to meet its needs without compromis<strong>in</strong>g its abilities to<br />
meet the needs of future generation <strong>in</strong> terms of their environmental, social and economic stability and security.<br />
Mission<br />
1. To work with all sectors- with the grassroots and with the Government to promote and <strong>in</strong>crease the people’s<br />
economic, social and cultural rights and to foster a commitment to the protection of its culture and environment through<br />
research, <strong>in</strong>formation exchange, knowledge acquisition and enlightened activism.<br />
2. To improve the livelihood opportunity of the people <strong>in</strong> the community and promote equality and equity of women and<br />
men to ensure the preservation of traditional culture, the promotion of social justice and susta<strong>in</strong>able livelihood.<br />
3. To empower the people <strong>in</strong> the communities to have equality and equity and right to use and manage the natural<br />
resources; and<br />
4. To push network<strong>in</strong>g as means to communicate to members of society their social, economic and environmental rights<br />
for <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g social understand<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong>digenous culture preservation.<br />
Programs<br />
Susta<strong>in</strong>able Livelihood Program<br />
Advocacy for Susta<strong>in</strong>able Water Resources Management Program<br />
Human Resources Development Program<br />
---------------------------------------------------<br />
Culture and Environment Preservation Association<br />
Office: #40E, St.352, S.k Boeung Keng Kang I, K.h 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia<br />
P.O Box: 1486, CCC Box: 357<br />
Tel: 00855-23 720062<br />
Tel/Fax: 855-23 369176<br />
E-mail: cepa@cepa-cambodia.org<br />
http://www.cepa-cambodia.org<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007
36 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Book reviews<br />
Butterflies of Vietnam – Volume 2<br />
Alexander L. Monastyrskii (2007). Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre. 126<br />
pages, 31 plates<br />
For the first time, with this outstand<strong>in</strong>g new book, we will have a coherent<br />
description of the swallowtails of Vietnam – one of those areas of the world,<br />
perhaps through quirks of human history more than geography that until now, has<br />
been deprived of a good account of its butterfly fauna. <strong>The</strong> author is to be thanked<br />
and congratulated on this authoritative and accessible overview, on which will do so<br />
much to stimulate a new generation of entomologists to learn more, hopefully much<br />
more, about these beautiful butterflies – the Papilionidae, the flagship group for<br />
<strong>in</strong>sect conservation.<br />
Dick Vane-Wright, <strong>The</strong> Natural History Museum London,<br />
Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, Canterbury<br />
Butterflies of Thailand<br />
Pisuth Ek-Amnuay - Bangkok: Baan Lae Suan (2006). 849 p, 388 plates (Fasc<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>sects Volume 2)<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
<strong>The</strong> book is the first comprehensive illustrated compilation for diurnal Lepidoptera<br />
(Rhopalocera) of Thailand updated after some previous fundamental works by B.<br />
Lekagul, Bro. Amnuay P<strong>in</strong>ratana and J.N. Eliot which were published at the end of<br />
20th century. <strong>The</strong> current work <strong>in</strong>cludes <strong>in</strong>formation on 1.291 butterfly species,<br />
belong<strong>in</strong>g to 10th families. Over 160 species are mentioned from the country for<br />
the first time though some new taxa recorded need to be confirmed. <strong>The</strong> valuable<br />
data represented concerns the scientific and common names, w<strong>in</strong>gspan, brief<br />
description, foodplants, distribution and rarity. Most species and subspecies are<br />
illustrated <strong>in</strong> 388 plates show<strong>in</strong>g sexual dimorphism, sub-specific differences at<br />
natural size. <strong>The</strong> current list <strong>in</strong>cludes 11 taxa belong<strong>in</strong>g to four families that the<br />
author has proposed as be<strong>in</strong>g new for science. <strong>The</strong> author notes that some taxa<br />
have been excluded from the faunistic list dur<strong>in</strong>g current revision but it is unclear<br />
which particularly they are.<br />
Obviously, the book has an important educational value. Numerous colour<br />
photographs represent butterfly life history, some ma<strong>in</strong> morphological features of<br />
the imagos and immature stages, maps on species distribution and collect<strong>in</strong>g<br />
localities.<br />
It is understandable that such multifarious <strong>in</strong>formation cannot be made easily<br />
accessible without the assistance of many other scientists, collectors and scientific<br />
establishments. Mention<strong>in</strong>g them the author demonstrates a rather wide network<br />
of participants which, <strong>in</strong> fact, have been engaged <strong>in</strong> preparation of this guide.<br />
<strong>The</strong> book is an example of the excellent polygraphic quality however it can be made more compact with improv<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
layout conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g an enormous amount of blank space. Nevertheless, that does not detract from his merit <strong>in</strong> produc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
such a necessary and useful work once more demonstrat<strong>in</strong>g the high diversity and uniqueness of such fasc<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g group<br />
of <strong>in</strong>sects as butterflies. Undoubtedly, this book will promote further <strong>in</strong>terest and study butterflies <strong>in</strong> the region.<br />
Dr. Alexander L. Monastyrskii, Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre
37 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
<strong>The</strong> Forest Heritage of Thailand: <strong>The</strong> Flora and Fauna of Tropical Forests<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company (2006). ISBN:<br />
974-94245-7-3. 240 pages<br />
It is widely known that large areas of Thailand’s once prosperous forests<br />
have been dramatically reduced due to logg<strong>in</strong>g activities of the past.<br />
Although the Royal Forest Department has declared the rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
forests as national paraks, wildlife sanctuaries, non-hunt<strong>in</strong>g areas, and<br />
forest parks, many of these protected areas are isolated from one<br />
another. Only a few of the larger preserved forests can truly support<br />
biodiversity, namely Khao Yai National Park, Kaeng Krachan National<br />
Park, Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife sanctuary, and Hala-Bala Wildlife<br />
Sanctuary. <strong>The</strong> discont<strong>in</strong>uity of forest complexes not only affects the<br />
distribution of flora but also negatively <strong>in</strong>fluences wildlife, especially<br />
large animals that require vast territories <strong>in</strong> which to forage. When<br />
forests are cut off, populations of wild animals are forced to live <strong>in</strong><br />
restricted areas, which leads to <strong>in</strong>breed<strong>in</strong>g, genetic depravity and the<br />
risk of ext<strong>in</strong>ction. This publication provides readers with detailed<br />
<strong>in</strong>formation and maps of important forest complexes <strong>in</strong> Thailand. It aims<br />
to create a greater public awareness to help conserve wildlife and Thai<br />
forests for years to come.<br />
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited<br />
<strong>The</strong> National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department<br />
<strong>The</strong> Mar<strong>in</strong>e Heritage of Thailand: K<strong>in</strong>gdom of Inf<strong>in</strong>ite Biodiversity<br />
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company (2006). ISBN:<br />
974-403-354-1. 240 pages<br />
This beautifully illustrated book highlights the varied ecological<br />
environments and species that <strong>in</strong>habit the coral reefs, mangrove forests,<br />
and rocky and muddy beaches of the Mar<strong>in</strong>e National Parks of Thailand. It<br />
also describes <strong>in</strong> pla<strong>in</strong> words why it is vital that we all help <strong>in</strong> the<br />
protection and preservation of our mar<strong>in</strong>e environment. <strong>The</strong> book aims to<br />
help create and foster a better appreciation of the mar<strong>in</strong>e beauty of<br />
Thailand’s Mar<strong>in</strong>e National Parks as well as underscore their importance<br />
<strong>in</strong> the larger mar<strong>in</strong>e ecological system.<br />
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited<br />
<strong>The</strong> National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department
38 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Staff news<br />
Vietnam Programme<br />
Do Bao Quyen, Dang Nguyen Hong Hanh and Ngo Van Tuan have all recently left BirdLife and we wish them every<br />
success <strong>in</strong> the future.<br />
Myanmar Programme<br />
Thura W<strong>in</strong> Htun<br />
Asia Division<br />
Jack Tordoff<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007<br />
Thura W<strong>in</strong> Htun jo<strong>in</strong>ed BirdLife at the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of 2007 work<strong>in</strong>g on the Myanmar vulture<br />
project. More recently he has switched to work on the Gurney’s Pitta research project <strong>in</strong><br />
Tana<strong>in</strong>tharyi Division.<br />
At the end of 2006, Jack returned to the Cambridge Secretariat to take up the<br />
position of Programme Coord<strong>in</strong>ator with the Rio T<strong>in</strong>to-BirdLife <strong>International</strong><br />
Programme. In this position, Jack is now help<strong>in</strong>g to manage BirdLife's<br />
strategic partnership with Rio T<strong>in</strong>to, one of the world’s largest and most <strong>in</strong>fluential<br />
m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g companies. This bilateral partnership has seen Rio T<strong>in</strong>to and BirdLife<br />
<strong>International</strong> engage <strong>in</strong> partnership activities that deliver benefits to both<br />
conservation and bus<strong>in</strong>ess. His work <strong>in</strong>volves promot<strong>in</strong>g biodiversity awareness at<br />
m<strong>in</strong>e sites around the Rio T<strong>in</strong>to Group, develop<strong>in</strong>g strategic relationships between<br />
BirdLife Partner organisations and Rio T<strong>in</strong>to bus<strong>in</strong>esses, and develop<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
manag<strong>in</strong>g biodiversity projects <strong>in</strong> countries such as Madagascar and Gu<strong>in</strong>ea. This<br />
position will allow Jack to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> his <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Asia, as he explores<br />
new partnership opportunities <strong>in</strong> India, Mongolia and elsewhere.
39 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
From the Archives<br />
Despite the fact that this is the <strong>21</strong> st edition of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong>, we have never before published a photograph of Jean<br />
Delacour, the found<strong>in</strong>g father of Indoch<strong>in</strong>ese ornithology. This photograph, reproduced from his autobiography, <strong>The</strong><br />
Liv<strong>in</strong>g Air was taken <strong>in</strong> Hue <strong>in</strong> 1924. Left to right the group comprises Le (no full name provided), Willoughby P Lowe<br />
(Ornithologist from the British Museum), Jean Delacour, Pierre Jabouille (Resident Superior of Annam), an unnamed 2nd<br />
Lieutenant and Thuong (no full name provided).<br />
From Delacour's first expedition he tra<strong>in</strong>ed three Vietnamese as ornithologists and preparators, all from what was then<br />
Annam. <strong>The</strong>se he names as Ut, Thuong and Toan. In gratitude for their services after 1932 they were appo<strong>in</strong>ted as<br />
"military mandar<strong>in</strong>s." <strong>The</strong>y all worked once more for Delacour upon his return to Vietnam <strong>in</strong> 1938. In addition, Delacour<br />
had a Head Boy by the name of Nguyen Van Nhi who accompanied him widely on his travels <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
Madagascar and who, accord<strong>in</strong>g to Delacour, was a skilled taxidermist and keeper of live birds and mammals. In his<br />
biography, Delacour recounts an anecdote when Nhi, whilst dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g with locals <strong>in</strong> Madagascar as part of Bastille Day<br />
celebrations (14th July) was beaten and returned to camp with a large gash on his head which was, "bleed<strong>in</strong>g<br />
profusely." Delacour goes on, "We were, however, alarmed to hear that his (Nhi's) favorite topic of conversation was a<br />
description of the superior way of life <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a compared with the lowly one of Madagascar." It seems his dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g<br />
companions took issue with this view!<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007
40 BirdLife <strong>International</strong> <strong>in</strong> Indoch<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Portfolio<br />
This pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g entitled Thanh Hoang (tutelary spirit <strong>in</strong> English. In Vietnamese a synonym for Tiger) by Walton Ford, was<br />
reproduced <strong>in</strong> his 2002 book entitled Walton Ford: Tigers of Wrath, Horses of Instruction by Steven Katz and Dodie<br />
Kazanjian.<br />
Tigers, as dom<strong>in</strong>ant, fearsome, nocturnal carnivores, are the animals most commonly associated with soul transfer. In<br />
areas where man-eat<strong>in</strong>g is a serious problem, people commonly believe that the soul of a person eaten by a tiger<br />
becomes a soul of the tiger. Among the hill tribes of Vietnam, says Henry Baudesson (who spent years <strong>in</strong> uplands of<br />
Indoch<strong>in</strong>a conduct<strong>in</strong>g topographical and geodetic surveys for the French colonial service), the attacks of the tiger are so<br />
frequent, ruthless, and calculated that villagers naturally ascribe them to the direct <strong>in</strong>stigation and assistance of a<br />
supernatural power. From J.A. McNeely and P.S. Wachtel, <strong>The</strong> Soul of Tiger, New York, Doubleday, 1988<br />
Looks like the only place rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g one may now be attacked by a tiger is <strong>in</strong> a farm! Ed.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Babbler</strong> <strong>21</strong> – April 2007