The coastal state of Orissa, India, harbours three important mass-nesting beaches of the olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea. During a survey of sea turtle nesting beaches from December 1993 to May 1994, 5282 dead olive ridleys were counted along the 480 km coastline of Orissa. Almost all the deaths were due to incidental capture in offshore fishing nets. Increased fishing activities in the coastal waters near important sea-turtle nesting beaches pose a serious threat to the survival of this endangered sea turtle. It is therefore suggested that coastal waters adjacent to major sea-turtle nesting beaches be declared as closed areas for commercial fishing activities in order to ensure the sea turtle's long-term survival.

In 1995 a new population of the recently described, endangered bovid, the saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, was found in the forests of Bu Huong, Nghe An Province in Vietnam. The new records were to the north of the main known populations, and represent an important range extension for the species. The new population may number only 30 individuals and appears to be confined to river valleys in primary forest. Investigations at this site and a compilation of published and unpublished data suggest that the range of the species in Vietnam and Laos includes over 5000 sq km of mountainous terrain, four protected areas (Vu Quang and Pu Mat, Nature Reserves [Vietnam], Nakai Nam Theun and Hin Namnu National Biodiversity Conservation Areas [Laos]), and three proposed protected areas (Bu Hong [Vietnam], Nam Chuan and Nakai Nam Theun Northern Extension National Boidiversity Conservation Areas [Laos]). All known locations for the species are mountainous with steep river valleys, covered by evergreen or semideciduous forests between 300 and 1800 m, with low human disturbance. The main threats to its survival are hunting by local villagers and clearance of forests to provide farmland. Both need to be tackled if the saola and other forest-endemic species of this area are to persist.

Between 31 March and 28 May 1995 and 5 April and 2 May 1996 two expeditions carried out surveys of the status and distribution of the wild Bactrian camel Camelus bactrianus ferus in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province in the People's Republic of China, the last known habitat of the subspecies in the country. The surveys revealed that the wild camel is highly endangered in China, due to illegal mining and hunting. An estimated total of 380–500 individuals remain and immediate action is needed to ensure their survival.

The Okapi Wildlife Reserve was created in May 1992 to conserve a representative area of the Ituri rainforest in north-eastern Zaïre. This article examines the threats facing this large protected area and summarizes the management actions proposed to address these problems within the next 10 years. Emphasis is placed on the need to integrate the local population into reserve management and to empower people as much as possible to manage their own resources. The long-term future of the reserve in the context of national economic and political instability is discussed.

The Sumatran tiger is the only one of three original subspecies of tigers that survives in Indonesia today. Its wild population, estimated to be 400–650 animals, has progressively diminished because of habitat destruction, poaching and the removal of tigers involved in conflicts with local farmers. This paper presents previously undocumented information on the market in tiger products. It shows that, while no documentation of intentional tiger poaching to meet an international demand for tiger bones was recorded, the domestic demand for tiger bones, teeth and claws is still a potential threat to the future survival of this subspecies. In addition to continuing work to protect the integrity of tiger habitat in Sumatra, enforcement actions are required to prevent the domestic market for tiger parts increasing the threats to this subspecies and to ensure its conservation.

Equatorial Guinea has a new network of protected areas, but only Monte Alen National Park has any effective protection. As a contribution to the knowledge of this area, a survey of primate populations was carried out during a 7-month period in 1994. The results showed that there is a high primate diversity (15–16 distinct species) in Monte Alen. The three most commonly sighted monkey species were Cercopithecus nictitans (35.9–40.8 per cent of sightings), Cercopithecus cephus (28.9–43.5 per cent) and Cercopithecus pogonias (17.4–22.4 per cent). Mean distance covered to find any group of these guenons varied from 1.1km in open primary forest to 2.7 km in dense primary forest. Gorilla nests were more abundant in secondary forest near villages (5.15 nests/km), while chimpanzee nests were mostly found in primary forest (5.35 nests/km). Hunting pressure appears to be low but shifting agriculture has a significant impact on the conservation of the area. The degree of threat varies between species. Alternatives for better management of the area, such as educational programmes and sustainable use of natural resources, are suggested.