Wild Terrestrial Vertebrates Sold as Food in Open Markets in Laos

Abstract

Spot checks and periodic day-long surveys of the wild mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians sold for food were carried out in the Lak Xao market and other markets in Laos. Birds were the predominant offering in terms of number of species, but amphibians, although represented by few species, were predominant in numbers of individuals. Mammals were a significant component of the wares, both in species and numbers of individuals. Reptiles had the lowest representation in both categories. There were slight seasonal changes in numbers of species and individuals being sold. Much of the wildlife sold in Lak Xao was brought from Nape, a village about 20 km distant and located in a different vegetation zone. Few of the birds or amphibians on offer were in high IUCN categories of risk, perhaps because the more vulnerable species had already been extirpated locally, but a considerable proportion of the mammalian and reptilian species were threatened. Some small, secretive species were not represented in the markets.