The endemic freshwater dolphins in the Indus River system of Pakistan, Platanista minor, have been considered endangered since the early 1970s. Measures taken to protect them from deliberate capture seem to have stopped a rapid decline, and combined counts in Sindh and Punjab provinces since the early 1980s suggest a total population of at least a few hundred animals. Severe problems remain, however. In addition to the risks inherent to any species with an effective population size in the low hundreds (at most), these dolphins are subject to long-term threats associated with living in an artificially controlled waterway used intensively by humans. Irrigation barrages partition the aggregate population into discrete subpopulations for much of the year. Dolphins that ‘escape’ during the flood season into irrigation canals or into reaches downstream of barrages where winter water levels are low have little chance of survival. A few dolphins probably die each year after being caught in fishing nets. Pollution by untreated urban sewage, agricultural runoff and industrial effluent threatens the health of the entire Indus system. The future of this dolphin species depends on Pakistan's commitment to protecting biological diversity in the face of escalating human demands on dwindling resources.

Central American squirrel monkeys Saimiri oerstedii are limited to Costa Rica and Panama, and have never been abundant. The Costa Rican population is now decimated. Based on our survey of squirrel monkeys throughout a large portion of the Costa Rican range of this species in 1996, we can confirm that at least 1246 squirrel monkeys remain in 26 spatially dispersed localities. Despite probable undercounts of squirrel monkeys within sites and potentially missed localities, the total population size should be considered far below a size that would provide longterm genetic viability. Deforestation and habitat fragmentation spurred by agricultural and tourism development are the familiar culprits contributing to this decline. Our strong recommendation is that future conservation efforts be targeted at the level of each specific locality, perhaps recruiting local, national and international sponsors. A focused strategy would allow management efforts to be tailored to the circumstances specific to each site and thus allocate scarce resources more efficiently.

The large-antlered, or giant, muntjac Megamuntiacus vuquangensis wasdescribed from Vietnam in 1994 and found concurrently in the Annamite Mountains and nearby hill ranges of central and southern Laos. The northerly and southerly range limits are still unknown. It may occupy a wide range of habitats and is found sympatrically with the common muntjac Muntiacus muntjak. Another muntjac species, the taxonomic affinity of which is as yet undetermined, was recently discovered to occur within its range. The large-antlered muntjac is probably not threatened with extinction in the near future, but in view of its restricted range and threats from habitat degradation and hunting, it should be classified as Vulnerable in the Red Data Book. Its future in Laos is largely dependent on the recently created protected-areas system to maintain large tracts of habitat and reduce hunting pressure.

Malaysia incurs damage worth millions of dollars annually from elephants feeding in plantations. In response, the Malaysian Wildlife Department has translocated over 392 elephants from plantations into protected areas since 1974. Dense rain forest and steep terrain at the release sites have made it near impossible to follow the movements of the released elephants and evaluate the success of the programme. In October 1995, a translocated female elephant was fitted with a satellite transmitter to determine its post-release movements. By August 1996, the female had moved within a range of 7000 sq km. The movements were erratic initially and covered a large area. They were followed by a shift in location twice, each time covering successively smaller areas. Attempts to locate and follow the female on the ground revealed no evidence that she travelled in a group. A second, male, elephant was equipped with a satellite transmitter in February 1996 and by August 1996, it had moved within a range of 350 sq km. An attempt to locate and follow the male on the ground provided evidence that he was in a group of at least three individuals. The difference in the behaviour of the two elephants, released at exactly the same location, is striking, but additional elephants need to be followed to increase sample size and allow a scientific explanation of the findings.

The beira antelope Dorcatragus megalotis, which is listed as possibly extinct in Djibouti in the 1996 IUCN Red List, was observed there by the authors in 1993/94. The authors discuss its status in the country and the action needed for its conservation.