Local authorities are searching for a new habitat for the criticallyendangered Indochinese silver langur (or Trachypithecus germaini), tosave the species from extinction.
Deputy Director of Hon DatForest Management Board in southern Kien Giang Province Phan Van Hungsaid the excavation for raw materials for cement production in Khoe LaMountain was destroying Bai Voi Mountain , the home of more than70 langurs.
He said the board was working with the TropicalBiology Institute to conduct a study on Hon Chong mountain in Kien Luongdistrict's Binh An Commune to assess how easy it will be for thelangurs to adapt to this environment.
Hon Chong mountain is within the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, which was recognised by UNESCO in 2006.
Listed in Vietnam Red Book as "extremely threatened," Indochinesesilver langurs have blackish grey faces and long light grey ‘whiskers'.
In 2007, local scientists discovered 23 other members of the species at Bai Voi Mountain./.