Elephant
A female Asian Elephant walks down the trail in the early morning in the Nam Kading National Protected Area. Laos, known as the ‘Land of a Million Elephants’, is estimated to have less than 700 individuals of this ‘endangered’ species today. Illegal killing of elephants for the trade of their ivory tusks is one of the biggest threats to elephants. [Protected species]
A young Asian Elephant is captured on camera as it follows behind its mather in the Nam Kading National Protected Area. This evidence that elephants are still reproducing in the protected area is good news.
Gaur This enormous animal is a Gaur, the largest species of wild cattle in Laos. They occur in forested areas and can weigh up to 1500 kg. They are illegally hunted and sold for their gall bladder and horns, which are believed to have medicinal qualities. As a result of the trade, gaur numbers have plummeted and its survival is threatened. [Nam Et-Phou Louey; protected species]
In the following photos a female gaur visits a mineral lick with its calf in the Nam Kading National Protected area. This evidence that gaur are still reproducing in the protected area is good news. [Nam Kading; protected species]
Sambar
An adult male Sambar deer cautiously approaches a 'mineral lick' at night. The soil in the 'lick' is rich in salt and other minerals that are important for the deer's nutrition. Animals that need to feed at mineral licks are at risk if hunters use these sites to illegally kill protected wildlife. [Nam Kading; managed species]
Muntjac The Red Muntjac is the most abundant type of deer in Lao forests. It is also called a 'barking' deer because of the noise it makes when alarmed. There are several different kinds (species) of muntjacs in Laos. [Nam Kading; managed species]
National laws allow rural communities to hunt a small number of Red Muntjac within their village-allocated area each year for subsistence but it is illegal to sell the meat to urban markets and restaurants. If you buy muntjac meat you are breaking the law and contributing to poverty by consuming meat that is important for food security in rural villages. [Nam Et-Phou Louey]
Mousedeer Mousedeer are small forest-dwelling hoofed animals weighing less than 4 kilograms. National laws allow rural communities to hunt some mousedeer within their village-allocated area each year for subsistence but it is illegal to sell the meat to urban markets. [Nam Kading; managed species]
Eurasian Wild Pig Eurasian Wild Pig is found throughout Laos. Pigs are very important food for the large wild cats - Tiger and Leopard. As a managed species, they are also important for village subsistence but are illegally traded from the wild to supply meat for urban markets and restaurants. This is having a negative effect on both large wild cats and subsistence villages. [Nam Et-Phou Louey; managed species]
Chinese Serow The Chinese Serow is goat-antelope that occurs from China and Myanmar, to Laos and Cambodia. In the 1940's Serow were relatively common in rocky mountainous habitats in Laos. Because all body parts are believed to have medicinal qualities, heavy hunting and trade in the last decade is contributing to their decline. [Nam Et-Phou Louey; protected species]
