Faunal Resources of the Gaoligongshan Region of Yunnan, China: Diverse and Threatened

Abstract

We estimate that roughly one-third of Gaoligongshan's total area is now devoted exclusively to agriculture and other uses that preclude maintenance of biodiversity. In most cases, primary forests existing at the establishment of the three Nature Reserves have been conserved effectively. However, small-scale (but largely unmonitored and uncontrolled) tree-felling and other vegetation disturbance continues in many areas. Despite these lapses, forests are in better condition within, than outside of, established Nature Reserves. As well, the future for these forests looks brighter than for those surviving outside Reserves: at the very least, county governments are not free to convert them into pine plantations.In contrast, hunting has been reduced only slightly — much less effectively than forest cutting has been. Although it is possible to find evidence of persistence of some rare animal species, and some Nature Reserve personnel believe there are indications that sensitive and rare species are showing an upward trend, poaching of animals is still common, particularly of smaller-bodied or lesser-known species. Although it seems well established that wellknown species (e.g. Takin) must be strictly protected, many species at equal or greater risk of extirpation and equally protected legally (e.g. some species of pheasants), do not enjoy such effective protection.

A Review of Two Decades of Conservation Efforts on Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey at the Junction of Three Global Biodiversity Hotspots in the Transboundary Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape

“…They estimated the presence of 7–71 tigers inside a 3250 km 2 area of prime tiger habitat of Hukaung Valley Tiger Reserve [ 46 ]. Similarly, hunting was also prevalent in the Gaoligongshan region of Yunnan Province, leading to the extirpation of tigers from this region [ 47 ].…”

“…However, locals and researchers have so far found no other evidence of tiger presence. In another study, poachers interviewed agreed that, even if they were present, they would be very rare to sight [ 47 ]. More recent surveys have confirmed that it is not only tigers that are locally extinct in the region, but also the grey wolf ( Canis lupus ), red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ), raccoon dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides ), Asiatic wild dog or dhole ( Cuon alpinus ), clouded leopard ( Neofelis nebulosa ), and leopard ( Panthera pardus ) [ 29 ].…”

“…So, the future of this population looks bleak [ 55 ]. Himalayan goral ( Naemorhedus goral ) and blue sheep ( Pseudois nayaur ) are distributed in the extreme north of Gaoligongshan, where both are found in very small numbers [ 47 ]. A recent study reported that the leaf muntjac ( Muntiacus putaoensis ) is locally extinct [ 29 ].…”

The pleasure of pursuit: recreational hunters in rural Southwest China exhibit low exit rates in response to declining catch

“…Intense hunting effort has put and continues to put tremendous pressure on the avifauna and mammals of Xishuangbanna and surrounding regions (MacKinnon and MacKinnon 1986, Myers et al 2000, Yang et al 2004, Corlett 2007, Zhang et al 2008, Hoffmann et al 2010, Sodhi et al 2010, Wilcove et al 2013). Overhunting and forest fragmentation have driven large-bodied, economically valuable mammals and birds to extirpation; small, low-value species now dominate in abundance (Haimoff et al 1987, Shilai et al 1995, Harris and Shilai 1997, Luo and Dong 1998, Fan et al 2014, Kai et al 2014). Long before cash-crop smallholding transformed Xishuangbanna economically, researchers noted that hunting was oriented toward recreation, not subsistence, despite widespread and severe poverty (Tisdell and Xiang 1996, Xu and Wilkes 2002).…”