Nam Phui National Protected Area
Summary
- White-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) are present in Nam Phui National Protected Area.
- The population size is unknown.
- The population trend is decreasing.
- The site has a total size of 1,912 km².
- Key threats to gibbons are forest fires, hunting and illegal pet trade.
- Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols.
Site characteristics
Nam Phui National Protected Area lies on the west bank of the Mekong, in Laos. It is one of the largest protected areas of the country, covering 1,912 sq.km (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010). The area is covered with mixed deciduous and dry evergreen forests. The area still has native teak forests and many important hardwood species. There are 41 villages in and around the protected area. The site is home to a considerable number of Asian elephants, and it is the only place in Laos with a population of white-handed gibbons (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010).
Table 1. Basic site information for Nam Phui National Protected Area
| Area | 1,912 km² |
| Coordinates | |
| Designation | National Protected Area |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical dry forest |
Ape status
There are five main sites in Nam Phui where the presence of white-handed gibbons has been reported (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010). These are in the southern part, in Phou Tong, Phou Dam/Phou Pu, Houy Saheun watershed, Phou Khaothong and Navene. Only one or two groups per site were estimated by local villagers in a 2010 interview survey (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010). Overall, the population is very low and very scattered (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010). Gibbon songs have not been heard in some parts of the site anymore for some years, indicating a population decline (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010).
Table 2. Ape population estimates in Nam Phui National Protected Area
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hylobates lar | 2010 | Nam Phui National Protected Area | Interview survey and identification by songs | Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010 |
Threats
The main threats to gibbons at the site include forest fires and hunting. In addition, a newly built road crossing the site has resulted in increased wildlife hunting. The forest in northern Nam Phui has become severely degraded. Hunting gibbon infants for pets has also been reported (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010).
Table 3. Threats to apes in Nam Phui National Protected Area
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Unknown | ||||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | Unknown | ||||
| 3. Energy production & mining | Unknown | ||||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | 4.1 Roads & railroads | High | The site is bisected by a road that connects Ban Navene to Thongmixay District (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010). The road has led to forest fragmentation and increased hunting (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010). | Ongoing (2010) | |
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | Hunting and capture of gibbon infants for illegal pet trade (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010). | Ongoing (2010) | |
| 6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Unknown | ||||
| 7. Natural system modifications | 7.1 Fire & fire suppression | High | Habitat loss due to forest fires (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010). | Ongoing (2010) | |
| 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
In comparison to other NPAs in the country, Nam Phui has good basic infrastructure (e.g. office building, large meeting room, dorms) and the number of staff is fairly adequate (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010). The staff regularly patrol the area and investigate poachers and illegal loggers. Hunters have been fined and a number of chainsaws and timber have been confiscated. WWF's Elephant Conservation Project is helping improve staff capacity and supporting Nam Phui's activities (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010).
Table 4. Conservation activities in Nam Phui National Protected Area
| 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 | 5.6. Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols | The staff regularly patrol the area and investigate poachers and illegal loggers (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010). | Ongoing (2010) |
| 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
Due to a limited budget, there is a lack of conservation awareness raising activities, zoning management and other activities to ensure better support of the site’s management (Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010).
Table 5. Challenges reported for Nam Phui National Protected Area
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Lack of financial means | Phiapalath & Saisavanh 2010 |
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Nam Phui National Protected Area
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
External links
References
Phiapalath, P. & Saisavanh, V. (2010). Gibbon surveys: Nam Phui National Protected Area and Dong Khanthung Provincial Protected Area. Online: https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/import/downloads/gibbon_surveys_final_sep_12_2010.pdf
Page completed by: A.P.E.S. Wiki team Date: 04/04/2022