Sop Cop Nature Reserve
Summary
- Northern white-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys) are present in Sop Cop Nature Reserve.
- Gibbons are absent in the reserve.
- The gibbon population trend is unknown.
- The site has a total size of 187 km².
- Key threats to gibbons are hunting, logging, and agricultural expansion.
- Conservation activities are not documented.
Site characteristics
Table 1. Basic site information for Sop Cop Nature Reserve
Area | 187 km² |
Coordinates | 20.977205, 103.657088 |
Designation | Nature Reserve |
Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest |
Ape status
In 2011, a group of five individuals was seen in a forest patch of about 300 ha in Sai Khao Village, Muong Cai Commune. However, no gibbons were detected in the nature reserve itself (Rawson et al. 2011). Based on a large mammal survey conducted later in 2011, the population of gibbons in the reserve is now extirpated, but one group of 3-4 individuals was recorded in the buffer zone. Local reports of gibbons had been documented in previous wildlife surveys in the 90s (Rawson et al. 2011).
Table 2. Ape population estimates in Sop Cop Nature Reserve
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nomascus leucogenys | 2011 | 0 | Sop Cop Nature Reserve | Unknown | Nguyen Manh Ha pers. comm as cited by Rawson et al. 2011 | A group of five individuals seen in a forest nearby. |
Threats
The main threats to gibbons and other wildlife in the reserve are hunting, logging, and forest loss due to the expansion of agricultural land; forest fires from human encroachment also occur annually (Rawson et al. 2011).
Table 3. Threats to apes in Sop Cop Nature Reserve
Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Residential & commercial development | Unknown | ||||
2. Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | High | Habitat encroachment as a result of agricultural activities (Rawson et al. 2011). | Ongoing (2011) | |
3. Energy production & mining | Unknown | ||||
4. Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | ||||
5. Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | Hunting is common in the reserve (Rawson et al. 2011). | Ongoing (2011) | |
5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | High | As of 2011, due to logging and other human activities, the forest area has diminished to approximately 4,000 ha and is increasingly isolated from surrounding forests, including those in Laos (Rawson et al. 2011). | Ongoing (2011) | ||
6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Unknown | ||||
7. Natural system modifications | 7.1 Fire & fire suppression | High | Forest fires from land encroachment occur annually (Rawson et al. 2011). | Ongoing (2011) | |
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | Unknown | ||||
9. Pollution | Unknown | ||||
10. Geological Events | Absent | ||||
11. Climate change & severe weather | Unknown | ||||
12. Other options | Absent |
Conservation activities
Table 4. Conservation activities in Sop Cop Nature Reserve
Category | Specific activity | Description | Year of activity |
---|---|---|---|
1. Residential & commercial development | Not reported | ||
2. Agriculture & aquaculture | Not reported | ||
3. Energy production & mining | Not reported | ||
4. Transportation & service corridors | Not reported | ||
5. Biological resource use | Not reported | ||
6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Not reported | ||
7. Natural system modifications | Not reported | ||
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | Not reported | ||
9. Pollution | Not reported | ||
10. Education & Awareness | Not reported | ||
11. Habitat Protection | Not reported | ||
12. Species Management | Not reported | ||
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives | Not reported |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Sop Cop Nature Reserve
Challenge | Source |
---|---|
Not reported |
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Sop Cop Nature Reserve
Behavior | Source |
---|---|
Not reported |
External links
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.
Page completed by: A.P.E.S. Wiki team Date: 04/05/2022