Mammals

At least 22 mammal key species are present in Xe Pian. Three of these are of "Acute National Conservation Priority" including:

• Tiger
• Banteng
• Irrawaddy Dolphin

8 mammal key species are of "High National Conservation Priority" including:

• Asian Elephant
• Gaur
• Sun Bear
• Asiatic Black Bear
• Dhole
• Sunda Pangolin
• Smooth Coated Otter
• Yellow-checked Crested Gibbon

Xe Pian is one of only 2 protected areas in Lao PDR which has been confirmed to contain the 4 key large mammal species:

• Tiger
• Elephant
• Gaur
• Banteng

The Xe Pian-Dong Hua Sao NPA gibbon population is of major global conservation significance.

Seeing Wildlife
Small wildlife, such as squirrels, snakes and lizards, can be seen on locally-guided walks through forests, especially on canoe trips and early morning walks. However, luck is required as animals are typically shy and hide when they hear even the faintest sound of a human. Most wildlife is seen during early mornings or evenings on long distance surveys of at least 2-3 hours away from villages and human settlements. For information on treks, canoe rides and camping, click on the map on the main page.

• Austain, S. C. 1999. Camera trapping evidence of Large spotted Civet (Viverra megaspila) in Xe Piane National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA), southern Lao PDR. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 47: 255–257.
• Duckworth, J. W. 1994. Field observations of Large-spotted Civet Viverra megaspila in Laos with notes on the identification of the species. Small Carnivore Conservation 11: 1–3.
• Duckworth, J. W. 1997. Small carnivores in Laos: a status review with notes on ecology, behaviour and conservation. Small Carnivore Conservation 16: 1–21.
• Duckworth, J. W., Anderson, G. Q. A., Desai, A. A. & Steinmetz, R. 1998. A clarification of the status of the Asiatic Jackal Canis aureus in Indochina. Mammalia 62: 549–556.
• Duckworth, J. W., Salter, R. E. & Khounboline, K. (compilers) 1999. Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report. Vientiane: IUCN–The World Conservation Union / Wildlife Conservation Society / Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management. xiv+275 pp.
• Duckworth, J. W., Timmins, R. J., Anderson, G. Q. A., Thewlis, R. M., Nemeth, E., Evans, T. D., Dvorak, M. & Cozza, K. E. A. 1995. Notes on the status and conservation of the gibbon Hylobates (Nomascus) gabriellae in Laos. Tropical Biodiversity 3: 15–27.
• Duckworth, J. W., Timmins, R. J., Thewlis, R. C. M., Evans, T. D. & Anderson, G. Q. A. 1994. Field observations of mammals in Laos, 1992–1993. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 42: 177–205.
• Evans, T. D., Duckworth, J. W. & Timmins, R. J. 2000. Field observations of larger mammals in Laos, 1994–1995. Mammalia 64: 55–100.
• Timmins, R. J. & Duckworth, J. W. 1999. Status and conservation of Douc Langurs (Pygathrix nemaeus) in Laos. International Journal of Primatology 20: 469–489.
• Timmins, R. J. & Duckworth, J. W. 2008. Diurnal squirrels (Mammalia Rodentia Sciuridae) in Lao PDR: distribution, status and conservation. Tropical Zoology 21: 11–56.