Technical Report

Bird hunting in mainland Southeast Asia: situation analyses and recommendations for conservation action

Authors:
  • bioSEA & BirdLife International
To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the authors.

Abstract

Mainland Southeast Asia supports some of the richest faunas in the Old-World tropics, overlapping entirely with the megadiverse Indo-Burma and Sundaland biodiversity hotspots, and major bird migratory routes in the East Asian- Australasian Flyway. The exploitation of wildlife for food, medicines, ornaments and other human uses is a well-known threat to Southeast Asia’s biodiversity and has been linked to the declines and extirpations of many of the region’s mammal and bird species. Detailed studies of waterbird trapping in the 1980s then showed that large volumes of waterbirds were harvested in parts of Southeast Asia by local communities for food, reaching potentially unsustainable levels for some rail and shorebird species. However, there is little information or research on the present status of bird hunting and trapping activities across mainland Southeast Asia whilst studies on the wild (bush) meat trade, and available information in the grey literature (i.e. news articles, Youtube videos) has alluded to high levels of bird hunting in several parts of the region. To (1) address knowledge gaps on the extent in which hunting and trapping pressures are affecting wild bird populations, and to (2) build the evidence base to inform decision-makers and guide conservation actions, we undertook a situation analysis with a focus on the six countries of mainland Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Viet Nam and Thailand, as well as Bangladesh which shares a similar biota with the region.

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Cited By (since 1996):63, Export Date: 26 November 2013, Source: Scopus
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a b s t r a c t Demand for captive wild animals for the purposes of religious or 'merit' release has led to establishment of a large commercial trade in many parts of East and South Asia. The practice is associated with a num-ber of risks to the integrity of wild populations including establishment of non-native species, introduc-tion of pathogens and unsustainable rates of harvest. This study describes the sale of birds for merit release in Phnom Penh, Cambodia over a 13 month period. Birds were available throughout the year with an estimated annual turnover of 688,675 individuals. A total of 57 species were observed, all of which were considered native to Cambodia. Health surveys detected 43/415 (10.36%) birds carrying influenza A virus, 1/97 (1.03%) carrying Chlamydophila psittaci, and 4/97 (4.12%) carrying Mycobacterium genavense. Tests for Mycobacterium avium were unable to detect the bacterium. The zoonotic potential of each of these agents presents a risk both to public health as well as to wild populations. Without estimates of pre-and post-release mortality the impact of wild harvests for merit release cannot be assessed with cer-tainty. However, 12,751 individual observations of the globally Near Threatened Asian golden weaver (Ploceus hypoxanthus), represents a significant portion of the estimated global population and is a cause for concern. Also of conservation concern are the low numbers of red avadavat (Amandava amandava) and yellow-breasted bunting (Emberiza aureola), both species that have undergone heavy declines due to his-torical over-exploitation, the latter now being classified as globally Vulnerable.
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Helmeted Buceros vigil and rhinoceros B. rhinoceros hornbills are large, conspicuous birds in the forests of northern Borneo. Both are of enormous importance in local culture, being the subject of legends, ceremonies and beliefs. Tail feathers of both species are used in traditional costumes and dancing. Both are also hunted for their meat. Changes in access, technology and rural lifestyles mean that hunting is causing populations to decline or become locally extinct. The birds breed slowly and occur at low natural densities. Thus, hunting levels must be extremely low to be sustainable. A single team of traditional dancers uses about 400 rhinoceros hornbill feathers, which involves killing 40 birds. To hunt these sustainably, and to re-supply new feathers every five years, about 205 km2 of forest is needed. Hunting levels currently exceed this in almost all forests in northern Borneo. A series of measures is needed to ensure that these birds survive in Borneo's forests, and not just in legend and in the form of a few decaying artefacts.
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The most threatened migratory shorebird in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, the Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea, overwinters largely on the intertidal flats of Southeast Asia, especially Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Mekong and Red River deltas in Vietnam are known to host small numbers of Spoon-billed Sandpipers on their migration, but little is known of its recent status. Here, we (1) review the distribution and status of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper at key sites in both the Red River and Mekong deltas, (2) report findings from recent monitoring and exploratory surveys at coastal sites in both deltas, and (3) discuss the main threats faced by migratory shorebirds on Vietnam’s coastal wetlands. We found the Spoon-billed Sandpiper continues to occur in at least two sites on the Mekong Delta, namely Tan Thanh (Tien Giang Province) and Binh Dai (Ben Tre Province). The intertidal flats at Tan Thanh are the most important site for the species in Vietnam, and possibly in Southeast Asia outside Myanmar. We discovered three new wintering sites, including salt pans at La Gi (Binh Thuan Province), and provide continued documentation of the species at Xuan Thuy National Park on the Red River Delta, demonstrating the flyway-level importance of these wetlands. Immediate conservation concerns facing the species and migratory shorebirds in Vietnam include hunting and, increasingly, habitat loss from coastal land claim and the encroachment of inshore windfarms into key sites (e.g. Tan Thanh). There is an urgent need to designate new protected areas for migratory shorebirds on the Vietnamese coastline, especially in the Mekong Delta, to avoid losing these coastal wetlands to poorly planned coastal development. In particular, opportunities should be taken for new protected area approaches that can also support the livelihoods of local communities dependent upon the mudflats.
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Ongoing slaughter of Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus in Sumatra: another species heading for oblivion.
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In October 2017, government delegates from 120 countries will convene at the 12th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (the Bonn Convention) in Manila, Philippines (CMS 2017). Importantly, this is the first time the conference is held in Asia, the region with the fewest state parties (Caddell 2005). In contrast to Europe, Africa and the Americas where majority of countries are now signatories, only the Philippines has ratified the Convention in the East and Southeast Asian region. Yet, this part of the world overlaps with the migratory routes of over 700 bird species (Kirby et al. 2008), supports a third of the global human population, and harbours a great diversity in languages, legislations and socio-economic backgrounds. While the lack of representation in the Bonn Convention poses a major impediment for migratory bird conservation, many opportunities exist to advance migratory bird conservation in this complex region.
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Persecution and overexploitation by humans are major causes of species extinctions. Rare species, often confined to small geographic ranges, are usually at highest risk, whereas extinctions of superabundant species with very large ranges are rare. The Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola) used to be one of the most abundant songbirds of the Palearctic, with a very large breeding range stretching from Scandinavia to the Russian Far East. Anecdotal information about rapid population declines across the range caused concern about unsustainable trapping along the species' migration routes. We conducted a literature review and used long-term monitoring data from across the species' range to model population trend and geographical patterns of extinction. The population declined by 84.3-94.7% between 1980 and 2013, and the species' range contracted by 5000 km. Quantitative evidence from police raids suggested rampant illegal trapping of the species along its East Asian flyway in China. A population model simulating an initial harvest level of 2% of the population, and an annual increase of 0.2% during the monitoring period produced a population trajectory that matched the observed decline. We suggest that trapping strongly contributed to the decline because the consumption of Yellow-breasted Bunting and other songbirds has increased as a result of economic growth and prosperity in East Asia. The magnitude and speed of the decline is unprecedented among birds with a comparable range size, with the exception of the Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius), which went extinct in 1914 due to industrial-scale hunting. Our results demonstrate the urgent need for an improved monitoring of common and widespread species' populations, and consumption levels throughout East Asia. © 2015 Society for Conservation Biology.
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The East Asian-Australasian Flyway supports the greatest diversity and populations of migratory birds globally, as well as the highest number of threatened migratory species of any flyway, including passerines (15 species). However it is also one of the most poorly understood migration systems, and little is known about the populations and ecology of the passerine migrants that breed, stop over and winter in the habitats along this flyway. We provide the first flyway-wide review of diversity, ecology, and conservation issues relating to 170 species of long-distance and over 80 short-distance migrants from 32 families. Recent studies of songbird migration movements and ecology is limited, and is skewed towards East Asia, particularly Mainland China, Taiwan, Russia, Japan and South Korea. Strong evidence of declines exists for some species, e.g. Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola, but tends to be fragmentary, localised or anecdotal for many others. More species have small breeding ranges (< 250,000 km2) and/or are dependent on tropical forests as wintering habitat than those in any other Eurasian migratory system, and are thus more vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation throughout their ranges. Poorly regulated hunting for food and the pet trade, invasive species and collisions with man-made structures further threaten migratory songbirds at a number of stop-over or wintering sites, while climate change and habitat loss may be of increasing concern in the breeding ranges. A key conservation priority is to carry out intensive field surveys across the region while simultaneously tapping into citizen science datasets, to identify important stop-over and wintering sites, particularly for poorly-known or globally threatened species across South-East Asia and southern China for targeted conservation actions. Additionally, the advent of miniaturised tracking technology, molecular and isotopic techniques can provide novel insights into migration connectivity, paths and ecology for species in this migration system, complementing data from banding exercises and observation-based surveys, and could prove useful in informing conservation priorities. However, until most states along the East Asian-Australasian flyway ratify the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and other cross-boundary treaties, the relative lack of cross-boundary cooperation, coordination and information sharing in the region will continue to present a stumbling block for effective conservation of migratory passerines.
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The study was conducted on traditional fishing nets and crafts that are used by professional fishermen (including small, medium and large scale fishing) at Hatiya in the district of Noakhali, Bangladesh. Primary data were collected from local fishermen through Personal Interview (PI), Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and observation; secondary data were collected from District Fisheries Officer (DFO) and Upazila Fisheries Officer (UFO). The study reveals different types of fishing nets including fixed purse nets, gill nets, dip nets and cast net are used in the locality. The mesh size of the fixed purse nets vary in 0.1-2.5 inch (anterior end) and 0.2-0.5 inch (posterior end), gill nets vary in 0.5-15 inch, dip nets vary in 0.1-0.2 inch and cast net 0.5-1 inch during study. Generally these nets are lasting in 2-3 years. For nets preservation no chemical or medicine are used, only the net is dried under the sun and put it on a safe and dry place. The present study suggests that different types of boats such as chandi, kosha, balam, tempu and dinghi nauka are being used at Hatiya. Traditionally sundari, jarul, gamari, chaplas and garjan woods and bamboos are used in boat making which are locally available and last for 5-10 years. Usually 90% of the boats are propelled by the engine and 10% of the boats are propelled by the sail and row. Most of the boats have no license which reflects lack of awareness and weak control by the regulatory agency.
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Southeast Asia has the highest relative rate of deforestation of any major tropical region, and could lose three quarters of its original forests by 2100 and up to 42% of its biodiversity. Here, we report on the current state of its biota and highlight the primary drivers of the threat of extinction now faced by much of the unique and rich fauna and flora of the region. Furthermore, the known impacts on the biodiversity of Southeast Asia are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg, owing to the paucity of research data. The looming Southeast Asian biodiversity disaster demands immediate and definitive actions, yet such measures continue to be constrained by socioeconomic factors, including poverty and lack of infrastructure. Any realistic solution will need to involve a multidisciplinary strategy, including political, socioeconomic and scientific input, in which all major stakeholders (government, non-government, national and international organizations) must participate.
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In developing countries such as Indonesia, the necessity of integrating conservation and development has become somewhat axiomatic. However, working to integrate these two objectives is very difficult. This article considers the problems facing one attempt to do this: a project on the north coast of West Java. Here, along a stretch of coast 5-10 kilometers wide and 60 kilometers long, villagers catch close to 200,000 migratory and resident waterbirds each year. From a conservation perspective, this hunting is putting an unsustainable pressure on many species. For instance, in 1990 researchers estimated that hunting in this area culled about 20% of the world population of oriental pratincoles (Glarerola maldivarum). However, given the underdeveloped economy of the area, from the perspective of poor villagers bird hunting is the most rational choice. This case shows the conflict between the conservation values most associated with the West and the survival needs of the poor. We may argue over which has greater value, yet conservation work must deal with the underlying socioeconomic problems facing a large number of marginal people in this region.
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There were 82 families of birds represented in this study. The average number of birds ringed per family was 14,197 and per species was 954; however, 19 families accounted for 92.1% of the ringed birds. Among these there were 15 species which made up 59.6% of the total and of these the House Swallow Hirundo rustica made up 24.2%. Forty-four of the families had less than 1500 birds marked per family, totaling only one percent of the birds ringed. The remaining 38 families averaged 30,340 birds per family. The average among the 15 highest species was 46,000. Without the House Swallow the average per species was 29,000. The remaining 1201 species averaged only 389 birds marked per species. When the 19 high families are deducted from the total, the remaining 63 families averaged only 1458 birds per family. (Modified author abstract)
Article
People have hunted mammals in tropical Asian forests for at least 40,000 yr. This period has seen one confirmed global extinction (the giant pangolin, Manis palaeojavanica) and range restrictions for several large mammals, but there is no strong evidence for unsustainable hunting pressure until the last 2000–3000 yr, when elephants, rhinoceroses, and several other species were progressively eliminated from the large parts of their ranges. Regional declines in most species have occurred largely within the last 50 yr. Recent subsistence hunting has typically focused on pigs and deer (hunted with dogs and spears or with snares), monkeys and other arboreal mammals (often caught with blowpipes), and porcupines and other rodents (smoked or dug out of burrows). Over the last 50 yr, the importance of hunting for subsistence has been increasingly outweighed by hunting for the market. The hunted biomass is dominated by the same species as before, sold mostly for local consumption, but numerous additional species are targeted for the colossal regional trade in wild animals and their parts for food, medicines, raw materials, and pets. Many populations of mammalian dispersers of large seeds and understory browsers have been depleted or eliminated, while seed predators have had a more variable fate. Most of this hunting is now illegal, but the law enforcement is generally weak. However, examples of successful enforcement show that hunting impacts can be greatly reduced where there is sufficient political will. Ending the trade in wild animals and their parts should have the highest regional conservation priority.
DENR probes bird hunting in Ilocos Norte
  • L Adriano
Adriano, L. (2014). DENR probes bird hunting in Ilocos Norte. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 4 April, 2014.
Yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola
  • S Chan
Chan, S. (2004). Yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola. BirdingAsia 1(1), 16-17.
In the Market for Extinction: An inventory of Jakarta's bird markets
  • S C L Chng
  • J A Eaton
  • K Krishnasamy
  • C R Shepherd
  • V Nijman
Chng, S.C.L., Eaton, J.A., Krishnasamy, K., Shepherd, C.R. & Nijman, V. (2015). In the Market for Extinction: An inventory of Jakarta's bird markets. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.