The elusive Annamite striped rabbit (Nesolagus timminsi) in a photo snapped by a camera trap in the wild. (Photo courtesy WWF)
Thua Thien-Hue (VNS/VNA) - A new study has providedthe first detailed information about the Annamite striped rabbit (Nesolagustimminsi) – a little-known lagomorph not discovered until 1995.
The study was carriedout by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) incollaboration with WWF-Vietnam, WWF-Laos and the Central Institute for NaturalResources and Environmental Sciences (CRES) of the Vietnam National University.
WWF-Vietnam said the study was published in the internationaljournal Oryx.
Researchers used camera trapping to study the Annamite stripedrabbit in five areas of Vietnam and Laos. Camera traps placed across thelandscape showed that although the rabbit was found in all the areas, thespecies was not common in any of them, and in one protected area it appeared tobe approaching local extinction.
These results show that intensive poaching in Vietnam and Laos, accomplished bysetting wire snares, has clearly impacted striped rabbit populations. However,the fact the species still exists in the region that has experienced suchintensive snaring provides hope that, with effective anti-poaching efforts,these populations could recover.
According to WWF-Vietnam, the Annamite mountains of Vietnamand Laos harbour exceptional species richness and endemism, but their wildlifeis under threat from widespread and intensive poaching.
“It is exciting to provide the first insight into such anelusive species,” says Andrew Tilker, a PhD student at Leibniz-IZW and anAssociate Conservation Scientist at Global Wildlife Conservation.
“Of course, this information is interesting from a scientificperspective, but more importantly it can help inform evidence-drivenconservation initiatives,” he said. “Our results provide exact locations fortargeted snare removal efforts. We also establish the first conservationbaseline for the species, which can be used to monitor population trends.”
Dr. Ben Rawson, WWF-Vietnam’s Conservation and ProgrammeDevelopment Director, hopes intensive efforts to halt snaring will result inrebounds in rabbit populations.
“With continued snare removal efforts in the Saola NatureReserves led by WWF and our local partners, we are confident that thisremarkable species can thrive,” Rawson said.
One of the most significant findings of this study is thatthe Annamite striped rabbits live in an unprotected forest area in Laos, near aremote village called Ban Palé. The presence of this kind of rabbit in the Paléarea – along with other rare and threatened species – further supports ongoinginitiatives to grant this area officially protected status. The Palé area isunder imminent threat from illegal hunting, logging and gold-mining operations.
Francois Guegan, Conservation Director for WWF-Laos, said:“We must act now to stop these threats and to provide effective protection toPalé. We have to work together, and we have to act fast. Otherwise we will losethe Annamite striped rabbit and other conservation-priority species from thissite.”
“The Annamite striped rabbit is part of what makes theAnnamites unique,” says co-author of the study Associate Professor Minh Le fromthe Vietnam National University. “This study shows how fragile the species’survival is, even in protected areas.”
An Nguyen, Field Coordinator for the Leibniz-IZW project,agrees.
“The species is hanging on – but for how much longer? We needto improve law enforcement, stop snaring and reduce demand for bush meat. Oneorganisation alone cannot do this. We need to work together if the Annamitestriped rabbit is to survive.”-VNS/VNA
