Diurnal squirrels (Mammalia Rodentia Sciuridae) in Lao PDR: distribution, status and conservation

On current taxonomy, Lao PDR supports at least nine diurnal squirrels (four others might occur, marginally), a richness typical of tropical Asia. All are forest species. None is endemic to Lao PDR. Wildlife surveys across Lao PDR during 1992-2004 found all historically-known species, each survey landscape supporting 5-7 species (variation coming primarily through geographical location and topography). Only one species, Black Giant Squirrel Ratufa bicolor (Sparrman 1778) (by far the largest Lao diurnal squirrel), is reduced in numbers within forest landscapes, evidently through hunting. Western Striped Squirrel Tamiops mcclellandii (Horsfield 1840) has only a small Lao range, little visited. The other seven species persist in large numbers, surviving heavy hunting even in degraded sites with forest fragments only < 5 km(2). By contrast, most Lao mammals bigger than a cat are in steep ongoing nationwide decline, driven by trade hunting. Taxonomy of Tamiops Allen 1906, Callosciurus Gray 1867 and Dremomys Heude 1398 remains unresolved. Among diurnal squirrels, only R. bicolor needs conservation intervention in Lao PDR; ideally through evolving the recently-declared national protected areas system to reality. By contrast, diurnal squirrels have important conservation roles as sustainable off-take for rural livelihoods and through use in ecological awareness and research programmes. Flying squirrel status was not analysed because basic taxonomy and distribution remain too poorly known.