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!