sleepy alligator in the noonday sun

     This blog posting is about Lao wildlife and plants. The Lao people get their protein from food culled from nature, not from farms or ranches. Most of the Lao people live alongside a river, making fish their main source of protein. The giant Mekong catfish can grow up to three meters long and can weigh as much as 300 kg. Unfortunately, the damming of the Mekong River is leading to its extinction in the wild. Overfishing of lakes and rivers also poses a risk to fish species. Lao has about 340 species of fish, the main ones being catfish, barb, carp, sharkminnow, and sheatfish. Among the endangered aquatic species in Lao, are the Irrawaddy dolphin and the Siamese crocodile.


BATHING BEFORE GIVING ME A RIDE THROUGH THE JUNGLE AND ACROSS THE RIVER, NEAR TAT LO

    
     Lao has one of the least disturbed ecosystems in Asia. This is due to its overall lack of development and low population density. Lao was once known as 'the land of a million elephants'. However, today, only about 800 remain in the wild. Another 1200 Asiatic elephants are used for heavy labor in the logging and agricultural fields. Some are being used in the tourism industry. I took an elephant ride earlier this year, and I was thrilled with the experience! These large mammals move gently through the narrow jungle trails and over the slippery river rocks! Amazing! Elephants are revered in Lao, and I watched eight elephants walk down the main street of Champasak, on their way to a Buddhist celebration at Wat Phou, Lao's most important archeaological site. All the Champasak families came out to watch this elephant procession, and the children brought the elephants bananas, leaves, and water. A joyful celebration that occurs every february! I'm looking forward to watching the elephant races next year!!!

ELEPHANTS STROLLING DOWN THE MAIN STREET IN CHAMPASAK, LAO

     Almost all the wild animals in Lao are threatened to some extent by hunting and habitat loss. Animals native to Lao include the lesser panda, raccoon dog, Lao marmoset rat, Owston's civet, and the pygmy slow loris. The most noted of Lao's wildlife are the primates. Five species of gibbon, the Phayre's leaf monkey, two types of langur, and several macaques are all unique to Lao. The list of endangered species is long, the most notable being the Asiatic black bear, the Malayan sun bear, the tiger, leopard, and the clouded leopard. Some endangered species are so rare, they were unknown until recently. In 1992, the spindlehorn, a horned mammal, was found in the Annamite mountains. This animal was described in 14th century Chinese journals and was thought to have died out. In 2005, a species of rock rat was discovered, the sole surviving species of a prehistoric group of rodents that died out about 11 million years ago.

BREAKFAST BEFORE GIVING ME A RIDE

    

     Forest covers about 70% of Lao, and the country ranks 17th in the world in terms of forest cover as a percentage of total land cover. Most of the vegetation is associated with monsoon forests, and is a mixture of deciduous trees. There are no rainforests in Lao, though nonindigenous rainforest species, like the coconut palm, do exist in the lower Mekong River valley. Teak, padauk (Asian rosewood), and mahogany grow in the forest cover. Many fruit trees, bamboo, and a large amount of flowering species are also found. In the higher plateaus, grasslands and savanna are common. The Bolaven Plateau, in the southern part of the country, is home to high-grade coffee and tea plantations. There are 20 national protected areas in Lao, protecting 18% of the country, making Lao one of the most protected countries on the planet!

his job is to shed light, and not to master

TAT KUANG SI, NEAR LUANG PRABANG, LAO

     Land-locked Lao is about the size of Great Britain. Over 70% of the country is covered by mountains and plateaus. Northern Lao is made up of steep-sloped mountain ranges and the highest peak is 2820 meters high. Southern Lao is mostly fertile plains, where the majority of Lao agriculture takes place. The Annamite mountain range, 1500-2500 meters high, separates Lao from Vietnam. The Mekong River separates Lao from Thailand. The mighty Mekong River, with its source on the Tibetan Plateau, flows through Lao, bringing fertile soil to the rice, vegetable, and fruit fields in southern Lao. The Mekong River, as well as its many tributaries, also supplies the Lao people with a vital part of their diet, fish. 4% of the total surface area of Lao is arable land, compared to 30% of the total surface area of Thailand. 1% of the total surface area of Lao is irrigated, compared to 10% of the total surface area of Thailand.

       
                            SOUTHEAST ASIA          POPULATION            AREA                DENSITY
                                 COUNTRY                      (2011)                (SQ. KM.)          (POP/AREA)

                                LAOS                           6.5 MILLION            236,800                  28
                                CAMBODIA                15.0 MILLION            181,035                  84
                                MALAYSIA                 28.0 MILLION            329,847                  86
                                MYANMAR                 62.0 MILLION            676,578                  92
                                THAILAND                  64.0 MILLION            513,120                125
                                VIETNAM                    89.0 MILLION            331,210                270
                                PHILIPPINES               96.0 MILLION            300,000                320


     This table shows that Lao is the least populated and least dense, of all the Southeast Asian countries. 80% of the Lao people work in agriculture and live in rural areas. Lao is one of the United Nations Least Developed Countries, with the goal of getting off this list by 2020. Being land-locked, and having no ports or rail links, Lao struggles to trade with the world economies. There are plans for a railway connecting China and Thailand, with the rails traveling thru northern Lao. There are also plans for a railway connecting Thailand with Vietnam, with the rails traveling thru central Lao. Lao is a member of ASEAN (an economic group of Asian countries), ASEM (an economic group of Asian and European countries), and will join WTO in 2013. Lao mining and hydropower are the driving force of the Lao economy.


                                 SOUTHEAST ASIA         ECONOMIC VALUE                 ECONOMIC
                                     COUNTRY                 GDP  IN USD (2011)       GROWTH RATE (2011)

                                    LAO                                    8 BILLION                            8.3 %
                                    CAMBODIA                       13 BILLION                            6.1 %
                                    MALAYSIA                      279 BILLION                            5.2 %
                                    MYANMAR                        52 BILLION                     5.5 %
                                    THAILAND                       346 BILLION                            6.2 %
                                    VIETNAM                         123 BILLION                            5.9 %
                                    PHILIPPINES                    213 BILLION                            3.7 %


     For comparison purposes, nearby Indonesia has a GDP of 846 billion, and China has a GDP of 7 trillion. Lao may have a small economy and a small population, but it has joined the ‘modern’ world. WIFI is available across the country, as well as cell phone use. There is electricity available in the cities and towns. There are banks, yet few ATM machines. Lao is advancing rapidly, yet still embraces a lifestyle from generations past. 60% of the Lao people practice Theravada Buddhism, a relatively small branch of Buddhism, found also in Thailand, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. 40% of the Lao people practice Animism, a belief in the existence of spirits that animate the world for good or bad. I am moving to Lao to experience a slower-paced lifestyle, without the materialism. I want to live in the moment, and have time to spend with the community members, to laugh, to love, and to share our lives!

NAM SONG AND LIMESTONE CLIFFS NEAR VANG VIENG, LAO