Methods and Key Findings

• Acoustic Analysis for Species Identification – We analyzed 90 gibbon songs from the wild in Lao PDR and Vietnam, along with 32 recordings from identified species obtained from zoological facilities. Our analysis of vocalizations from zoological facilities identified significant differences in male and female vocalizations, which we applied as training data in a machine learning classification analysis (Random Forest analysis), achieving an accuracy of 97% for males and 89% for females. This method proves to be a valuable tool for species identification in conservation programs.

• Geographic Overlap of Species – The study found both species present on both sides of the Nam Theun-Nam Kading River, challenging the previous assumption that this river serves as a strict geographical barrier between them. This new evidence suggests a more complex distribution pattern and possible interactions between the two species.

• Implications for Conservation – The presence of both species in overlapping ranges raises concerns about hybridization, which could impact conservation efforts. The findings emphasize the need for careful species identification before engaging in reintroduction or translocation programs to prevent genetic mixing and ensure effective management.

• Policy and Future Research – This study highlights the importance of conducting further genetic and ecological assessments to refine conservation strategies. Governmental and conservation organizations must consider these findings in ongoing biodiversity monitoring and protection initiatives in Nakai-Nam Theun National Park and surrounding areas.

A Call for Action

The research underscores the necessity of informed conservation planning to protect the distinct populations of Nomascus leucogenys andNomascus siki. With the threat of habitat loss and hunting, efforts must be reinforced to safeguard these endangered primates and their ecosystems.

For further details, the full publication is available in the International Journal of Primatology. or below:

The post Publication: New Insights into the Distribution of White-Cheeked Gibbons in Central Lao PDR appeared first on Association Anoulak.

“When people ask me what brought me to Laos and to start an NGO, I always tell them the same story: It was love at first sight for the red-shanked douc… it’s beauty captivated me and started me on a journey…!”

Says Camille the founder and director of Association Anoulak who was recently interviewed.

From age 15, Camille knew she wanted to work with primates. She has loved animals since childhood, and at 15, she wanted to work on primates because she was fascinated by the lives and work of Jane Goodall and Dianne Fossey. The Critically Endangered Red-Shanked Douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) was her first inspiration—like a mentor—that took her on her journey.

Camille came to Laos in 2010 first for her PhD research and then to set up Association Anoulak, focussing on the region of the Annamite Mountains and its many endemic and threatened species.

And so, for the last 14 years, Association Anoulak has been one of the only small organizations doing biodiversity conservation in the region, particularly in Nakai-Nam Theun National Park. We did a lot of research on different species to improve species conservation planning and expanded our projects to empower the local communities. With our team, we gained local trust and expanded our network.

Nature conservation is really about the people: none of it would have been possible without the people we worked and partnered with and their knowledge and skills.

“Seeing my team and spending time with them, seeing local people’s smiles, working with the youth and seing all their energy give me hope!”

The post Our founder is interviewed for french TV show appeared first on Association Anoulak.

In this study, we conducted a landscape-scale systematic camera-trapping survey in Nakai-Nam Theun National Park in 2020 (20,794 camera-trap days for 131 operational stations 255 cameras) and applied a multi-species occupancy analysis on our dataset.

Objectives:

• Estimate occupancy and species richness within three Biodiversity Priority Zones: Nam Chae, Thong Kacheng, Thong Kouang
• Assess anthropogenic and ecological factors influencing species distribution in the national park
• Establish this methodology as part of the long-term wildlife monitoring program for the national park

Our main findings:

• Total of 40 terrestrial mammals were detected, including 5 Annamite endemics and 18 threatened species
• 28 species with sufficient detections to be included in the multi-species occupancy analysis
• Overall species richness increased with remoteness and elevation
• Mean (SD) predicted species richness in surveyed areas:
  • Thong Kacheng Zone: 14.6 (± 1.55)
  • Thong Kouang Zone: 13.2 (± 1.64)
  • Nam Chae Zone: 11.8 (± 1.15)

Species richness in Nakai-Nam Theun National Park for the selected species

Covariate effects on species occupancy probability

Our conclusions:

• Nakai-Nam Theun National Park is a priority area for biodiversity conservation in the Annamites
• The national park holds globally significant populations of Annamite endemics, including two of some of the largest remaining populations in the world of Endangered Owston’s civet and Critically Endangered Large-antlered Muntjac
• This wildlife monitoring program with a systematic large-scaled camera-trap survey should be replicated in the long-term every 3-5 years as part of Nakai-Nam Theun National Park management strategy

You can access our publication here:

We have also produced a poster presenting the presentation:

The post New Publication is out! Multi-species occupancy modeling of ground-dwelling mammals in central Laos: a case study for monitoring in tropical forests appeared first on Association Anoulak.

The link to the article is here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128211397000805

This publication draws on the past several years of Association Anoulak’s conservation work in Nakai – Nam Theun National Park. The paper’s abstract is provided below.

The post Publication: The Annamite Mountains – A Biodiverse Ecosystem at Risk: A Case Study in Nakai – Nam Theun National Park, Lao P.D.R. appeared first on Association Anoulak.

Indeed, our handicraft alternative livelihood project has being going really well including monthly monitoring and evaluation missions into the pilot villages; our research field officers have been implementing field work as part of our consultancy collaboration with WWF-Laos and monitoring of our canopy camera-traps; and we resumed the financial support of 6 anti-poaching patrol teams (36 villagers from the local communities) as part of an agreement with the Nakai – Nam Theun National Park. In addition to all our on-the-ground activities, we also have been busy with working on several publications that will be published later this year, as well as the follow-up or development of on-going or new exciting projects!

Despite the challenges, our team remains as dedicated as ever to the biodiversity conservation in the Annamite Mountains of Laos, including the support of local communities’ livelihoods.

THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT FROM ALL OUR CURRENT SPONSORS!

Support us!

Handicraft project team, with their vaccination card

Field research team, with their vaccination cards

Association Anoulak’s director Camille Coudrat showing her vaccination card

The post We keep going, safely: our team fully vaccinated against COVID-19 appeared first on Association Anoulak.

In this intimate discussion, Camille describes what led her to Laos, from her childhood interest in animals and nature, to an early fascination for non-human primates and her sense of engagement for nature conservation, to how she fell in love with the red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) a little-known species of primate found only in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia highly endangered of extinction, which eventually led her to Laos and start Association Anoulak, dedicated to biodiversity conservation in the Annamite Mountains of Laos.

Camille also discusses the importance of staying optimistic despite the huge challenges and setbacks, tells us that as long as we still feel the passion, motivation and energy to do what we do, we are where we should be, and reflects on how local community projects can have big(ger) impacts.

The interview can be watched here [IN FRENCH]:

A few photos to illustrate the discussion:

The post Interview of Camille, founder and director of Association Anoulak [Interview in French] appeared first on Association Anoulak.

In 2015, Association Anoulak’s founder and director, Dr. Camille Coudrat, participated in the Asian Primates Red List Assessment Workshop to update conservation status of the region’s species.

In Laos, 18 Primate species are known (Table 1). For many of them, their Red List category was up-listed, meaning they are now considered to be at a higher risk of extinction compared to the last assessment 12 years ago. Of the 18 Primate species occurring in Laos, 16 are Globally Threatened (i.e. categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable). Primate species across Southeast Asia are indeed highly threatened from habitat loss and illegal hunting (live or dead primates are used for food; in traditional medicine practices; as pets; in the tourism industry; in research facilities).

Table 1: Primate species in Laos and their global IUCN Red List category 2020

Of the 9 species occurring in Nakai – Nam Theun National Park—where most of Association Anoulak’s activities are based—7 are Globally Threatened, including notably two as Critically Endangered: the Red-shanked Douc and the White-cheeked Gibbon, on which Association Anoulak has been working for several years. (*note: uncertainties remain of the White-cheeked Gibbon taxa occurring within the national park: is has been suggested that both N. siki and N. leucogenys could occur, Association Anoulak is investigating this hypothesis)

Primate community in Nakai – Nam Theun National Park and their IUCN Red List status 2020

Over the past few years, Association Anoulak’s director contributed to the assessment of several species in the IUCN Red List, including primates and other species.

Contribution to the IUCN Red List assessment for Primate species:

• Coudrat, C.N.Z., Quyet, L.K., Duc, H., Phiaphalath, P., Rawson, B.M., Nadler, T., Ulibarri, L. & Duckworth, J.W. 2020. Pygathrix nemaeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39826A17941247. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39826/17941247. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.
• Nadler, T., Quyet, L.K., Rawson, B.M. & Coudrat, C.N.Z. 2020. Trachypithecus delacouri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22043A17958988. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22043/17958988. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.
• Pengfei, F., Nguyen, M.H., Phiaphalath, P., Roos, C., Coudrat, C.N.Z. & Rawson, B.M. 2020. Nomascus concolor. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39775A17968556. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39775/17968556. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.
• Phiaphalath, P., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Roos, C. & Rawson, B.M. 2020. Nomascus concolor ssp. lu. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39894A17991433. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39894/17991433. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.
• Nguyen, M.H., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Roos, C., Rawson, B.M. & Duckworth, J.W. 2020. Nomascus siki. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39896A17968765. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39896/17968765. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.
• Rawson, B.M., Nguyen, M.H., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Roos, C., Jiang, X. & Duckworth, J.W. 2020. Nomascus leucogenys. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39895A17969139. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39895/17969139. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.
• Quyet, L.K., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Phiaphalath, P., Nadler, T. & Covert, H. 2020. Trachypithecus hatinhensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T40789A17959646. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/40789/17959646. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.

Contribution to the IUCN Red List assessment for other species:

• Timmins, R.J., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Duckworth, J.W., Gray, T.N.E., Robichaud, W., Willcox, D.H.A., Long, B. & Roberton, S. 2016. Chrotogale owstoni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T4806A45196929. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4806/45196929. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.
• Willcox, D.H.A., Chutipong, W., Gray, T.N.E., Cheyne, S., Semiadi, G., Rahman, H., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Jennings, A., Ghimirey, Y., Ross, J., Fredriksson, G. & Tilker, A. 2016. Arctictis binturong. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T41690A45217088. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41690/45217088. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.
• Duckworth, J.W., Long, B., Willcox, D.H.A., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Timmins, R.J., Abramov, A.V., Chan, B. & Chutipong, W. 2016. Melogale personata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T41627A45209826. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41627/45209826. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.
• Tilker, A., Timmins, R.J., Nguyen The Truong, A., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Gray, T., Le Trong Trai, Willcox, D.H.A., Abramov, A.V., Wilkinson, N. & Steinmetz, R. 2019. Nesolagus timminsi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T41209A45181925. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41209/45181925. Downloaded on 15 July 2020.

About the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2020. https://www.iucnredlist.org):

Established in 1964, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species.

The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Far more than a list of species and their status, it is a powerful tool to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation and policy change, critical to protecting the natural resources we need to survive. It provides information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and/or trade, threats, and conservation actions that will help inform necessary conservation decisions.

The IUCN Red List threat categories are as follows, in descending order of threat:

• • Extinct or Extinct in the Wild
  • Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable: species threatened with global extinction.
  • Near Threatened: species close to the threatened thresholds or that would be threatened without ongoing conservation measures.
  • Least Concern: species evaluated with a lower risk of extinction.
  • Data Deficient: no assessment because of insufficient data.

The post Primate species in Nakai – Nam Theun National Park are more than ever under threat of extinction appeared first on Association Anoulak.

It isn’t easy. At times, I feel overwhelmed by powerful waves of helplessness and anxiety. I see and hear Governments or people carrying on business as usual, as nature suffers from human greed, racing for more, and more, and more.

But I must remain optimistic and positive. I must be. If I wasn’t, I would have given up a long time ago. I am convinced that the solutions will arise from local initiatives, driven by communities themselves, taking on challenges. People can be as vulnerable as they can be resilient. From all around the globe, we are seeing popping out innovative community initiatives. This is what keeps me optimistic for the future. Change will come from the people.

Amid the current pandemic, wildlife conservationists are rallying together to come together in united campaigns to call on Governments to end the illegal wildlife trade that caused the spread of the Sars-CoV2 virus, already responsible for thousands of deaths across the planet.

But the power of the people is also part of the solution. As millions are forced to be confined at home to avoid the spread of the virus, we are realizing the importance of nature for our well-being (both physically and mentally). The urban-confined populations are dreaming for the pandemic to be over to go and immerse themselves in wild spaces, to contemplate the beauty of nature, trees and birds. Others are lucky enough to be confined in more ‘natural settings’ and feel grateful for it.

As the world is pondering what will come next, and different scenarios are discussed, analyzed and anticipated. We must remember that every day, we have the power to make a difference. From the tiniest of gestures (such as looking at that tree in front of you and be grateful for the oxygen it is producing or a simple act of kindness towards a stranger) to bigger actions (such as community initiatives to support local farmers or volunteer in an association). All of these actions, your actions, are like little drops of water. But taken all together across the planet, they produce an ocean of generosity, reciprocity, solidarity, optimism. Your actions are like twigs, but put together, they can form a bird’s nest that will support new life. Our actions are like umbrellas: protection is extended to much much more.

The world needs more of You! Yes, you. You are one of us. You care about those who lack a voice, and are marginalized and forgotten. So, spread the word. We need more of you. There are plenty of organizations, associations and various initiatives, near and far, that need your support around the world, especially during these times of economic struggle.

Consider supporting our work in Laos to protect a little part of nature on the planet, from which local communities are depending on for their livelihoods. Become one of our umbrellas.

We are so grateful to all our donors already supporting our actions on the ground (and have committed to continue their support this year even when they are also struggling themselves), as well as to many other individual donors. Thank you.

On that final note, I will go hug a tree.

Camille. Founder and director.

In Nakai, Laos. 29 April 2020.

The post Nature needs you. Nature needs more little umbrellas. appeared first on Association Anoulak.

Andrea in a fig tree. Photo (c) Enquête d’Arbres.

Doing field work with our teams in the Annamite Mountains is not for the faint-hearted! The basic and harsh conditions of field work require mental and physical strength. And Andrea definitely had what it took and adapted very well and very quickly!

He rapidly settled into one of the field station’s bamboo huts; taking his showers into the nearby river; navigating into the forest like it was his (mountainous) backyard garden; being acquainted with the inhabitants of the forest (including a frightening encounter with Mr. King Cobra); developing new taste for the staple sticky rice and spicy dishes of dried meat, dried fish or buffalo skin (and not much else…), washed out with smoky-tasting boiled water, sometimes coloured and infused with various barks collected in the forest! Not to mention the occasional shots of Lao-Lao (rice whiskey). He also became a player of ‘kato’ (a local game most closely resembling volleyball but played with a rattan ball and with rules allowing using any parts of the body in rather impressive, flexible dance-like moves), joining the daily enthusiastic ‘after-work’ games of the teams!

Anoulak team playing “kato” at the field station. Photo (c) Enquête d’Arbres

Anoulak team playing “kato” at the field station. Photo (c) Enquête d’Arbres

Anoulak team playing “kato” at the field station. Photo (c) Enquête d’Arbres

Anoulak team playing “kato” at the field station. Photo (c) Enquête d’Arbres

Food feast at the field station. Photo (c) Enquête d’Arbres

Traditional dried meat, fish and buffalo skin.

Andrea quickly became known as “Sally”—meaning ‘corn’— a nickname chosen by the locals specifically for him (Andrea being too difficult to pronounce for Lao people!) and was rapidly adopted and loved by the whole local community, with whom Sally was also able to communicate with basic Lao language he acquired. In the villages, he blent in and had numerous opportunities to join in traditional ceremonies (Baci) or other various celebrations.

Above all, Andrea has been extremely dedicated to his mission these past 12 months. His initial mission was to train our local field teams to set up a process for the habituation of the Red-shanked Douc (Pygathrix nemaeus)—a colourful monkey species facing extinction across its range—in order to eventually be able to collect long-term data on their behavioural ecology (i.e. diet, home range, activity, group dynamic, habitat use etc.).

The habituation process had been unsuccessful since we initiated the project in 2015 (resulting in opportunist data collection on non-habituated groups from which analysis and interpretation can be problematic), which prompted the decision to bring in a research manager (primarily focusing on the habituation process) dedicated to the project and indeed to evaluate the long-term feasibility of the project. After ~11 months of intense and full-time perseverance in the habituation process, and numerous discussions and deliberations with the teams, it became evident that the habituation of the doucs was not feasible at our field site (there are actually nowhere else in doucs’ range where they have been habituated, despite some trials). This is in part due to the characteristic fission-fusion group dynamic of the species (several small groups of 4-7 individuals regularly join together to form larger groups, sometimes reaching 40-50 individuals, and split again moving to different directions in the habitat, in a span of a day), which made it impossible to identify and follow any one ‘group’ for its habituation. Given the intensive efforts and resources that had already been put into the project and more so in these past 12 months with Andrea’s supervision of the project, we therefore decided to interrupt this project and instead seek out eventual alternative ways to be able to collect data on the species’ ecology (e.g. extract information on their diet from fecal samples). Andrea’s assignment has therefore been extremely valuable to us to assess the long-term viability of the project; resources will be redirected to all our other biodiversity conservation projects.

Andrea (a.k.a. Sally) in the field during habituation process. Photo (c) Enquête d’Arbres.

Needless to say, the whole Anoulak team and the local community was very sad to see him go. As Andrea shared with me, his experience these past 12 months have had a strong impact on him personally as well; For one, it undeniably reinforced his passion for primates (at multiple times he told us how much he will miss the Red-shanked Doucs) and for field work in the tropics. But also, and among many other lessons, living ‘in’ nature and disconnected from the rest of the world for long periods of time, unsurprisingly, has lifted his creativity leading to new-found hobbies, such as drawing (with an impressive talent!), writing, reading, photography and filming. Andrea is indeed in the process of producing a series of short films presenting some of our projects, and these will be shared on our YouTube Channel once they are completed. His new interest and talent for video production, Andrea would like to pursue it further and offer his skills to more conservation NGOs for storytelling, communication and promotional videos. And we, the Anoulak team, can only highly recommend him (for both field research and media production)!

We are very pleased that on both sides, the Anoulak team and local community as well as himself, have greatly benefited from this experience. We will miss him dearly and wish him all the best in his next endeavors. You are forever a member of our family!

“Sally” (Andrea) with Anoulak team in Nakai.

On a field mission.

Tree-climbing training with Enquête d’Arbres in March 2019. One of the new skills Andrea acquired during his work with Anoulak. Photo (c) Enquête d’Arbres

Setting up canopy camera-traps. Photo (c) Enquête d’Arbres

The post Farewell to Andrea our Red-shanked Douc research project manager: a look back at his 12-month assignment. appeared first on Association Anoulak.

2020 marks the second systematic wildlife monitoring surveys with camera-trapping we are implementing in collaboration with the Nakai-Nam Theun National Park Authority, covering the three designated Biodiversity Priority Zones (combined, covering approximately 700 km2; Figure 1).

The first baseline data was collected in the three zones in 2018-2019. The replicated surveys in 2020 will allow us to compare population abundance indices to evaluate national park-conservation management and to inform species-specific conservation action plans (especially endemic and/or the species the most threatened of extinction in the Annamite mountains).

Figure 1: Location of camera-trap stations covering the three Biodiversity Priority Zones, replicated from surveys conducted in 2018-2019.

The main objective of these surveys is to estimate trends in animal populations (monitoring) over time and across landscapes as part of management plans.

Team setting up cameras in the field

In February 2020, our teams set-up camera-traps in the first Biodiversity Priority Zone (the Nam Chea Zone; cf. Figure 1). Four Anoulak staff were trained (refresher training) to conduct the surveys (Mr. Kanthaly, Mr. Khammai, Mr. Done and Mr. Chaolor) to each lead a team assisted by villagers from the local community.

Camera-trapping training at our field station

Camera-trapping training at our field station

Camera-trapping training at our field station

Camera-trapping training at our field station

Camera-trap set-up in the field

Camera-trap set-up in the field

In the next couple of months, the two other zones (Thongkhacheng and Thongkhouang; cf. Figure 1) will also be surveyed (including camera set-up and retrieval), followed by data processing, analysis, reporting and publishing by the end of 2020.

Stay tuned to our Newsletters to get progress on these surveys (and the wildlife photos that will result from it) as we share them with you!!!

Core team. From left to right: Camille C.; Tou; Phouxay; Khantaly; Done; Chaolor; Khammai

Teams with villagers assisting the survey activities

Thank you to Fondation Segré for financially supporting this project.

The post We kick-off the 2020 camera-trap wildlife population monitoring surveys in Nakai – Nam Theun National Park appeared first on Association Anoulak.