Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
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Summary
- Western Hoolock Gibbons (Hoolock hoolock) are present in the Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range.
- The total population size is unknown.
- The population trend is unknown.
- The site has a total size of 1755 km².
- Key threats to gibbons are logging and hunting.
- Conservation activities have focused on biomonitoring and patrolling the area.
Site characteristics
The site is located in western Myanmar (Burma), inland of the Bay of Bengal.
Table 1. Basic site information for Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
| Species | 'Hoolock hoolock |
| Area | 1,755 km² |
| Coordinates | Lat: 17.623991 , Lon: 94.840521 |
| Type of site | Protected area (Wildlife Sanctuary) |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, Subtropical/tropical moist montane forest, Agricultural land, Subtropical/tropical heavily degraded former forest |
| Type of governance |
IUCN habitat categories Site designations
Ape status
The current population status is unknown, but gibbons are present based on community and survey team information (Naw May Lay Thant pers. obs. 2023).
Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoolock hoolock | 2008 | 0.53 | 1 | 4 | southern Rakhine Yoma | Fixed point triangulation | Geissmann et al. 2009 | The survey area was located in a small mountain ridge facing the Bay of Bengal adjacent to Taing Kyo village and, further inland, Chaung Tha village in Thandwe district, Gwa township in Rakhine division. |
Threats
Gibbons are mainly threatened by habitat loss due to logging (Naw May Lay Thant pers. obs. 2023).
Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Geological events | Absent | |||
| 12 Other threat | Absent | |||
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | High (more than 70% of population affected) | Timber extraction for income and fuelwood (Geissmann et al. 2009). | 2009-Ongoing (2023) |
| 11 Climate change & severe weather | 11.4 Storms & flooding | High (more than 70% of population affected) | A cyclone in 2005 caused a lot of destruction of the forest in the site (Geissmann et al. 2009). | 2005 |
| 2 Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Present (unknown severity) | Cultivation of rice and other agricultural cash crops and subsistence crops encroaching the site due to lack of demarcation (Geissmann et al. 2009). | 2008-Ongoing (2023) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Present (unknown severity) | Hunting targeting mainly wild pigs and red muntjacs, but other wildlife get trapped in snares (Geissmann et al. 2009). | 2008-Ongoing (2023) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.2 Gathering terrestrial plants | Present (unknown severity) | Extraction of NTFPs such as bamboo for construction and medicinal plants (Geissmann et al. 2009). | 2009-Ongoing (2023) |
| 1 Residential & commercial development | Unknown | |||
| 3 Energy production & mining | Unknown | |||
| 4 Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | |||
| 6 Human intrusions & disturbance | Unknown | |||
| 7 Natural system modifications | Unknown | |||
| 8 Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Unknown | |||
| 9 Pollution | Unknown |
Conservation activities
Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Implementing organization(s) | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Counter-wildlife crime | 2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols | Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division & Wildlife Conservation Society (Naw May Lay Thant pers. obs. 2023). | 2014-2020 | |
| 2 Counter-wildlife crime | 2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols | Biodiversity Fund, Rakhine Coastal Conservation Association & Community (Naw May Lay Thant pers. obs. 2023). | 2021-Ongoing (2023) | |
| 5 Protection & restoration | 5.2 Legally protect ape habitat | The site has been a protected area since 2002. | 2002-Ongoing (2023) |
Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
| Challenges | Specific challenges | Source | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Institutional support | 4.1 Lack of law enforcement | Naw May Lay Thant pers. obs. 2023 | |
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.3 General lack of funding | Naw May Lay Thant pers. obs. 2023 |
Enablers
Table 6. Enablers reported for Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
| 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
In addition to a 2008 gibbon and biodiversity survey and training in southern Rakhine Yoma by Myanmar Primate Conservation Program, BANCA, FFI, PRCF and Yangon University, a project for community hoolock gibbon monitoring and protection, funded by Arcus Gibbon Foundation, Myanmar Biodiversity Fund and Rakhine Coastal Conservation Association, is taking place between 2021 and 2024 (Naw May Lay Thant pers. obs. 2023).
Documented behaviours
Table 7. Behaviours documented for Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
Exposure to climate change impacts
External links
Relevant datasets
References
Geissmann, T., Grindley, M., Momberg, F., Lwin, N., & Moses, S. (2009). Hoolock gibbon and biodiversity survey and training in southern Rakhine Yoma, Myanmar. Gibbon Journal, (5), 7-27.
Page created by: Naw May Lay Thant & A.P.E.S. Wiki team Date: NA