Pu Mat National Park
Summary
- 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
| Area | 911.13 km² |
| Coordinates | 19.060942, 104.625258 |
| Designation | National Park |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest |
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 in 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomascus leucogenys | 2011 | 455 | 130 | 0.161 | 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 in Pu Mat National Park
| 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 | Shifting agriculture (Rawson et al. 2011). | Ongoing (2011) | |
| 3. Energy production & mining | Unknown | ||||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | 4.1 Roads & railroads | High | 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 | Hunters increasingly access remote areas near the Lao border to locate gibbons (Rawson et al. 2011). | Ongoing (2011) | |
| 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | High | Illegal logging is widespread in the area (Rawson et al. 2011). | Ongoing (2011) | ||
| 6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Unknown | ||||
| 7. Natural system modifications | Unknown | ||||
| 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
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 in Pu Mat National Park
| 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 | 5.15. Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g. SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols | The Social Forestry and Nature Conservation Project implemented primate surveys and monitoring (Rawson et al. 2011). | 1998-2004 |
| 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 | 11.2. Legally protect primate habitat | The site is designated as a National Park. | Ongoing (2022) |
| 12. Species Management | Not reported | ||
| 13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives | 13.5. Permanent presence of staff/manager | Permanent presence of forest guards dedicated to the protection of individual gibbon groups (Rawson et al. 2011). | Ongoing (2011) |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Pu Mat National Park
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Pu Mat National Park
| 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: 02/05/2022