Gaps in the Protection of the Reptiles of Myanmar—Threat Status, Endemism, Protected Area Coverage, and One Plan Approach Conservation

Abstract

Herein, we improve the knowledge about Burmese terrestrial reptile diversity and its distribution with focus on threatened and endemic species providing recommendations for improved conservation measures. Out of the 212 assessed species, 20% are Burmese endemics. Of those, almost 10% are microendemics that have only been reported from one specific locality and almost 40% are regional endemics, some with very restricted distributions, which are particularly threatened. Almost 25% of all assessed species are listed as threatened or potentially threatened in the IUCN Red List. In endemics, this number increases to 50.0%. The richness of all terrestrial reptile species is consistently high, and their distribution is mostly even across Myanmar with exceptions in the northern coastal regions and in the central dry zone reaching down to the lowlands in the southern part above Mon State and Tanintharyi Region. Threatened taxa are similarly distributed but with peaks in the western Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests, Kayah–Karen montane rain forest, and in the Tenesserim–South Thailand semi-evergreen rain forest. Endemism is generally even across the country with peaks in the east and south. Analysis of protected areas revealed that the majority of all species extant in Myanmar may occur in at least one protected area, but 10% are only covered by one single protected area, while in threatened and potentially threatened categories 25.0% of the taxa have been reported exclusively from outside protected areas. In endemic species this number increases to more than 30%. CITES lists 16.0% of all species, most of them in Appendix II. According to the ZIMS database, almost 50% of all threatened and potentially threatened terrestrial reptiles are represented in zoos, with breeding successes in the last 12 months for 60%. The vast majority of 88% of all Burmese endemic species are not kept in ex situ populations, suggesting that the implementation of the One Plan Approach proposed by the IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) needs to be improved to protect the unique herpetofauna. A list of the most threatened species in need of conservation actions is provided.

Keywords

Burmese herpetodiversity / conservation breeding / distribution / protection status / sanctuaries / zoo database analysis

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