fbpx
Global-Wildlife-Conservation Global-Wildlife-Conservation
  • Our Mission
    • Biodiversity
    • Extinction
  • Our Work
    • Wildlands
    • Wildlife
    • Guardians
    • Solutions
    • Impact
  • Our Stories
    • Blog
    • Press Room
    • Romeo The Frog
    • Search for Lost Species
  • Get Involved
    • Stay Informed
    • Follow Us
    • Ambassadors
    • Corporate Partners
    • Events
  • Donate
back to blog

GWC Associate Conservation Scientist Captures Rare Footage Of Elusive Deer Species From Laos

02. 13. 2015
elusive-deer-laos

The common names of the species that likely inhabit the remote Xe Sap National Protected Area in Southern Laos sound almost mythical: Chinese Serow, Annamite-Striped Rabbit, Saola, Annamite dark muntjac. These species’ elusive nature also lends credence to their folkloric status. GWC Associate Conservation Scientist Andrew Tilker set out to capture photographic evidence of the large mammals in one of the most unexplored protected areas in Southeast Asia. What he found didn’t disappoint.

“The cameras allowed us to get intimate glimpses of the mammalian biodiversity in the Annamite Mountains of Indochina—scenes that are otherwise seldom seen in these dense jungles,” Tilker says. “Together the camera trap videos indicate that the tropical forests of Xe Sap may harbor important populations of conservation-priority species.”

Tilker and a team from World Wildlife Fund set out 28 cameras on photo mode and five GWC cameras on video mode in Xe Sap, which borders Vietnam. Their primary goal was to assess the likelihood of Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis), dubbed the Asian unicorn, in this area by looking at the health of the larger ungulate community. The Saola is one of the rarest mammals in the world and found only in the Annamites. Although Tilker and the team didn’t capture video of the Saola, they did manage to capture what may be the only video ever taken of another Asian hoofstock species in this part of Laos—the dark muntjac, a small deer with short antlers that scientists know virtually nothing about.

“I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the video,” Tilker says. “Annamite dark muntjac aren’t nearly as rare as, say, Saola, but they’re still not easy to come across. Besides that, this little guy is one of the most mysterious and elusive deer in the Annamites. Or the world, for that matter. The dark muntjac is an information black hole.”

Tilker adds that the muntjac has a checkered history. In the early 1930s, Teddy Roosevelt’s son collected a small dark muntjac from Laos and it was described as a new species (Muntiacus rooseveltorum)…then forgotten. In 1997, another small dark muntjac was described as new species from central Vietnam (Muntiacus truongonensis)…then again mostly forgotten (little research has yet to be devoted to this mysterious deer). Scientists believe that there are at least two species in the group, though this remains unconfirmed. No one really knows just how many species there are of dark muntjac. Other questions also need to be answered: What is the dark muntjac’s distribution within the Annamites? What are its habitat preferences? What does it feed on? How susceptible is it to poaching?

“Resolving the dark muntjac taxonomy and assessing the conservation needs for these species is one of the most pressing conservation issues in this region,” Tilker says.

In addition to the rare footage of the dark muntjac, the team recorded video of a goat-like ungulate called the Chinese Serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii), Stump-Tailed Macaque (Macaca arctoides) and Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus). Until recently, Xe Sap supported a diverse group of large mammals, including the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Tiger (Panthera tigris) and Dhole (Cuon alpinus). However, logging has degraded much of the habitat and illegal hunting has decimated wildlife populations. GWC recently created the Walter Steven Sechrest Endowment for Wildlife Protection in part to combat poaching in this part of the world.

Tilker says that the intense poaching happening throughout the Annamites has also likely resulted in the steep declines of muntjac populations compared to their historic levels. He calls for additional research and protection of this special place, home to some of the world’s most unique and mysterious species. Tilker says he believes that Xe Sap might be a last refuge in the region for Annamite endemics such as the dark muntjac and Saola.

“Not many people even know about the Annamites, which are undersold in the press,” Tilker says. “Unexplored jungles, unknown species, and more. The jungles of Central and South America are tame compared to the wilderness of this place.”

Read more about Tilker’s adventures and the Xe Sap National Protected Area on Saola Blog: https://saolablog.wordpress.com/

  • catching hope
  • Getting Eyes in the Forests
  • Saola

About the Author

Lindsay Renick Mayer

Lindsay is the Director of Media Relations for Global Wildlife Conservation and has a particular interest in leveraging communications to inspire conservation action. Lindsay is passionate about species-based conservation and finding compelling ways to tell stories that demonstrate the value of all of the planet’s critters, big and microscopic.

Categories

Wildlands Associates Asia Exploration Solutions Partners Mammals Preventing Wildlife Crime

Related Posts

A female Jaguar wearing a GPS collar walking through wetlands with her two cubs behind her

Jaguars, a keystone species, are reintroduced to the Iberá wetlands

03. 18. 2021

A mom and her two cubs are the first to live in the wild of the nation

Read More
Mountains in Colombia

Tras años de conflicto, ¿podría este bosque colombiano esconder una especie de periquito perdida?

02. 24. 2021

Los científicos están buscando el periquito del Sinú, que no ha sid

Read More
Mountains in Colombia

After years of conflict could this Colombian forest be hiding a lost parakeet species?

02. 23. 2021

Scientists are searching for the Sinú Parakeet, which hasn’t been d

Read More
Erosion caused by an oil pipeline in Ecuador.

INVASION (Part I)

12. 23. 2020

Oil Spills, Illegal Mining And COVID-19 Layer Threats On Ecuador’s I

Read More

INVASION (Part IV)

12. 23. 2020

In Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, COVID-19 Pandemic Disrupts Indigenous

Read More

INVASION (Part III)

12. 23. 2020

In Pandemic, Putumayo’s Indigenous Peoples Draw Upon Their Past

Read More
Previous Next
    About
    • About Us
    • Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Careers
    • GWC Ethics
    Collaboration
    • Conservation Partners
    • Associate Scientists
    • Corporate Partners
    • Fiscal Sponsorship
    • Notes From the Field
    Resources
    • Contact
    • Press
    • Financials
    • Charity Navigator
    • Legacy Giving
    Connect

© 2020 Global Wildlife Conservation. All Rights Reserved. Charitable Solicitation Disclosures.

    • Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT
  • Our Mission
    ▼
    • Biodiversity
    • Extinction
  • Our Work
    ▼
    • Wildlands
    • Wildlife
    • Guardians
    • Solutions
    • Impact
  • Our Stories
    ▼
    • Blog
    • Press Room
    • Romeo The Frog
    • Search for Lost Species
  • Get Involved
    ▼
    • Stay Informed
    • Follow Us
    • Ambassadors
    • Corporate Partners
    • Events
  • Donate