| Indochinese leopard | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Genus: | Panthera |
| Species: | P. pardus |
| Subspecies: | P. p. delacouri |
| Trinomial name | |
| Panthera pardus delacouri Pocock, 1930 |
|
The Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri) is a leopard subspecies native to mainland Southeast Asia and into southern China, classified as “Near Threatened” in 2008 by IUCN. In Indochina, leopards are threatened primarily by habitat loss due to deforestation, as well as poaching for the illegal trade. They are becoming increasingly rare outside protected areas, and may soon qualify for the “Vulnerable” status. The trend of the population is decreasing.[1]
Contents |
There appears to be a disjunction around the Isthmus of Kra, where the population changes from predominantly black forms south of the Isthmus to predominantly spotted forms north of the Isthmus. Records from camera-trapping studies conducted at 22 locations in Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand between 1996 and 2009 show that only melanistic leopards were present in samples south of the Isthmus.[2] In the dense tropical forest habitat in part of their range, melanism is quite common, and black leopards have a selective advantage for ambush.[3]
The Indochinese leopard inhabits Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and South China.[1]
In Myanmar's Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary, leopards declined so drastically between the 1940s–80s, that by 2000 were estimated being close to locally extinct.[4]
Since the mid-1990s, leopard-oriented field research was carried out in only two protected areas in Thailand:
Between April 2003 to June 2004, 25 different leopards walked past camera traps set up over an area of 500 km2 (190 sq mi) in the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area in Laos.[7] Leopards are reported to occur in Laos' Nam Kan National Protected Area as well.[8]
In Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary on the Thai-Malaysian border, only 2 leopards walked past camera traps deployed between October 2004 to October 2007.[9]
In April 2010, a spotted leopard was camera-trapped in the Taman Negara Endau-Rompin National Park in Malyasia's southern state of Johor, where previously only black leopards were believed to roam.[10]
There are few contiguous areas left where leopards have a chance of long-term survival. They are primarily threatened by habitat destruction following large–scale deforestation, and prey depletion through illegal hunting.[5][6] Another serious threat is hunting for the illegal wildlife trade, which has the greatest potential to do maximum harm in minimal time.[11]
Human traffic inside protected areas negatively affects leopard movements and activity. They show less diurnal activity in areas more heavily used by people.[12] In villages located in Laos' protected areas, consumption of deer and wild pig is estimated at about 28.2 kg annually per household — an offtake amounting to 2,840 kg ungulates per 100 km2 (39 sq mi), which is equivalent to the meat required to sustain several leopards per 100 km2 (39 sq mi).[13][7]
A study carried out in a highly fragmented tropical rain forest within Malaysia’s capital agglomeration of Klang Valley suggested leopard density estimate as high as 28.35 leopards per 100 100 km2 (39 sq mi), which is one of the highest leopard densities reported. As a result of rapid shrinking of the forests, individuals may have been pushed into the remaining forest in this area, so that their population is unexpectedly high. Leopards were mostly affected by construction activities conducted inside the forest.[14][15]
Substantial domestic skin markets exist in Myanmar, in Malaysia for traditional medicines, and in China for skins and bones, latter particularly as substitute for tiger in traditional Asian medicines and tonics. In China, the use of stockpiles of leopard bone is still permitted by the government by medicinal manufacturers, despite the domestic trade ban.[16]
In Myanmar, 215 body parts of at least 177 leopards were observed in four markets surveyed between 1991 to 2006. Among the body parts, a leopard penis and testes were openly traded, along with other parts of the freshly killed animal. Three of the surveyed markets are situated on international borders with China and Thailand, and cater to international buyers, although leopards are completely protected under Myanmar's national legislation. Effective implementation and enforcement of CITES is considered inadequate.[17]