Abstract
The Annamite striped rabbit Nesolagus timminsi is a little-known and Endangered lagomorph endemic to the Annamites ecoregion of Vietnam and Laos. The species’ known distribution extends from the northern to central Annamites. Here, we report the first records of the species from the southern Annamites. We recorded camera-trap photographs of Annamite striped rabbit in Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park, located in Lam Dong province, Vietnam. The photographs represent the first records of the species from the southern Annamites, and a significant southern range extension. We discuss the implications of this finding for Annamite striped rabbit conservation.
Funding source: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Award Identifier / Grant number: Dr. Holly Reed Conservation Fund
Funding source: Wildlife Conservation Network
Funding source: Manfred Hermsen Stiftung
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the Southern Institute of Ecology, Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park, Global Wildlife Conservation, and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research for support. We are indebted to the team members – including Nguyen Ich Le Phuoc Thanh, Pham Xuan Hoan, and rangers and local people – for their help conducting the fieldwork.
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Author contributions: AN and DL conducted the fieldwork; AN, AT, and AW conceptualized the study; AT led the writing together with AN and AW; all authors edited and approved the manuscript.
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Research funding: The authors would like to thank the Manfred Hermsen Stiftung, the Dr. Holly Reed Conservation Fund of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, and the Wildlife Conservation Network for their financial support.
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Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest regarding this article.
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Research ethics: All authors confirm that this research was conducted under the ethical guidelines of their host institutions, and that scientific best practices have been followed in all aspects of the research.
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