Illegal wildlife trade in local markets of Feuang and Mad districts of Vientiane Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Abstract

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic has emerged as a hub for illegal flora and fauna trade, more specifically, species in protected categories. However, numerous local species are traded and given less consideration despite their importance. Hence, we observed the local markets in the Feuang and Mad districts of Vientiane Province in summer and winter seasons to determine the species for trade, as well as their volume and conservation status. Altogether, 602 specimens corresponding to 23 genera and 22 species were identified. Among them, the highest number of species was mammals, followed by birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Six species are listed in threatened categories according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and nine under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species categories. The species in trade varied between seasons, as winter was the main poaching season for mammals and birds and summer was for amphibians, reptiles, and insects. This study revealed that food, traditional medicine, and curio production were the main reasons for wildlife trade. The lack of strong regulations, monitoring and law enforcement, and poverty are the major reasons for wildlife trade. Therefore, strong law enforcement, creating alternate income sources, and participatory conservation programs are required to effectively control wildlife trade in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The specter of empty countrysides and wetlands—Impact of hunting take on birds in Indo‐Burma

“…The scale of bird hunting in the Indo‐Burma region is only beginning to become better understood (Banjade et al, 2020; Bhupathy et al, 2013; Dalvi et al, 2013; Nguyen et al, 2020; Xayyasith et al, 2020), alongside intensifying efforts to tackle the trade in pet birds and bird‐derived ornaments (e.g., Jain et al, 2019; Lee et al, 2016; Marshall et al, 2020). Our concurrent field work in six Indo‐Burma countries calls attention to the prevalence of hunting in poorly‐surveyed landscapes outside protected areas in this biodiversity hotspot, such as paddy fields (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand), orchards (Bangladesh), aquaculture (Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam) and coastal mudflats (Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam)—these are landscapes overlooked in previous studies of wild meat trade and hunting by researchers focused on (forested) protected areas.…”

“…The hunting of wildlife is a leading driver of biodiversity loss in the world's tropics (Symes et al, 2018; Benítez‐López et al, 2019), especially in Southeast Asia (Banjade et al, 2020; Corlett, 2007; Duckworth et al, 2012; Harrison, 2011; Harrison et al, 2016). Five countries of mainland Southeast Asia (i.e., Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam) and adjoining parts of southwest China, Bangladesh and northeast India (defined variously as Indo‐Burma, Tordoff et al, 2012; CEPF, 2020) form among the world's hottest hotspots for biodiversity (Corlett, 2019; Duckworth et al, 2012; Sodhi et al, 2004; Tordoff et al, 2012).…”

“…Present evidence from Indo‐Burma continues to demonstrate the immense scale of wildlife harvest for trade (Banjade et al, 2020; Dalvi et al, 2013; Duckworth et al, 2012), as well as the roles played by the (1) increased availability of hunting tools such as snares, decoys, guns, and nets (Gray et al, 2018; Harrison et al, 2016; Pruvot et al, 2019), (2) increasing accessibility of sites to hunters (Robinson & Bennett, 2000), (3) socioeconomic forces that drive hunting (Chang et al, 2017, 2019; Liang et al, 2013), and (4) increased pressures on wildlife and other natural resources owing to compromised livelihoods in the wake of the COVID‐19 pandemic (Buckley, 2020; Wildlife Conservation Society, 2020). Furthermore, rural communities and ethnic minorities have traditionally harvested wildlife for their protein needs and livelihoods in many parts of Southeast Asia (Johnson et al, 2003; Zack, 2018), adding additional layers of complexity to efforts to address unsustainable wildlife hunting.…”

Diversity, Dominance, and Conservation Status of Bird Species Traded in Bird Shops Around of Jambi City

“…In addition to biodiversity loss, wildlife trade contributes to the spread of zoonotic diseases. 72% of zoonotic desease outbreak originate from wild animal species, posing a major risk to humans (Banjade et al, 2020). Wildlife trade in birds ranks as the third-largest illegal activity globally, after the trade in illicit drugs and weapons (De Oliveira et al, 2020).…”

Impacts of illegal trade on socio-emotional and behavioural skills in macaques

“…Nonetheless, the penalties for violating this law range from imprisonment maximum two years and maximum fine is 600,000 LAK, equivalent to 72 USD. 60 Despite these facts, little is known on whether being a victim of the trade along lifespan shapes several socio-emotional and behavioural skills or personality traits and its potential impacts on the quality of life in non-human primates. Lopresti-Goodman and colleagues (2013) 61 presented two case studies of rescued chimpanzees from bushmeat and pet trade whose psychological distress-based on abnormal behaviour, stereotypes, social deprivation, hypervigilance, fear, emotional instability and even symptoms of PTSD in adulthood-was linked to abusive experiences in infancy and juvenility and lifelong captivity.…”