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The Muang Hiam hot spring is famous in Laos as one of the hottest in the country as water can reach up to 100 degrees Celsius.

The Muang Hiam hot spring is located in a forest park 750m, around 10-min walk, north of the National Park headquarters and Muang Hiam town, direction Muang Xon. See location here.

The hot spring park is popular for locals and people believe that this hot water has medicinal qualities. Locals come to bath and wash clothes, but also to enjoy in the forest scenery with family and friends, boil eggs and bamboo shoots, relax in the small huts and appreciate a meal from the local restaurant.  

The forest park of the Muang Hiam hot springs offers nice birdwatching opportunities. Walk around the hotspring park or hike up the short trails for enjoying a better view. Best time for birdwatching is early morning and late afternoon, but if lucky you can spot some birds also daytime.

Some of the highlight species in this area to see include Orange-headed Thrush (Geokichla citrina), Orange-headed Trogon (Harpactes oreskios), Hogdson’s frogmouth (Batrachostomus hodgsoni), Manchurian Bush Warbler (Horornis canturians), White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus), Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus), Claudia’s Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus claudiae).

See our bird list in below and let us know if you find new species from this area 🙏
See what others have spotted on Ebird – “Maung Hiam Hot springs”.

Muang Hiam Hot Spring Bird List:

  1. Chestnut-winged Cuckoo
  2. Banded Bay Cuckoo
  3. Plaintive Cuckoo
  4. Hodgson’s Frogmouth
  5. Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo
  6. Orange-breasted Trogon
  7. Common Iora
  8. Tiger Shrike
  9. Common Tailorbird
  10. Gray-breasted Prinia
  11. Plain Prinia
  12. Puff-throated Bulbul
  13. Gray-eyed Bulbul
  14. Black Bulbul
  15. Black-crested Bulbul
  16. Red-whiskered Bulbul
  17. Sooty-headed Bulbul
  18. Claudia’s Leaf Warbler
  19. Manchurian Bush Warbler
  20. Oriental Magpie-Robin
  21. Brown-throated Sunbird
  22. Green-tailed Sunbird
  23. Blue-winged Leafbird
  24. Paddyfield Pipit
  25. Spotted Dove
  26. Greater Coucal
  27. Oriental Honey-buzzard
  28. White-throated Kingfisher
  29. Eurasian Wryneck
  30. Long-tailed Minivet
  31. Brown Shrike
  32. Long-tailed Shrike
  33. Red-whiskered Bulbul
  34. White-rumped Shama
  35. Siberian Stonechat
  36. Gray Bushchat
  37. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
  38. Crimson Sunbird
  39. Little Spiderhunter
  40. House Sparrow
  41. Gray Wagtail
  42. Orange-headed thrush

The article was written by Souvit Chuekongya and Janina Bikova

Ecotourism Village Homestays

Homestay is a great opportunity to learn about the local lifestyle as well as about the local culture.

You will have an opportunity to be welcomed to a homestay family when on the Cloud Forest Trek.

Please note that the village homestays offer simple accommodation with limited privacy. You will be sharing the sleeping area with the family, the bathroom is located outside the house and there is no hot water for bathing. Please note that most of the homestay families do not speak any English, but are very friendly and welcoming.

Do’s and Don’ts for homestay guests:

  • Please take off your shoes before entering someone’s house.
  • Please say thank you before and after eating.
  • Please no nude/bikini bathing. In public, women must cover the body from chest to knees.
  • Please dress appropriately. Men must wear shirt and women must cover their shoulders and knees.
  • Please note that men and women should sleep separately.
  • Please don’t touch head (including children).
  • Please don’t kiss in public or in someone house.
  • The use of drugs is illegal in Laos.
  • Smiles beget smiles. Please, be patient and kind.
  • Please kindly ask before you take photos of people: Khor thai hup dai baw? (ຂໍຖ່າຍຮູບເຈົ້າໄດ້ບໍ່)

Guesthouses in Muang Hiam

Most guesthouses in Muang Hiam (Viengthong), Houaphan Province are located along the main street. The town is very small and everything is easily reachable on foot.

Daonouar Guesthouse is located by the hotsprings 10min walk from the town center.

None of the guesthouses has online booking facility yet, however, normally there is always place. If you wish to book, you can contact the accommodation in advance by WhatsApp or calling.

The price is around 100’000-150’000 LAK (Fan-AC room).

Click on the guesthouse names below to see Google reviews and Map location.
Guesthouses are displayed in an alphabetic order.

Homestay can be arranged in the ecotourism villages, the trek and night safari starting points. Please click here to read more.

Nam Et-Phou Louey is situated midway between the ancient royal capital of Luang Prabang and the Secret War-era Viengxay Cave complex near the Vietnamese border. The winding ribbon of a road between the two showcases centuries of history with the remnants of stone age cultures, surprising ethnic diversity, and view upon view of rugged mountains and misty valleys. This route into a remote and forgotten world is studded with hot springs, gushing waterfalls, traditional craft villages and mysterious ancient standing stones, with the Plain of Jars not far away. 

Join a group tour

The following companies all offer tours of the Northern Heritage Route, including the Nam Nern Night Safari (listed alphabetically): Biig Travel Laos, Buffalo Tours, Exotissimo, Green Discovery, Indochina Services (ICS), Jewel Travel, Lao Youth Travel, Nakarath Travel, Remote Asia Travel, Stray AsiaTiger Trails and Viengchampa Tours.

ລັດຖະມົນຕີ ປະຈໍາສໍານັກງານ ນາຍົກລັດຖະມົນຕີໄດ້ລົງຢ້ຽມຢາມ ປ່າສະຫງວນແຫ່ງຊາດ
ນໍ້າແອດ – ພູເລີຍ.

Lao PDR Minister to PMO visit to
Nam Et-Phou Louey
National Protected Area
on 15-16 November 2018.

On 15-16 October 2018 the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area (NEPL NPA) welcomed H.E Dr. Mme. Souvanpheng BOUPPHANOUVONG, the Minister to Prime Minister’s Office. In the center H.E Dr. Mme. Souvanpheng BOUPPHANOUVONG, the Minister to Prime Minister’s Office, On her left: Mr. Bounpheng Vongnorbountham, Acting DG, Dept. Law, On her right: Mr Lakhone Vonglasy, Hiam district Governor Deputy Director and Mr. Savanh Chanthakoummane, Head of NPA Management Division, DOF.

ໃນວັນທີ່ 15 – 16 ພະຈິກ 2018 ຜ່ານມານີ້ທາງຫ້ອງການເຂດປ່າສະຫງວນແຫ່ງຊາດນໍ້າແອດ-ພູເລີຍໄດ້ໃຫ້ກຽດຕ້ອນຮັບ ພະນະທ່ານ ນາງ. ປອ. ສຸວັນເພັງ ບຸບຜານຸວົງ ລັດຖະມົນຕີປະຈໍາສໍານັກງານ ນາຍົກລັດຖະມົນຕີ.

On 15-16 October 2018 the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area (NEPL NPA) welcomed H.E Dr. Mme. Souvanpheng BOUPPHANOUVONG, the Minister to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

ໃນໂອກາດທີ່ລົງມາຢ້ຽມຍາມຄັ້ງນີ້ທ່ານລັດຖະມົນຕີໄດ້ມີໂອກາດພົບປະ ແລະ ເຮັດວຽກ ຮ່ວມກັບຫ້ອງການເຂດປ່າສະຫງວນແຫ່ງຊາດນໍ້າແອດ-ພູເລີຍ, ອົງການອະນຸລັກສັດປ່າ, ກົມປ່າໄມ້, ອຳນາດ ການປົກຄອງ ເມືອງຮ້ຽມ, ເມືອງຫົວເມືອງ ແລະ ພ້ອມດ້ວຍຄະນະນຳຂັ້ນສູງຂອງແຂວງຫົວພັນ.

H.E Dr. Mme. Souvanpheng BOUPPHANOUVONG, the Minister to PMO, visited the NEPL NPA to meet with the Management Unit of the NEPL NPA and the supporting NGO Wildlife Conservation Society.

ຫົວຂໍ້ທີ່ນຳມາສົນທະນາປຶກສາຫາລືມີດັ່ງນີ້:
The following subjects were discussed during the visit:

  • The NEPL NPA’s conservation activities including:
    • ວຽກງານປັບປຸງຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່(ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ແລະ ການປູກກາເຟ)
    • Livelihoods (Ecotourism, Coffee)
    • ວຽກງານບັງຄັບໃຊ້ກົດໝາຍ
    • Law Enforcement
    • ວຽກການຈັດສັນທີ່ດິນ
    • Land Use Management
  • ຍຸດທະສາດການພັດທະນາແບບເຕີບໂຕສີຂຽວຂອງລັດຖະບານ ທີ່ສະໜັບສະໜູນໂດຍ ທະນາຄານໂລກ.
  • The Green Growth Strategy of Lao PDR, with World Bank Support
  • ໂຄງການສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ ແລະ ສັງຄົມໄລຍະ2 (ຄສລ2) ທີ່ສະໜັບສະໜູນ ໂດຍທະນາຄານໂລກ.
  • The Second Lao Environment and Social Project (LENS2), with World Bank Support

ນອກຈາກການເຂົ້າຮ່ວມກອງປະຊຸມແລ້ວ ທ່ານຍັງໄດ້ໃຫ້ກຽດລົງຢ້ຽມຢາມ ເພື່ອເບີ່ງກິດຈະກໍາປັບປຸງຊີວິດການເປັນຢູ່ ຂອງໂຄງການ ແລະ ໄດ້ຖືໂອກາດນີ້ພົບປະໂອ້ລົມພໍ່ແມ່ປະຊາຊົນ 2 ບ້ານຄື:

Two of the NEPL NPA’s livelihood programs were visited during the stay and H.E Dr. Mme. Souvanpheng BOUPPHANOUVONG, the Minister to PMO, met with the associated project communities including:

  • ໂຄງການປູກກາເຟປອດສານພິດທີ່ເປັນມິດກັບສັດປ່າ ຢູ່ບ້ານໂພນຊອງ, ກຸ່ມບ້ານບວມຝາດ, ເມືອງຊ່ອນ ແຂວງຫົວພັນ.
  • The Wildlife Friendly Organic Coffee project in Ban Phon Song village, Boumfard village cluster, Xon district, Houaphan Province:

  • ລ່ອງເຮືອເບິ່ງສັດປ່າໃນຍາມກາງຄືນທີ່ສາຍນໍ້າເນີນ, ບ້ານສົ້ນຂົວ, ເມືອງຫົວເມືອງ ແຂວງ ຫົວພັນ.
  • The Nam Nern Night Safari Wildlife Ecotourism venture in Ban Son Koua village in Houa Mouang district, Houaphan Province:

ລາຍການລ່ອງເຮືອເບິ່ງສັດປ່າໃນຍາມກາງຄືນ ທີ່ສາຍນໍ້າເນີນເຄີຍໄດ້ຮັບລາງວັນລະດັບໂລກ 2 ປີ ຊ້ອນໃນເດືອນພະຈິກ, ປີ 2013 ແລະ 2014 ທີ່ເອີ້ນວ່າ ລາງວັນການທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ທີ່ມີຄວາມຮັບຜິດຊອບ ຕໍ່ໂລກ ເຊີ່ງຖືວ່າເປັນປະສົບການເບີ່ງສັດປ່າທີ່ດີທີ່ສຸດ ແລະ ເປັນທາງເລືອກສຳລັບປະຊາຊົນ. ເດືອນພະຈິກປີ 2018 ພໍດີຄົບຮອບ 5 ປີ ພວກເຮົາສາມາດສະເຫຼີມສະຫຼອງນັບຕັ້ງແຕ່ໄດ້ຮັບລາງວັນມາ!

The Nam Nern Night Safari won the award the World Responsible Tourism Award in November 2013 and 2014, as the best Wildlife Experience & People’s Choice. This November 2018 we can celebrate together the 5 years anniversary since the award!

ຫ້ອງການປ່າສະຫງວນແຫ່ງຊາດນໍ້າແອດ-ພູເລີຍ, ອົງການອະນຸລັກສັດປ່າ ພ້ອມດ້ວຍປະຊາຊົນ ຊາວບ້ານໂພນຊ່ອງ ແລະ ບ້ານສົ້ນຂົວ ມີຄວາມຮູ້ສຶກເປັນກຽດຢ່າງສູງ ແລະ ຂໍສະແດງຄວາມຂອບໃຈຢ່າງ ລົ້ນເຫຼືອຕໍ່ການລົງມາຢ້ຽມຢາມແບບພິເສດຂອງທ່ານ. ຫວັງຢ່າງຍິ່ງວ່າພວກເຮົາຈະຊ່ວຍກັນນໍາສະເໜີຜົນງານອັນດີເດັ່ນດ້ານການອະນຸລັກທີ່ພວກເຮົາຍາດມາໄດ້ນີ້ ໃຫ້ສັງຄົມຮັບຊາບຢ່າງກວ້າງຂວາງຕື່ມອີກໃນອະນາຄົດ.

The Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area’s Management Unit, the supporting NGO Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Ban Phon Song and Ban Son Koua communities are honored and sincerely grateful for the special visit, and hope to present outstanding conservation results in NEPL NPA in the future.

ຂອບໃຈມາຍັງ ມືກ້ອງ ປະຈຳຫ້ອງການ ທ່ານ ເບນ ສຸວໍນພຸລ ທີ່ມາຢ້ຽມຢາມ
Thanks to Mr. Ben Swanepoel for the photographs of the official visit.

Floods on Nam Nern River in September 2018

In the beginning of September 2018, the Night Safari ecotourism area was damaged due to extensive flooding that occurred over the last rains on Nam Nern River.

The Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area’s team supported by Wildlife Conservation Society, together with the community presented great collaboration and reconstructed the ecotourism camp in less than a month! The maintenance was accomplished just on time to welcome the first visitors of the season in October.

 

This tourism season 2018/19, we need to be little patient to allow the full recovery and rehabilitation of the flooded area, however we do not expect this to detract from the Night Safari experience which still features the pristine forest habitat and wildlife along with the cultural elements that have made the tour such a rewarding experience.

Interestingly, since the natural flooding the wildlife sightings on the Nam Nern River Safari tour are higher than average! The top sightings of the same specie per tour include:

  • 6 Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) sightings on one tour (Average 2017: 3)
  • 5 Muntjac sightings on one tour (Average 2017: 1)
  • and the most importantly the Asian Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii)

Travel upstream the Nam Nern river to enter the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area. Spot wildlife guides by the former village hunter. More wildlife you see more money for guides, boatmen and the surrounding 14 villages.

Read more about the wildlife conservation ecotourism model on: https://www.namet.org/wp/namnern/eco-tourism-model/

Thanks to Ben Swanepoel and the protected area’s team for the beautiful pictures!

Activities in and around Muang Hiam
& Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park MUANG HIAM TOWN & AROUND

Muang Hiem town in Houphan province was known to be dangerous for its many tigers, so people were told when passing through here “to beware”, which in the local dialect is “hiem”. Hence, the town was called Muang Hiem (“muang” means town or district). The Nam Khan River in Muang Hiam is the same river that flows by Luang Prabang UNESCO peninsula in to the Mekong River.

A small stupa, situated atop the hill, amazingly survived the heavy explosions during the war, and an unexploded bomb lodged deep inside the earth (the bomb was detected by UXO clearing teams).

In the center of town, is the market. You can purchase some fruits, sticky rice, BBQ and sour vegetable PakSom for picnic lunch when exploring the surroundings of Hiam.

Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park’s Headquarters & Visitor Center
(Open Monday-Friday from 9-5pm (lunch break 12-1.30))
The NEPL NP is the largest protected area in the country, spanning across three provinces: Houaphan, Luang Prabang, and Xiengkhouang. The NEPL NP is a critically important habitat of numerous threatened and endangered wildlife species. The National Park’s Headquarters and Visitor Center is located nearby the junction towards the hot springs. The visitor center offers an introduction to the protected area’s conservation work and the wildlife ecotourism projects. Contact the national park’s ecotourism team for more details. See location here.

Wildlife Conservation Tours & Homestays
Ecotourism in NEPL NP is designed to create a direct link between conservation and tourism, so that the money that visitors pay has a positive impact on encouraging local people to protect endangered wildlife. The ecotourism projects offer a unique opportunity to enter the Totally Protected Zone of the national park. (Read more).

Hot Springs (Open every day, 6am-11pm).
If you cross the bridge over the Nam Khan River and take right on to the dirt road, you will arrive to the hot springs located just 10-min walk from the main road (passing the national park’s office on the left). This is one of the hottest natural springs in the country; in fact you can boil an egg in it, so be careful! In daytime, relax and enjoy picnic huts. For bathing, you can choose between bathtubs or showers. Please remember to wear appropriate clothing (see Cultural Guidelines). Entrance fee 15’000LAK. See location here.

Muang Hiam School Forest & Self-Guided Hike (2024 update – closed).
The Hiam School Forest, a conservation forest of 635 ha was established by the Hiam secondary school in 2010. A self-guided hiking trail is available, and is starting from the national park’s office. Along the way see a bamboo forest transitioning into deciduous forest, the Indochina War trenches, a Tree House/View Point offering a beautiful view over Muang Hiam town, and Hok Don Waterfall. You can choose to either end the tour by visiting the giant old growth trees, or to go straight to the hot springs. Traveling 0.6 Km past the hot spring will take you to Muang Hiam Secondary School. More information and maps are available at the national park’s office. Please pay the hot springs entrance fee if you cross it.

Dam. Tad Louan Waterfall & Swimming
(5km. Around 20 min one way or 12 km the loop).
A quiet country road will lead you to the hydroelectric dam and waterfall, nice for swimming. To start, after crossing the Nam Khan River bridge, turn left before the petrol station. The route passes Ban Houay Saa village, a Hmong village that has traditional houses built at ground level (rather than on high posts). At the Y-junction, keep right and you will arrive at the top of the dam on the Nam Sat River. Pass the dam 100m, you will find a small path going down to the river. If you keep following the main road, it will become narrow after the power station and eventually lead to the Nam Khan River, possible to cross by bamboo bridge (motorbike will need to do river crossing). Continue through the rice fields and you will arrive at the main road in Viengthong village, turn left to return to the town. The loop is 12km, and is great for a run, or by bicycle/motorbike).

Tad Salay Waterfall & Swimming
(8 Km. Around 30 min one way by motorbike).
Travel towards Nong Khiaw/Luang Prabang for 4 km and turn right before the NamSat bridge. Continue beautiful country road trough mountainous agriculture valleys upstream the river for 4 km. There is no information sign about the waterfall, but you can notice the sound of the falling water, and a walking/motorbike path going down to the river. Bring some snacks to enjoy picnic by the waterfall.

Indochina War Airbase (Lima Site 36) & Village Homestay
(27 km. Around 2h one way by motorbike)
From Muang Hiam town, follow the signs as you head south for 7 km to Poung Hai village where asmall Buddhist temple is located, and is the only one in the area. Turn left at Poung Hai, and follow a scenic mountain dirt road for 15 km, and take a left at the Y-junction. After another 5 km, you will reach Ban Nakout. The village is 100% Tai Phuan ethnic group. Evidence of the former Indochina war airbase can still be found in the area (air slip, fuel tanks, etc.). The area is highly contaminated with UXO, please be careful! A simple but comfortable homestay/lodge is available in the village. Mr. Thongphet speaks English, contact him on +856 30 4818006. (Read More)

www.NamEt.org
+856 20 2860 0038

Cultural Guidelines

  • Please dress appropriately when visiting villages. Men must wear a shirt and women must cover their shoulders and knees.
  • Please take off your shoes when entering a house.
  • If you want to take pictures of people, please ask for permission first.
  • Smiles beget smiles. Please, be patient and kind.
  • When bathing/swimming in public, women must cover the body from chest to knees.
  • Please do not buy any wildlife or wildlife products. Selling & Buying wildlife is illegal in Lao PDR.

 

Dear Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park visitors,

Please note that before the tour start in Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park, you will be required to sign the “Liability Waiver and Risk Acknowledgment” form as below.

Thank you for your comprehension.

Best regards,

NEPL NP Ecotourism team

 

News & Reports: 19 February 2011

Lorraine Scotson

Free the Bears Fund Inc.

scotsonuk@yahoo.co.uk

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Free the Bears Fund Inc. (FTB) is expanding in-situ research of bear species in Southeast Asia to aid the successful conservation of wild populations. From January to May 2010 we conducted a baseline bear population survey in Nam Et Phou Louey (NEPL) National Protected Area (NPA). This study marked the first ever formal study of Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus and Malayan sun bear Helarctos malayanus (hereafter black bear and sun bear) in this region. Until now, black bear and sun bear were known to persist in NEPL, but density, relative abundance and status were unknown. This study served as the pilot season for a national mapping project in Lao PDR (hereafter Laos). Research was undertaken in collaboration with the Lao Government and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) who assisted with permissions and logistics.


Study site

NEPL encompasses an area of 5,959 km2 and is the largest protected area in Lao PDR. Habitat is dominated by mixed-deciduous forest interspersed by stands of dry evergreen and upper montane forest. Steep, mountainous terrain ranges in elevations of 400m to 2,257m. NEPL is globally important due to its wealth of biodiversity; in particular it is one of the last places in Southeast Asia with the potential to support a breeding population of tigers Panthera tigris. The tiger population is currently estimated to be among 9 and 24 individuals. Since 2002 WCS, in collaboration with the Department of Forestry of the Government of Laos, has been working unreservedly to turn NEPL into a model for conservation, sustainable use, ecotourism, culture and scientific research.


Line transects

We completed 19 straight line transects ranging in length from 100 – 500 meters and 10 meters wide. The total transected area was 9.04 ha dominated by mixed-deciduous forest. A total of 144 bear sign were observed with scratch marks on climbed trees forming 80% of data. Other sign include; tree and ground nests (6.25%), broken bees’ nests (4.9%), digging (4.9%), footprints (2%) scat (1.4%) and trails (0.69%) We calculated a sign index of 22.41 sign per ha in NEPL (mixed-deciduous forest). The ratio of Fresh and Recent sign (within 1 year) to Old and Very old sign (> 1 year) is high compared to other sites in Southeast Asia (Fig. 1). Mean density of sign did not increase with distance from the nearest village although there was a moderate positive correlation with increasing elevation (Fig. 2). Mean sign density in the core zone was slightly higher than in the buffer zone but the difference was not significant (independent 2-tailed t-test, p = 0.890).

Scratch marks were observed on a minimum of 45 different tree species. Climbed trees ranged from 9.5 to 86 cm diameter at breast height (mean = 37cm, SD = 15.9). Scratch mark templates were analysed for species identification from 58 different locations. 42 (72%) of the samples were identified as black bear and 16 (28%) identified as sun bear. Black bear scratch marks were found at a mean elevation of 1178m (min = 506, max = 1663). Sun bear scratch marks were found at a mean elevation of 1434m (min = 935, max = 1717). Evidence of mother and cubs was recorded in 6 different locations (5 of 6 = black bear, 1 of 6 = species unknown).

Fruit tree species, ant and termite nests were counted within transects as a measure of habitat quality. These data have not been analysed but are awaiting sample processing by the Botanic Department of the Lao National University, Vientiane.


Interview survey

We conducted 52 interviews (51 male, 1 female) in 14 villages within the NEPL NPA. Black bear and sun bear were reported as being present in forested areas surrounding all 14 villages. Populations were said to be declining in 7 areas, stable in 1, and increasing in 3.Hunting of bears for trade was reported by at least one person in 10 out of 14 villages. In the remaining 4 villages the existence of hunting was not confirmed although it is suspected that it does occur. Hunting of bears was most commonly reported to be with guns but also included foot snares, explosive snares, and arrow spring snares. In the past decade international demand has risen and bears and bear derivates are desired by consumers in Vietnam and China. We had several reports of Vietnamese traders crossing the border into Laos and empowering locals to hunt and sell wildlife. Travelling salesmen give snares, guns and ammunition to locals with the incentive that they will purchase any quarry on a subsequent visit. Wildlife is thus caught to order with an emphasis put on particularly valuable species such as pangolin, tiger and bear. Villagers were very reluctant to divulge knowledge regarding trade in bears and bear parts. Table 1 summarises the average or range of prices of bears and bear derivates and provides a comparison with prices in Vietnam.

11 villages (79%) reported annual bear-related crop raiding, sweetcorn being particularly affected. Other commonly raided crops include pumpkin, watermelon, sweet potato and cucumber. Crop raiding peaks during the wet season from August until October when sweetcorn crops are ripening. Methods used to deter bears from crop fields include loud banging, fires, foreign structures, strong smelling soap rubbed on cloth and scarecrows. We heard some reports of setting explosive and arrow spring snares to kill bears upon entering fields, hiding in fields with guns to shoot invading bears or following the tracks from fields to hunt bears with guns.

Black bears were described as being the shyer of the two species, tending to live in remote forested areas far away from villages. Conversely, sun bears were frequently reported as inhabiting secondary forest, close to villages and being more likely to raid crops. Sun bears are also described as being very aggressive, not scared of humans and likely to attack if encountered in the forest or in crop fields, especially in the case of a mother with cubs. .


Project costs and funding

Project costs totalled $13,585.62 US. Funding bodies included the International Bear Association ($5,000), Perth Zoo, Australia ($4,500) and Free the Bears Fund Inc. ($2000).


The status of bears in Nam Et Phou Louey

This study marked the first of its kind in this country and provided valuable and encouraging information on the status of bears in Laos. NEPL has a high density of bears relative to other regions in Vietnam and Thailand when using sign index as a measure of abundance. This could be largely attributed to the long term management and conservation initiatives of WCS.
Sun bear and black bear are active in all areas of NEPL with black bears occurring in higher densities. Low numbers of sun bears could be due to a natural population gradient which decreases moving into the northern parts of their range. Sun bears could be more vulnerable to poachers as they venture closer to villages than black bear and exhibit bolder behaviour towards humans. Poachers may also favour sun bears as their bile has a higher market value.
Bear populations in NEPL are threatened by habitat disturbance (shifting cultivation, livestock grazing, logging, collection of NTFP’s and other illegal forest activities). However, hunting for the international wildlife trade poses an even bigger threat. Laos is rich in resources in comparison to neighbouring countries with bears likely to be more abundant. Bears and bear parts are sold at lower prices in Laos than other countries and the proximity to Vietnam makes NEPL an attractive source for Vietnamese traders.
The intensity of human-bear conflict issues in NEPL was a surprising result of this study. Both species are raiding crops on an annual basis, putting both bears and humans in danger. The level of human-caused mortalities is unknown, as is the annual volume of crop damage. A further study into the driving factors of human-bear conflict is necessary to understand this problem and explore methods of mitigation. As part of FTB’s commitment to increasing local capacity, Mr Kongseng Vannachomchan was recently awarded a scholarship to undertake this project as part of his MSc project, to begin in 2011.


Conclusion

The Bear Specialist Group recently proposed the identification of Bear Conservation Units (BCU’s) – important habitat blocks for the long-term survival of bears. The findings from this study suggest the NEPL should be considered as one of these areas. Bear activity in NEPL seems to be relatively high compared to other sites in Southeast Asia and the future looks optimistic. While in comparison other protected areas have a less than certain future, long term management by WCS gives NEPL the capacity to protect and monitor bears populations concurrently with already established wildlife protection projects. The successful conservation of bears represents an opportunity to increase the ecological value of NEPL on a national and global scale. WCS and the Lao Government have made NEPL a model for conservation, sustainable use, ecotourism, culture and scientific research. I propose that NEPL should also become a model for the research and conservation of bears.

Please contact the author for a full report and for any further information: scotsonuk@yahoo.co.uk

Trekking Tours

“The Nests” and “Cloud Forest Climb”


The Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park is pleased to introduce new ecotourism attractions “The Nests” and “The Cloud Forest Climb”!

These new hiking/trekking tours is a unique opportunity to visit and stay overnight in the protected area’s core zone. The tour length varies between 2 and 5 days (see the tours below) and along the trail clients will have the opportunity to help to check the wildlife camera traps and will receive electronic copies of the photos from their trip.

These new tours located in different part of the National Park than the Nam Nern Night Safari tour aim to distribute the visitor flow to reduce the negative impact to the protected area and to offer an economical alternative for new villages.

The treks operated in collaboration with surrounding villages and will directly benefit 12 villages through a village development fund. The amount of money received by the villages depends on the number of photos of rare wildlife taken by camera traps along the trail.

The project is designed to create a direct link between conservation and tourism so that the money that guests pay has a positive impact on encouraging local people to protect endangered wildlife.


The Nests accommodation

The Nests

(Moderate to Difficult Trekking, 2 to 3 Days, Dry season only)

Moderate 2 and 3 day family friendly hiking tours to the heart of the protected area with overnight in cozy spherical baskets hanging from the trees – ‘The Nests’. Enjoy wildlife viewing from the observation tower at the nearby Poung Nied salt lick, which attracts animals such as the rare Sambar deer from far and wide.

Note: The Nests tours are available during the dry season only, from October to May/June (depending on the rainy season)

-> Click here to view the itineraries…


Cloud Forest Climb

(Challenging Trekking, 3 to 5 days, Dry season only)

An adventurous trekking 3 to 5 days up to the summit of Phou Louey (Forever Mountain) – one of the few Cloud forests in the region. This trek through the evergreen forest with overnights in the jungle huts in the heart of the protected area offer a great opportunity to track wild species such as white-cheeked gibbon, bears and wild dog using camera traps, which will be set up along the trail and maintained by tourists. You will also learn about the surrounding village life as the first night is spent in a Khmu village home-stay. The longer 5 day option also includes the final night in ‘The Nests’.

Note: The Cloud Forest Climb tours are available during the dry season only, from October to May/June (depending on the rainy season)

-> Click here to view the itineraries…