Discovering eight herds of gray-shanked douc langurs

On August 19, the Phu Yen Forest Protection Department stated that eight gray-shanked douc langur herds with 48 individuals were detected in the highland commune of Phu Mo, Dong Xuan district (Phu Yen) by the functional sector.

Accordingly, GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Centre (GreenViet) and Fauna & Flora International (FFI), cooperating with the Phu Yen Forest Protection Department and the Dong Xuan Protection Forest Management (Phu Yen), conducted a survey on the status of this animal’s population in potential forest areas in Phu Mo commune (Dong Xuan district). This activity is part of the research and conservation program for the gray-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix cinerea) in the Central and Central Highlands regions.

The survey found eight herds of gray-shanked douc langurs with an estimated number of 48 individuals in a forest stand administered by the Dong Xuan Protection Forest Management. Some rare and valuable animals, such as the Central Gibbon (Nomascus annamensis), the Legless Lizard, etc., were also recorded.

According to the mission’s record, most of the surveyed forest area has high coverage, with many large, multilayer trees over 30cm in diameter and the primary vegetation on Phu Mo highland commune (Dong Xuan district), bordering Gia Lai province. The forest habitat’s uniformity in this area is suitable for the typical habitat of the gray-shanked douc langur, which is similar to other areas such as Kon Kinh National Park (Gia Lai), the protection forest area of Kon Plong district (Kon Tum), etc.

In order to prevent illegal wild animal hunting activities as soon as possible, Dong Xuan district’s forest protection force has strengthened patrols to remove traps and illegal camps in the forest, particularly in the forest stand of the Dong Xuan Protection Forest Management, where the distribution of gray-shanked douc langurs was recorded with numerous local people’s impacts.

Besides, the functional sector carried out early media activities to raise local people's awareness of the value of forest biodiversity, thereby preventing illegal acts and calling on the community to join hands in protecting forest resources and important species.

Previously, three gray-shanked douc langurs were also discovered in the area of ​​Quang Son pagoda in Cam Tu village, Hoa Kien commune (Tuy Hoa city, Phu Yen).