The Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in the central Quang Binh Province has received a northern pig-tailed macaque.

The northern pig-tailed macaque. — Photo arkive.org

The primate, which is listed as a vulnerable species in the red list of International Union for Conservation of Nature and has the scientific name of Macaca leonina, was voluntarily handed over by a resident in the province's Bo Trach District to the local forest ranger department earlier this week.

The rangers transferred the mammal to the veterinary unit in the park. The macaque weighed 3kg at the time and had weak natural instincts due to its long period of captivity in the resident's home.

The park's veterinary staff said the macaque would need some time to regain its health and natural instincts before they release it into the wild.

Many families in the country want primates as caged pets at home, despite a Vietnamese law that prohibits the caging, hunting, trading and killing, as well as transport of wild animals, including primates.