Primates in Vietnam

by Ian G. Baird and Dr. Ha Dinh Duc

There is a great diversity of primate species in Vietnam.
Approximately 32 species and sub-species have been reported
from this mainland Southeast Asian country. However, of
these there are some that have not been seen in decades, and
others whose sightings need to be confirmed.

Langurs

For example, the Dusky or Spectacled langur has only been
reported once from Saigon, way back in 1870, and is unlikely
to be found in Vietnam now, if it ever did occur. An all
black coloured undescribed sub-species of langur, reported
from Northern Vietnam, has also not been seen for decades
and may already have disappeared.

The status of a number of other sub-species of langurs is
also unknown. Much research will be required to determine
the status of these and other primate species - the
challenge of ensuring the survival of those species that
remain is great.

Species face extinction

Many species of primates have become very rare, and some are
approaching extinction. Vietnam is in fact a key country
when it comes to primates, as there are at least 7 endemic
primate sub-species ("endemic" means that a species is found
nowhere else but one particular country) in Vietnam and
still other sub-species are only found in Vietnam and a few
other countries, such as neighbouring Laos, Cambodia and
China. One primate found only in Vietnam is the little-known
Phu Quoc gibbon, which is a sub-species of the White-handed
(Lar) gibbon. It evolved in isolation on the southern
Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc. Found nowhere else, it is
believed to be on the brink of extinction.

Yet despite its severely endangered status, primate experts
and government agencies responsible for wildlife
conservation in Vietnam admit that they have no idea how
many Phu Quoc island gibbons survive today. They don't even
know where they might be found on the island if there are
any left. There have been no studies regarding the gibbon's
status. If they have not already disappeared, they should
receive immediate attention before they do.

Snub-nosed monkeys

 Another endangered endemic primate species from Vietnam is
the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey. It is only found in limited
parts of the provinces of Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang
provinces, where 250 animals are believed to survive. There
are also 100 more estimated to be remaining in the Bac Thai
province in northern Vietnam.

Unlike the Phu Quoc gibbon, the snub-nosed monkeys have
received some attention from the governmental and
international conservation organisations. Some surveys have
been done, and there has been an effort to try to save the
remaining animals. Fortunately much of the population is
situated in Na Hang Nature Reserve.

Rare langurs

Three other endangered primates from Vietnam are the
Francois langur, the Delacour langur, and the Golden-headed
langur, all of which are found only in Vietnam.

The first of the three is believed to be on the verge of
extinction in Bac Thai and Cao Bang provinces.

Secondly, only an estimated 250 Delacour langur are believed
to survive in ten isolated areas in North Vietnam. Only one
of these areas, Cuc Phuong National Park, has a protected
status.

The last of the three, the Golden-headed langur, is only
found on Cat Ba Island in northern Vietnam and its
population is estimated not to exceed t0 animals. Like so
many other primates, they all warrant increased attention
with regards to conservation measures.

Two Douc langur sub-species in Vietnam, the red shanked and
black shanked, are both becoming increasingly rare. Like
other primate species, the Douc langur population was
greatly affected by the US aerial bombing and forest
defoliation during the Vietnam War. It is difficult to
determine exactly how severe the impact was.

The Gibbons

Of course, even a brief discussion of endangered primates
from Vietnam would not be complete without mentioning the
country's gibbons. It is not certain exactly how many
species and sub-species of gibbons are presently found in
Vietnam, but at least 5 species and 8 sub-species have been
reported from the country.

Three of those five species, including the lar, pileated and
agile gibbons have not been recorded in decades, and are
probably no longer found in Vietnam.

Of the two remaining species of gibbons, there are various
sub-species of the concolor gibbon. However, there is no
consensus amongst scientists regarding the exact taxonomic
position of each. The fifth species is the leucogenys gibbon
and there are two sub-species recognised from Vietnam.

Like the more common concolor gibbon, the leucogenys gibbon
has been given high priority with regards to conservation
importance by Vietnamese primate experts. This is because
gibbons are more susceptible to hunting than many other
primate species. Ironically, their "songs" make them easy
for hunters and animal traders to find in the forest. While
hunting and the wildlife trade are a threat to most, if not
all the primates in Vietnam (as reported in l 992 issues of
IPPL News), the country's primates are also facing other
serious threats.

Habitat loss

Habitat loss is one of the most serious of the problems.
Over the last 5 years it has been estimated that Vietnam
lost 135,000 hectares (333,585 acres) of primary forests to
various population and economic development pressures.

Another serious threat to primates, other wildlife species,
and the livelihoods of local people, are the many
large-scale hydroelectric dam projects planned for Vietnam.
Many of these secretive initiatives will create large
reservoirs which will inundate important wildlife habitats.

Roads and other infrastructure work related to these and
other large projects also have the potential to open up many
previously remote areas to hunting and development projects
which are not compatible with conservation goals.

Monkey breeding farms

There are presently three controversial macaque raising
farms in Vietnam. The Poliomyelitis Vaccine Research and
Production Center of the Ministry of Public Health is the
smallest and raises rhesus macaques on Reu Island in the
Northern province of Quang Ninh. Between 200 to 300 animals
are taken for use in Vietnamese research per year.

The second farm is run by the April 18 company (see the
August 1992 issue of IPPL News) in the Central Vietnam town
of Nha Trang. Set up with Russian support in 1986, this
company exports rhesus, long-tails and a few stump-tailed
macaques to scientific laboratories overseas.

Recently Vietnam's third and largest monkey farming
operation opened up in Long Thanh district, Dong Nai
province. The farm is a joint-venture between the Vanny
Group from Hong Kong and Naforibird Company from Ho Chi Minh
(Saigon). It was set up to export macaques overseas.

The facility owned 3,100 animals in 1995, and by the end of
1996 is planning to have 15,000 animals, including 5,000
breeders, producing 2,50~3,000 offspring each year, for
export to laboratories in Japan, the USA and Europe.

Some Vietnamese conservationists are concerned about the
huge expansion of monkey farming operations in the country.
It is believed that many macaques are being captured from
the wild before being exported as "farmed" macaques in order
to facilitate their illegal capture and sale.

Signs of hope

Despite the serious threats facing primates through-out
Vietnam, there are at least some signs of hope. Vietnam
joined the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES) on 20 April 1994. Last January it was
reported in Vietnam News that Vietnam and China signed a
Memorandum of Understanding on coordinating the
implementation of CITES.

Recently the city of Hanoi has also initiated a campaign to
crack down on illegal wildlife trading at markets in the
capital city. Other positive signs include a recent
commitment by the Hanoi authorities to fund the setting up
of a wildlife rescue centre for confiscated wild animals in
Soc Son District, which is 50 kilometres outside of Hanoi.

The possibilities for setting up a Vietnamese wildlife
conservation club based in Hanoi are also being considered.
These gains are important, but have not adequately
translated into decreased hunting or wild-life trading in
many places in Vietnam so far. This is especially true for
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), where wildlife trading continues
to flourish due to a lack of effective law enforcement and
public awareness of the issues surrounding the trade in
endangered species.

Ultimately, it appears that the successful conservation of
primates in Vietnam will have to largely depend on education
and grassroots organising. Without good extension work which
encourages the full participation of local peoples to
implement and maintain conservation plans in their areas,
there are few good prospects for protecting many of the
endangered primates or other wildlife species here.

Co-management options for dealing with forestry issues need
to be carefully considered. Dr. Vo Quy, a well-known
Vietnamese conservationist, has already achieved some
successes in central Vietnam. There, forest conservation has
been encouraged at the same time as community development
requirements have been addressed. These types of models are
likely to be useful to indicate what approaches might be
beneficial to wildlife, forests and the people in Vietnam.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Vietnam deserves praise for becoming a member of the
Convention on Intemational trade in Endangered Species. But
the wildlife trade in Ho Chi Minh City and southern Vietnam
in general needs to be stopped! The monkey farms are a
threat to Vienam's macaques.

Please send courteous le~ters to the President of Vietnam
(postage from the US to Vietnman is 60 cents per half-ounce,
$1 per ounce) and the embassies whose addresses appeal
below, or the Ambassador of Vietnam in the capital city of
your country of residence. First commend Vietnam for joining
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
and request that it be strictly enforced - and that no
smuggling by Vietnam nationals or foreign animal dealers be
tolerated. Then express courteously your concerns about the
sale of wildlife at public markets such as the Ho Chi Minh
City and Hanoi markets and about the establishment of monkey
farms.

  Address your letters to:

   General Le Duc Anh, President of Vietnam
   Office of the President
   Hanoi, Vietnam

   His E.xcellency the Ambassador of Vietnam
   1233 20th St., NW
   Washington DC 20036 USA

   His Excellency the Ambassador of Vietnam
   Embassy of Vietnam
   12 Victoria Road
   London W8 SRD England

IPPL News 24(3):9-12 (1996)


IPPL MAKES GRANT FOR RARE GIBBON SEARCH

The International Primate Protection League has made a small
grant of $1,000 to Dr. Le which will help him undertake a
field study of the status of the Hainan gibbon in northern
Vietnam. Dr. Le Xuan Canh is Chief of the Department of
Biology at the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources
in Hanoi, Vietnam and has studied many other Vietnamese
primate species. Dr. Le Xuan explained to IPPL:

"This survey is the critical ingredient to any proposal for
protection of this population of gibbon whose presence in
Vietnam has previously been unconfirmed."

IPPL News 24(3):12 (1996)