Abstract
The Annamite striped rabbit Nesolagus timminsi is an endangered lagomorph restricted to the Annamite mountains of Viet Nam and Lao P.D.R. Much remains unknown about the species, especially in its unexplored range in southern Lao P.D.R. Here, we report two market specimens from Dak Cheung district in Sekong province. Both animals were killed by firearms, and were reportedly hunted in the mountain range along the Viet Nam border. The specimens represent the southernmost records known from Lao P.D.R., and indicate that hunting with firearms may be a localized threat in some areas, along with the widespread threat of snares across the region.
Funding source: KfW Development Bank
Award Identifier / Grant number: Carbon and Biodiversity Phase 2 project (CarBi II)
Acknowledgment
We thank the Provincial Agriculture and Forest Offices of Salavan and Sekong provinces for their support and participation in the survey.
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Research ethics: All authors confirm that this research was conducted under the ethical guidelines of their host institutions, and that scientific best practices have been followed in all aspects of the research.
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Author contributions: M.R., S.S., A.P., S.P., K.N., and M.V. conducted the fieldwork; M.R. and A.T. led the writing; K.Y. oversaw the work and edited the manuscript; all authors reviewed the manuscript.
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Competing interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Research funding: This survey was done as part of the Carbon and Biodiversity Phase 2 project (CarBi II) that WWF implements and funded through the KfW Development Bank as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). The project aims to support the conservation of the unique biodiversity of central Annamites landscape by working to expand the protected area network, improving the effectiveness of site-based patrolling, implementing biodiversity monitoring, and enhancing the capacities of local stakeholders to implement national policies and international regulations on illegal wildlife trade.
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Data availability: The primary data for this manuscript was the date, time, and location of two Annamite striped rabbit specimens that were recorded in a local market in Lao P.D.R.; this information has been presented in the manuscript.
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