Pu Mat National Park

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Asia > Vietnam > Pu Mat National Park

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Summary

Leaflet | Map data: © OpenStreetMap, SRTM | Map style: © OpenTopoMap (CC-BY-SA), © OpenStreetMap
  • Northern white-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys) are present in Pu Mat National Park.
  • It has been estimated that 130 groups occur in the site.
  • The gibbon population trend is unknown.
  • The site has a total size of 911.13 km².
  • Key threats to gibbons are habitat loss mainly due to shifting agriculture and hunting.
  • Conservation activities have focused on monitoring and permanent presence of forest guards.
  • The park is a key site for the conservation of northern white-cheeked gibbons.


Site characteristics

Pu Mat National Park is located in the Annamite Mountains, close to the Lao border. The area has been protected by the difficult access to the forest due to the steep, rugged terrain (Rawson et al. 2011). It is a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) within the Indoburma Biodiversity Hotspot (Re:wild). The park is home to a host of mammal species of conservation concern, including the critically endangered Saola, the Annamite striped rabbit, Owston’s civet, northern white-cheeked gibbon and possibly the critically endangered large-antlered muntjac. Local indigenous communities consider parts of the site to be sacred “spirit forests” that are important in local animist traditions (Re:wild).

Table 1. Basic site information for Pu Mat National Park

Species 'Nomascus leucogenys
Area 911.13 km²
Coordinates Lat: 19.060942 , Lon: 104.625258
Type of site Protected area (National Park)
Habitat types Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest
Type of governance

IUCN habitat categories Site designations

Ape status

Pu Mat National Park is the most important site for the conservation of northern white-cheeked gibbons in Vietnam (Rawson et al. 2011). In a 2011 survey, 22 groups were detected and 130 groups were estimated to inhabit the site (Rawson et al. 2011). The population is of global significance; it is the largest known population of this species in Vietnam, and may extend well into Laos. The gibbon population at the site is predominantly found above 700 m a.s.l. (approximately 85% of groups), with the highest densities (0.271 groups km-1) occurring above this altitude despite the majority of the park being under this elevation (Rawson et al. 2011).

Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Pu Mat National Park

Species Year Total number indiv. (95% CI) Total number groups (95% CI) Density ​​[groups/km²​] (95% CI) Area Method Source Comments A.P.E.S. database ID NA NA
Nomascus leucogenys 2011 0.161 130 455 Pu Mat National Park (911.13 sq km) Fixed point triangulation Rawson et al. 2011 This survey used 18 listening posts across the park, including the most remote areas near the Lao border which had not been previously surveyed.

Threats

Habitat loss due to shifting agriculture and illegal logging, and hunting, are the main threats to gibbons in the park (Rawson et al. 2011).

Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Pu Mat National Park

Category Specific threats Threat level Description Year of threat
10 Geological events Absent
12 Other threat Absent
2 Agriculture & aquaculture 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops High (more than 70% of population affected) Shifting agriculture (Rawson et al. 2011). Ongoing (2011)
4 Transportation & service corridors 4.1 Roads & railroads High (more than 70% of population affected) Planned roads through Pu Mat National Park may fragment and endanger what is by far the largest population of northern white-cheeked gibbons in the country (Rawson et al. 2011). Ongoing (2011)
5 Biological resource use 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals High (more than 70% of population affected) Hunters increasingly access remote areas near the Lao border to locate gibbons (Rawson et al. 2011). Ongoing (2011)
5 Biological resource use 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting High (more than 70% of population affected) Illegal logging is widespread in the area (Rawson et al. 2011). Ongoing (2011)
1 Residential & commercial development Unknown
3 Energy production & mining Unknown
6 Human intrusions & disturbance Unknown
7 Natural system modifications Unknown
8 Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases Unknown
9 Pollution Unknown
11 Climate change & severe weather Unknown

IUCN Threats list

Conservation activities

The permanent presence of forest guards has been the only effective approach to protecting the gibbon population in the site. Site and landscape level projects are unlikely to be sufficient on their own; in fact, a 1998-2004 monitoring project indicated that large-scale projects implemented in the past did not succeed in halting primate population declines, though they may have slowed the decline (Rawson et al. 2004).

Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Pu Mat National Park

Category Specific activity Description Implementing organization(s) Year of activity
2 Counter-wildlife crime 2.11 Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g., SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of patrols The Social Forestry and Nature Conservation Project implemented primate surveys and monitoring (Rawson et al. 2011). 1998-2004
5 Protection & restoration 5.2 Legally protect ape habitat The site is designated as a National Park. Ongoing (2022)
8 Permanent presence 8.3 Permanent presence of staff/manager Permanent presence of forest guards dedicated to the protection of individual gibbon groups (Rawson et al. 2011). Ongoing (2011)

Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)

Challenges

Table 5. Challenges reported for Pu Mat National Park

Challenges Specific challenges Source Year(s)
Not reported

Enablers

Table 6. Enablers reported for Pu Mat National Park

Enablers Specific enablers Source Year(s)
1 Site management
2 Resources and capacity
3 Engaged community
4 Institutional support
5 Ecological context
6 Safety and stability

Research activities

Documented behaviours

Table 7. Behaviours documented for Pu Mat National Park

Behavior Source
Not reported

Exposure to climate change impacts

External links

Re:wild Pu Mat National Park

Relevant datasets

References

Rawson, B. M, Insua-Cao, P., Nguyen Manh Ha, Van Ngoc Thinh, Hoang Minh Duc, Mahood, S., Geissmann, T. and Roos, C. (2011). The Conservation Status of Gibbons in Vietnam. Fauna & Flora International/Conservation International, Hanoi, Vietnam.


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