This research was done in February 1993 and published in Australian Primatology 8(1):9-10 (1993). Primate Breeding Centre at Nha Trang, Vietnam by Vern Weitzel GPO Box 161 Belconnen, ACT 2616 Australia In 1983 the former Soviet Union formed a joint agreement with Vietnam to found a primate research and breeding centre in Khanh Hoa Province, central Vietnam. The centre was to provide a continuing supply of primates to the Soviet Union for vaccine production and also be a base for tropical primate research. Known as the 18-4 Khanh Hoa Company, the centre was to be operated by funds supplied by the Soviets and their Eastern Bloc allies. The main facilities were built according to a Soviet design on land in suburban Nha Trang City. Colonies were established on several nearby islands. Nha Trang is known as an increasingly popular tourist resort in recent years. But is also home to a number of national institutes (oceanography and epidemiology are examples) and regional research centres (eg. medicine and veterinary science) servicing VietnamÕs central provinces. Full operation of the primate centre began in 1986. The main farm consists of eight cage blocks, plus food preparation buildings, a block of research offices (now forming the dispensary) and sheds to hold animals awaiting transport. There is ample room for expansion on this site. In addition, the Company controls four islands for free ranging animals (three within fifteen kilometres of Nha Trang and another seventy kilometres North). Four macaque species are now bred by the Company: Macaca mulatta (the main species sold overseas for vaccine manufacture - within Vietnam, M. arctoides is used for this purpose), M. fascicularis, M. arctoides and most recently, M. nemestrina. As the centre was designed to work only with its internal stock, providing third generation offspring and on for sale abroad, it would operate within CITES guidelines. However, the addition of M. nemestrina meant initially stocking the centre with animals from the wild, but the intention is that animals offered for sale would be later generation offspring. The number of animals for each species and their locations are listed in tables 1 and 2. Were the Company to operate at full capacity, it could contain some 6000 M. mulatta, providing 700 young (1 year old) animals to Russia every year. The Company has never achieved this. And, although Soviet specialists briefly worked at the facility, its second function as a tropical primate research centre has never been realised. Rooms are available for foreign specialists wishing to work at the centre. The Company has 30 staff, most of them supporting the island colonies. This number includes four medical doctors and a veterinarian (who is also the dietitian). Many of the professional staff were also trained in primate rearing in Moscow, and have a good technical background. This expertise is shown in the design of cages in the main facility. Animals are housed in concrete gang cages, with servicing rooms and a sleeping room attached to a large wire-enclosed outdoor runway. Veterinary rooms provide basic animal care, though as is often the case in Vietnam, equipment is spartan and some medicines are a luxury. However, animals are examined, tested against diseases such as tuberculosis, vaccinated and treated for injury. Animals found to have malaria or tuberculosis are destroyed. All animals are comprehensively tested before export. Cages are regularly disinfected. There is an intended dietary regime (which financial constraints have made difficult to maintain) which includes a variety of fruits and vegetables (such as soy, peanut and maize). Vitamins and minerals are provided in a supplementary diet in pellet form (a pellet maker is on-site). Of the island colonies, Dao Thi near Nha Trang is the largest at 280 ha., holding 500 M. mulatta, half its capacity. Breeding groups are kept on this island. A headquarters building servicing the other islands is also on Dao Thi; most workers are housed on Dao Cu Son. There was once a hamlet on Dao Thi, but the Company moved people from this island because the animals became pests. As a result, monkeys on this island now forage among the orchards and other crops which include mangoes and coconuts. Animals can forage for food on the islands, but they are also provisioned. At Dao Thi, provisioning is at a large feeding area surrounded by a fence to exclude a few buffalo which are also raised on the island. On nearby Dao Sam, where young M. fascicularis and M. mulatta are kept together, the two species are provisioned separately (otherwise the larger-bodied M. mulatta would inhibit M. fascicularis feeding). The 18-4 Company lost direction following the collapse of the former Soviet Union. First, it has been impossible to sell animals to Russia. Repeated negotiations with Russian trade representatives have failed. As a result, the Company is over stocked with M. mulatta and it is forced to limit reproduction in this species. Second, as the company tries to improve its position in the Western market which is directed more towards medical research, it now wants to increase its stock of M. nemestrina. But it holds relatively few animals of this species, and most of these were purchased from dealers. Lacking facilities to keep these animals, the Company has been forced to keep many animals together in a shed; two or even three animals may be held for long periods in a single small transfer cage. This is the unfortunate consequence of reorganising priorities, and the staff urgently request advice from abroad to minimise such problems. The value of M. nemestrina is a third greater than the best conditioned animals of any of the other macaque species, so it is in the CompanyÕs interest to develop a breeding colony of M. nemestrina. But the Company has only started developing this species as a marketable resource and it is hoped that it will not succumb to the temptation of a quick profit. All the animals I saw at the Company had tattoos, except some M. nemestrina. Similarly, animals (generally from island colonies) awaiting transport, are kept in sheds in transfer cages for up to three months. This is partly for observation, but at the moment there are serious difficulties in arranging transportation for animals. Animals are exported by air from Hanoi. Such problems are common in Vietnam, and difficult to resolve practically, which is frustrating for medical staff, who do the best they can to care for the animals. The main concern here, as with M. nemestrina, is crowding and the inevitable squabbling among animals which can result in injuries. These animals are well fed and are not exposed to excessive environmental stress. Since these sheds are kept clean, attacks by vermin such as rats do not occur. But the small cages are clearly inappropriate. Current buyers of macaques are France and Hong Kong; negotiations continue with Russia. The company is seeking outside buyers for animals of demonstrated quality produced from captive bred stock. Perhaps most important, the Company is anxious to find sponsors who can help it overcome the frustrations which limited resources have caused over food regime, medical support and (in cases) caging. Given its location, basic infrastructure and highly trained staff, 18-4 Khanh Hoa Company has good prospects as a joint venture and also as a centre for tropical primate research. In rearranging its economy, Vietnam has gone through some troubling times; many businesses are in a similar position. They have a basic product, minimal facilities and information on world markets, but enormous initiative. Vietnam has serious problems controlling the exploitation of animals directly from forests. Captive bred animals are of higher quality and do not disturb existing wild populations. A reputable primate breeding centre, with appropriate records, is far better than an unregulated free market in animals of unknown provenience. Addresses: 18-4 Khanh Hoa Company 68 Tran Phu Street Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Vietnam tel: 22942 - 21227 Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam A1 Phuong Mai Dong Da - Hanoi Vietnam tel: +84 (4) 263888 fax:+84 (4) 254319 This study tour was supported by the Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam, the 18-4 Khanh Hoa Company and a donation by me to the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia. I thank Jim Fenner for editing the copy. My views are not necessarily those of these organisations. Table 1. Number of animals. species number location M. mulatta 800 most on island (some young animals in farm) M. fascicularis 400 most on island (some in farm) M. arctoides 400 most on island (some in farm) M. nemestrina 200 in farm only Table 2. Deployment of animals on islands. Island species number of animals Dao Sam M. mulatta, 300 M. fascicularis Dao Cu Son M. mulatta 300 Dao Thi M. mulatta 500 Nua Dao M. arctoides --