Developing release protocols for fully-rehabilitated tradeconfiscated Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica) in Vietnam. Progress Report.

Transcription

1 Developing release protocols for fully-rehabilitated tradeconfiscated Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica) in Vietnam Introduction Progress Report March 2013 The Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica is one of the most exploited animals in Southeast Asia and hunted to satisfy demand for wild-meat and traditional Chinese medicine. The species is considered globally-threatened; endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Duckworth et al., 2008). Although unsustainable trade in pangolins is considered the main factor behind the species decline it increases it s susceptibility to the threat of habitat destruction. Despite the dire predicament that this species faces, the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program (CPCP) remains one of the few focused conservation programs for this species in the region. Despite the increasing awareness, tradeconfiscated Sunda Pangolins continue to be sold back to the wildlife trade market (which is legal under Vietnamese law) or released with minimal or no health checks and no post-release monitoring. CPCP s own rescue cases indicate that this is a poor placement option because many transferred pangolins are dehydrated, nutritionally-stressed, carrying diseases and/or have trap-related injuries. Pangolins released in these conditions are highly unlikely to survive and may pose a disease threat to wild populations of both pangolins and other species. This project will address this issue by developing and implementing a release program for the Sunda Pangolin that follows international standards. The trade confiscated Sunda Pangolins have been rehabilitated at CPCP s centre and released in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. The data collected will be used to develop nationally-feasible release guidelines and protocols which will be distributed to both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in both Vietnam and in other Sunda Pangolin range countries. This progress report represents a summary of the achievements so far and outlines the plans for the following year in relation to the project s main objectives. Progression of Objectives 1. Improvement in the ability to assess the health of trade confiscated Sunda Pangolins through the establishment of baseline biochemical and hematological parameters for this species.

2 Full health checks for seven pangolins involved in the release program have been conducted by a qualified veterinarian from Animals Asia. The check consisted of: Faecal floats to check for gastrointestinal parasites Biochemical and hematological analysis to monitor for stress, immune response and organ function Physical examination 2. Initiation of an in-country genetic reference library for Sunda Pangolins, enabling the provenance of trade-confiscated Sunda Pangolins to be compared and analysed, once samples from all range countries have been collected. Seven sets of DNA samples including blood, scale, hair and faecal samples have been taken and sent to The Centre for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES) for genetic analysis. 3. Verification of whether release into a protected area in Vietnam is a viable option for the placement of trade-confiscated Sunda Pangolins and an improved understanding of what factors determine the success/failure of a release program for this species. A detailed protocol has been established and maintained to rehabilitate and prepare for release trade confiscated Sunda Pangolins. Preparation is reaching the final stages; with the first pangolin due for release in April The preparation included: Developing a suitable diet and Environmental Enrichment (EE) plan to promote natural behaviors Selection of a suitable field site Building an acclimatization enclosure and a quarantine block at the chosen field site Planning the post release monitoring Diet and EE: The physical examination done as part of the health check

3 The diet consists of a mixture of Weaver Ants (Oecophyla smaragdina) and Black Ants (Crematogaster sp). For the majority of the year these are frozen, however, 10 weeks prior to release the diet will be gradually shifted to 100% live ants. The diet of the first release candidate was changed on the 18 th February. The EE plan involved the addition of ropes, branches, fake termitariums and black ants nests into the enclosures; these are refreshed and moved on a monthly basis. The location and elevation of the food is varied daily and the use of the EEs is monitored via an infa-red video monitoring system. Fake termitarium Hanging the weaver ant bow Tying the artificial food bowl on the branch Field Site Selection: Cat Tien National Park (CTNP), in southern Vietnam, has been selected as a suitable field site for releases. It falls within the known distribution range for Sunda Pangolins and is one of the best protected areas in Vietnam. A rapid assessment, to ensure pangolins are released in an area without the presence of wild pangolins, consisted of spotlight, diurnal and camera trap surveys throughout core areas of CTNP. There were no confirmed records of Sunda Pangolins but 27 mammal species and 129 bird species were recorded, including Black-shanked Douc Langur, Yellow-cheeked Gibbon and Gaur; species all on the IUCN Red List. Setting up a camera trap A Common Palm Civet capture by a camera trap Release sites within CTNP were chosen based on the assessment of the following points: Signs of human disturbance (traps, litter, unmapped pathways)

4 Substrate type Habitat type Number of available tree hollows Number of ant nests (ground/tree) and species identification Number of termite nests (ground/tree) and species identification Signs of pangolin (tracks, burrows, spoors) The first release site has already been selected, with three more potential sites to be assessed over the next two months. Enclosures: An acclimatization enclosure and quarantine block has been built in CTNP where the pangolins will be kept for one month prior to release. The acclimatization enclosure Enclosure furnishings Quarantine cages Transmitter selection and attachment: The final transmitter design is based on a successful design used to monitor Chinese Pangolins, Manis pentadactyla, in Taiwan. Six transmitters have been made with frequency ranges between and The range of the transmitters has been tested in Cuc Phuong National Park. The transmitter produced a very strong signal from 1km away in secondary forest. With the receiver s antenna disconnected the signal was still audible 100m away. As the terrain of Cuc Phuong National Park consists many limestone karsts, the signal is reflected or blocked and causes many errors for the data. Thus, further tests are scheduled in CTNP in dense forest, as well as tests on signal strength when the transmitter is in burrows of various depths. Attachment trials were conducted in CPCP. The first attachment trial was performed in the end of June 2012 on three pangolins and the second trial in September 2012 on one pangolin. In the first trial the transmitters were attached to 5cm buffer strip of 4mm-thick rubber webbing. Two holes were drilled in each side of the webbing; the distance between two holes was 1cm. One side of webbing was bolted to the transmitter; another side was bolted to the pangolin s scale, 1cm from the edge of the scale. Strong epoxy glue was smeared over the bolts on the scale to strengthen and smooth the attachment. The transmitters were attached and left on for about 1 month before dropping off. During this time the animals were monitored for stress with no abnormal behaviors being recorded.

5 On the second trial four changes were made: Thinner and more flexible rubber webbing was used. 1mm thin Attaching the transmitter as far as possible from edge scales. Removing the magnet after attaching Use a better bolt cutter to cut the head of the bolt after attaching the transmitter to the scales. The lower scale on the back on the tail was selected to attach the transmitter to and it remained attached for three months; this is the method that will be used for the release program. Top view of transmitter The transmitter was attached to the scale near the tail Post Release Monitoring: Post release monitoring will be conducted over a ten month period using radio tracking methods. Important ecological data including: home-range; habitat preference; den site analysis and activity patterns will be collected. Methodologies and work schedules for the data collection have been finalized and the transport of the first pangolin to CTNP is planned for the last week in March, with the monitoring beginning at the end of April. 4. Improvement in the decision-making ability of Vietnam s Forest Protection Department when placing confiscated Sunda Pangolins Following successful completion of the monitoring activities and analysis a workshop will be held in CTNP. A range of stakeholders will be invited to the workshop including; Wildlife at Risk (WAR) Southern Institute of Ecology (SIE) Cat Tien National Park Forest Protection Department Cat Tien National Park Conservation Department Cat Tien National Park Director The workshop is only part of this; all of the capacity building below is linked in. 5. Improved capacity and practical skills in the Forest Protection Department (FPD) Rangers to independently carry out appropriate release programs for

6 trade-confiscated pangolins, which includes quarantine and basic health checks as well as post-release monitoring. Two young scientists from CTNP s Conservation Department and FPD have joined the field team as full-time project staff. They have been trained in how to do release site assessments, set camera traps for small mammals and survey for nocturnal mammals. They will continue to work closely with the CPCP s field team until the project has finished. 6. Increased capacity, motivation and ability amongst young Vietnamese researchers in the field of pangolin conservation Nguyen The Truong An, a young Vietnamese conservationist has been working as one of the CPCP s field researchers since August An has been receiving practical training in spotlighting, camera trapping techniques and other surveying techniques as well as report writing and fundraising. Luong Tat Hung, CPCP s captive manager, worked closely with two international advisors over a total period of 9 months. A graduate student for England provided on-site training in data collection and recording techniques for the EE program for 5 months. Later on a highly experienced animal keeper from Melbourne Zoo provided on-site training in basic animal husbandry, including the EE program over the next 4 months. 7. Raised awareness amongst Conservation NGOs, Rescue Centres and Wildlife Confiscation Authorities on the need for well-planned release programs for Sunda Pangolins. CPCP s staff travelled to CTNP for a two day stakeholder workshop with the management board of CTNP. Participants included the Director and Vice-director of CTNP and members of staff from Cat Tien s Rescue Centre and the Conservation Department, as well as the head of the Forest Protection Department. The management board of CTNP now has a greater understanding of the research project and its aims, objectives and methods. Tran Quang Phuong also presented about the conservation and trading issue of Sunda Pangolin for 43 FPD rangers from around Vietnam and has worked closely with Traffic Vietnam to organize a two day presentation with 35 Vietnmaese journalists. 8. Raised awareness amongst the general public on the threats facing pangolins in Vietnam and why poorly-planned releases are not a positive action for the species conservation. The project is providing regular updates through its Facebook page and a website is planned for the following month.