Over 4,300 Southeast Asian species face extinction threat

The Javan and Sumatran rhinos are down to their last few dozen, just like the Cat Ba langur of Vietnam, while the soala living in Laos’ Annamite mountains may already be gone for good.

Southeast Asia’s remarkable biodiversity is under severe threat from the encroachment of cities and farms, deforestation, warming seas and the trafficking of rare wildlife for food, traditional medicines and as pets.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) told This Week in Asia that more than 4,300 species across Southeast Asia were “critically endangered” or “endangered”.

Tigers, giant catfish, gibbons, pangolins and vultures are among the native species facing urgent threats, according to the IUCN, which maps the world’s most threatened creatures and plants.

Wildlife trafficking remains one of the biggest threats to some of these species.

Earlier this month, authorities in Vientiane seized a batch of African rhino horn, while elephant ivory was openly listed for sale on social media in Thailand.