A survey on wildlife market in Laos has revealed its local communities' massive dependence on the product for food and livelihood, threatening the survival of many species in the country. 

Nearly 90 percent of the households confirmed using wildlife, and the majority of the population was found to be harvesting wildlife for income. Locals also prefer to trap wild animals for self-consumption as they are more affordable. Prices of domesticated meat in the country are more than three times as high as those of wildlife products, said a peer-reviewed study published in Nature Conservation.

Researchers investigated both markets and households in Khammouane Province in central Laos, which has three major forest areas, Phou Hin Poun, Nakai Nam Theun, and Hin Nam No NP, making it a crucial hotspot for illegal wildlife trade. The province is also connected to major trade routes with Vietnam and Thailand.

They measured the extent of illegal trade in the province by focusing on wild-caught vertebrates: mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. More than 84 percent of respondents felt that the demand for the product remained the same over time despite the declining availability of wild meats due to increasing prices.

With a majority of Laotians living in rural areas, their income largely depends on wildlife, researchers said. "Since wildlife products are used as one of the major food sources, numerous species of terrestrial vertebrates are currently being offered at local markets," they added.

A finding based on the 176 studies released in 2016 had found hunting a major threat to biodiversity in Southeast Asia. Across the tropics, the study said, bird population plummeted by an average of 58 percent compared to areas with no hunting and mammals declined by an average of 83 percent.

"We recommend local authorities to assess the markets within the province capital Thakhek in particular, as they showed the highest quantity of wild meats. The markets at Namdik and Ban Kok turned out to be very active trade hubs for wildlife as well, regardless of the vertebrate group," said Dr. Thomas Ziegler from the University of Cologne who led the survey group.

"The loss of certain species may cause a cascade of unforeseeable effects in the ecosystems. Therefore, the biodiversity of tropical Southeast Asian countries like Lao PDR must be protected," Ziegler added.

In order to protect the wild animals in the region, researchers suggest a two-pronged strategy of making legislative changes and boosting eco-tourism. "Stricter and reinforced legislation is needed in the fields related to wildlife trade and consumption," said the researchers.

Such practices not only cause biodiversity loss but also pose a significant threat of wildlife-associated emergence of zoonotic parasites and pathogens like COVID-19 to humans, they added.

Alternate livelihood opportunities like eco-tourism, according to researchers, would help in reducing local communities' dependence on wildlife trade.

"Eco-tourism presents a great opportunity to combine conservation efforts and an alternative source of income, suggested Ziegler.

"Former hunters with excellent knowledge of the forest and wildlife habitats can serve as professional wildlife tour guides or their involvement in the Village Forest Protection Group could help to protect natural resources in Laos," Ziegler added.

(Cover: A local market in Laos selling locally manufactured cages and equipment to trap wild animals. /T. Ziegler, K. Kasper