Primate Field Guide Lao, PDR

At least 16 primate species are confirmed in Lao, PDR (Lao’s People Democratic Republic – also called Laos) from three different families: the Lorisidae, the Cercopithecidae (subfamilies Colobinae and Cercopithecinae) and the Hylobatidae. All species present in Laos are endemic to Southeast Asia and for certain to Indochina exclusively. Previous research on the primates in Laos is very sparse and is in great need of improvement. This is particularly true when 15 of the Laotian primates are classified as threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and all confirmed species are listed in the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). All primate species and their habitat are also highly threatened by anthropogenic activity including hunting for food, traditional medicine and pet trade as well as forest degradation for agriculture and legal or illegal logging for traditional use or international export. This situation worsens with human population growth. Taxonomy and distribution of non-human primates species is still uncertain for Laos and further research could lead to the description of new species and clarify their exact distribution. The Mekong River that crosses the country North to South is a determinant geographical barrier which explains the clear pattern of species distribution in Laos. Future research in the country should focus on the understanding of human needs and wildlife conservation.