Nature
PUBLISHED
Camera traps are an amazing resource to explore different habitats and record the species that can be found in different areas. For Fauna & Flora, a recent camera-trap survey has revealed an incredible array of species in the Annamite mountains.
The Annamites are a largely unexplored area that stretch for 1,100 kilometers (683 miles) across the Lower Mekong landscape of Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. A whole host of rare and known species have been recorded in these incredible images, shedding light on the animals that inhabit this vast forested area.
“The Annamites mountain range – sometimes called the 'Amazon of Asia' - is alive with a host of incredible creatures, each playing a critical role in maintaining the forest ecosystems that are vital to the health of our planet. This camera-trap data allows us to discover some of the Annamites’ rarest species, while also understanding more about their behaviour, preferred topography and their interactions with human settlements,” said Gareth Goldthorpe, Senior Technical Adviser, Asia-Pacific, Fauna & Flora, who played a key role in the survey, in a statement seen by IFLScience.
At the same time, the analysis of the results can tell us more about the threats to these lesser-known species, including habitat fragmentation and encroachment, as well as the effect of snaring, which can rob this remarkable area of the species that call it home.
Among the animals captured are Asian elephants, sun bears, and even clouded leopards. All three of the species rely on the forest for food and shelter and are put into the path of human activities by deforestation. Clouded leopards along with Asian leopard cats, which were also photographed by the camera traps, are particularly hunted for their distinctive coats and for the illegal wildlife trade, where they are trafficked as exotic pets.
The most trafficked animals in the world were also captured by these cameras. The Sunda pangolin is pictured giving a ride to its pangopup on the back of its tail as it trundles through the forest. These animals are critically endangered and are targeted for their meat and scales.
One of the most unusual and rare species recorded during the survey is the Annamite striped rabbit. This species was only discovered in 1996 and has only been recorded on camera a handful of times.
What is clear from the report is that the area remains vital for a wide array of endangered species, but is not immune to the effects of anthropogenic factors that threaten this ecosystem and the species within it.
“From analysis of the data, one thing is clear: to secure the future of these biodiversity hotspots, conservation action that considers both the needs of wildlife and local communities is essential. People living near to these protected areas can support the effective protection of wildlife, but they face their own set of challenges,” said Goldthorpe.
“Therefore, harmonising conservation goals with local development needs is not merely a social goal, but an ecological necessity for the survival of the region's extraordinary biodiversity.”
