Asian unicorn and rare deer: the mysterious animals of Laos

LaosThe Annamite Range, located in the border region between Laos and Vietnam, forms one of the largest contiguous natural forest areas in mainland Southeast Asia, covering more than 10,000 km². The forests that blanket the valleys and peaks of these mountains have acted as an evolutionary laboratory for centuries, fostering a myriad of unique life forms, including some of the most mysterious and endangered animals on the planet. This valuable fauna has shared its habitat with local communities for generations. An ancient landscape, influenced by thousands of years of humid conditions, it has allowed vast evergreen forests to persist through the last ice age, when much of the rest of Southeast Asia was far drier than it is today. Although the area has been largely unexplored by the scientific community in the past, partly due to decades of political conflict, scientists have discovered several new species in the range in recent years. Some of the world's most recent and important mammal discoveries have been made here, such as the saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis), the rabbit crossed out from Annam (Nesolagus timminsi) and the giant Montjac (Muntiacus vuquangensisEven more numerous are the new species of reptiles and amphibians that have been discovered. No less valuable are some unique plants that grow in the area of ​​these mountains, such as the last remaining Chinese swamp cypress trees (Glyptostrobus pensilis), with several specimens that are over five hundred years old.

Unique animals

The saola, a symbol of these forests and also known as the Asian unicorn, is one of the most enigmatic species of the Annamites. It wasn't described by science until 1993, after its discovery the previous year. Although local communities were aware of the animal's existence, its scientific documentation and taxonomic classification made it the first large mammal discovered in over fifty years. The only evidence of its survival comes from images obtained between 1998 and 2013 using camera traps, a technique in which a hidden camera automatically captures images or videos when it detects an animal's movement. This technique is used to study and document wildlife remotely and non-invasively. Given the scarcity of observations of saola in the wild, it is very difficult to determine its exact distribution area and population size. Undoubtedly, preventing the extinction of this species is a race against time.

Another of the zoological treasures present in the area is the giant montjac, one of the rarest deer in the world and one of the few classified on the IUCN Red List as "critically endangered" (CR). Virtually nothing is known about its behavior, but it is believed to prefer low- and mid-altitude forests. It was first described in 1994 thanks to antlers found hanging in a hut in a remote village in Laos. For a time, the only evidence of the species' existence came from antlers displayed as trophies, not from the discovery of specimens in the wild.

Poaching

Globally, mammal populations are declining at an alarming rate as a result of unprecedented habitat loss and degradation, coupled with unsustainable hunting practices. The Annamite Range is no exception, and its terrestrial mammal communities—and sadly, its bird populations as well—are severely threatened by illegal hunting, particularly with wire traps. In some areas of the range—even protected ones—this technique is widespread. Until relatively recently, the primary reason for hunting was the subsistence of the local population, but now there is a growing illegal demand for wild animals for traditional medicine and as exclusive food in restaurants frequented by wealthy urbanites. Furthermore, scales, hides, and bones are traded on the black market as symbols of power and ostentation, and even live animals are sold as pets. According to reports from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there could be millions of active traps in the forests of Southeast Asia.

Organized crime groups offer cash to the local population, who end up doing the work. The solution involves an increased police and military presence, especially in border areas with Vietnam. But in most cases, the resources and funding don't reach their destination and are lost along the way in the form of corruption. The reality is that the personnel responsible for monitoring poaching have precarious salaries and don't go out on patrol until they are certain they will be paid for their work. This means that for long periods, no one is doing this task.

This dramatic reality is destroying an ecosystem that has been in balance for hundreds of thousands of years. Animals essential for seed dispersal, such as deer, geese, and primates, are being hunted, which alters the composition and diversity of the vegetation and exacerbates the decline of large predators like tigers and leopards. Local communities are also affected, as they can no longer find some of the plants and animals they have traditionally used for years for basic necessities such as food, shelter, and medicine. If poaching and deforestation are not stopped, many of the region's species could disappear forever.

The Anoulak Association

Understanding this unique and threatened ecosystem is the first step to saving it. And this is what the Anoulak Association does – which means conservation Nakai-Nam Theun (in Laotian) is a small, non-profit organization registered in France and founded by Camille Coudrat. It's a project dedicated to the long-term conservation and study of wildlife in Laos, particularly in the Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area, nestled in the Annamite Mountains. This protected area, the second largest in the country, safeguards one of the largest forest tracts in this mountain range and, indeed, in the entire Indochinese Peninsula. Nakai-Nam Theun has been identified as a key area for the scientific community, and the Association works to preserve biodiversity, support local communities, safeguard their traditional way of life, and promote their sustainable development. Within the protected area are thirty-one villages, home to approximately seven thousand people from nine different ethnic groups. One of the Association's main objectives is to involve as many people as possible in conservation efforts.

The livelihoods of the various inhabitants are based primarily on rice cultivation, which is shifting cultivation in the highlands and more permanent planting in the lowlands. This activity is combined with small home gardens where vegetables and culinary herbs are grown. Other crops may include maize and cassava, intended for domestic consumption or livestock feed. Many families also raise cattle, buffalo, goats, pigs, and poultry, which are consumed locally or sold for cash income. Local communities also widely practice fishing, the gathering of forest products (except timber), and hunting, a deeply rooted activity that also has a cultural component. Other income-generating activities include seasonal agricultural labor, encompassing various tasks such as clearing and preparing fields or harvesting rice.

Most households still face rice shortages every year, forcing them to seek cash income to buy the rice needed to cover their needs for the rest of the year. Therefore, food security still depends heavily on food gathered from the wild. Without access to forest-gathered food, local communities cannot meet their basic nutritional needs.

Exploring the Annamite Range

FIELD NOTES

—Today, at last, we managed to see the Rhinopitheks (Pygathrix nemaeusUnfortunately, they wouldn't let us get closer than forty meters. The density of the forest makes it difficult to see them, and they're hard to spot so high up in the treetops. For a fraction of a second, we saw the face of an adult. Surely, this is one of the most beautiful primates in the world. Its hairless face and expressive eyes make it one of the most unique animals in these forests. Nakai-Nam Theun is home to the largest population in the world. Searching for them, I don't know how many times we've climbed up and down these muddy slopes. Often, the incline is extremely steep.

—We return to the forest. Before reaching the station, we pass by one of the hidden camera locations. It has captured a group of local people fishing in a prohibited area. The dry season is the most difficult for the people who live on the edge of the protected area. They exploit the forest to the fullest. They catch fish, tadpoles, and frogs. They gather palm fronds, bamboo, and a multitude of fruits and roots. With the leaves of some plants, which they crush in a bamboo container, they make infusions.

—The field station is located where a village stood more than sixty years ago. Around it, there are many trees with smooth, white trunks belonging to the genus LagerstroemiaThese trees are among the most abundant in secondary forests.

The kitchen is open, and at night no creatures come to steal the food. In any other protected area of ​​Southeast Asia, the food would disappear in minutes. The wildlife is extremely elusive. The density of species is extremely low. Birds are a good example. Sometimes, after walking for hours through the forest, you don't see a thing. The only way to identify birds is by recognizing their songs and calls. Many days the wind blows, accentuating the feeling of emptiness. During the middle of the day, the only sound that's always present is that of the cicadas, a metallic, piercing sound.