The species is listed on both local and international red lists of endangered animals.

Scientists from the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Ecology and Biological Resources have recorded around 170 douc langurs living in 12 groups at the Son Tra Natural Reserve, said

Nguyen Van Khang, head of the Da Nang Forest Ranger Office.

According to Khang, most of the douc langurs are living in small groups with several babies, indicating that they seem to be thriving.

However, due to many road construction sites and developing tourism projects on the peninsula, the rare monkeys' habitats are often separated from one another, Khang said.

Scientists plan to return to Son Tra Peninsula to conduct more research before implementing measures to protect and preserve the species.

The douc langurs were also found on Hon Heo peninsula in central Khanh Hoa Province last year.

Black-shanked douc langurs, together with their red-shanked and grey-shanked cousins, are found only in Indochina.

In Vietnam, the black-shanked langurs have been found mainly in the central highlands.

Source: Tuoi Tre

July 16, 2008

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