Environment
Vietnam grapples with primate preservation
  • By Thao Nguyen | dtinews.vn | August 13, 2014 08:45 AM
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Vietnam is home to a wide variety of rare primates species, but preservation efforts have been facing difficulties.

A noted country in terms of biodiversity, Vietnam has numerous ecological systems that have attracted the attention of researchers worldwide. In terms of primates, the country is the natural habitat of 26 out of total 612 recognised primate species in the world by the the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

There are five primate species and subspecies that are endemic to Vietnam, including golden snub-nosed monkey, Delacour's langur, Cat Ba langur, gray-shanked douc langur, and the Con Dao long-tailed monkey. These are all critically endangered, and in need of preservation. The gray-shanked douc langur is at the top of the list among primate species on the verge of extinction.

 

Several species of primates endemic to Vietnam endangered

“Primates face a particularly high risk of being of extinction, largely due to poaching and encroachment of natural habitats. We’re aware that Vietnam, like many other countries in the world, faces challenges in terms of the preservation of primates,” said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan.

Forest area has decreased in Vietnam to around 40%, according to statistics reported last year. This poses great threats to the natural habitats of many primate species.

The country faces many difficulties in terms of the preservation of primates, as forest cover decreases natural habitats also diminish. Law enforcement has been seen as largely ineffective when it comes to controlling poaching and smuggling activities, putting many species at further risk.

According to Tuan, over the past 50 years, Vietnam has taken great strides toward the creation of a legal framework to abolish illegal hunting and conserve species on the endangered list. A system of protected forests, with a combined acreage of over 2.2 million hectares has been established.

With greater efforts toward primate preservation, Vietnam set up the Centre for Rescuing of Primate Species at the Cuc Phuong National Park in 1993. The centre has rescued 260 individuals, helped reproduce 240 individuals belonging to 12 species and released over 50 individuals to the natural environment. The centre is taking care of over 150 individuals.

Several other primate rescuing centres have been set up in HCM City, Dong Nai and Kien Giang Provinces.

“The preservation of sustainable development of primates requires great efforts by every country, dedicated and responsible cooperation by international communities,” Tuan added.Tetsuro Matsuzawa, president of the International Primatological Society, called for real commitment and cooperation by many countries and individuals around the world to help preserve endangered species.

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