A mountain is seen in a strict protection zone of the Hatinh langur population in Tuyen Hoa district of Quang Binh province (Photo courtesy of Nguyen Thanh Tu) Theprovince said all rock mining and mineral exploitation activities will bebanned in the area and surrounding communes to ensure a safe habitat for theendangered primates.
Theprovincial rangers sub-department said at least 22 endangered langur herds witha total population of 156 have been found living in 509ha of primary limestoneforest of Son Hoa, thanh Hoa, Dong Hoa, and Thuan Hoa communes since 2015. ThanhHoa commune is home to the largest population with 12 herds and 91 individuals.
Theurgent action plan on the protection of the endangered primates will helpconserve the langurs and promote awareness among the community to conservetheir natural habitat and the forest.
Internationalbiologists, conservationists and wildlife photographers have visited the siteto take photos of the primates and nature.
Accordingto Nguyen Thanh Tu, 59, a retired border guard soldier, he and localcommunities in the area have voluntarily protected the Hatinh langurs in DongHoa commune over the past decades.
TheHatinh langur, which is listed as an endangered species by the InternationalUnion of Conservation of Nature (on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species),lives only in central Vietnam and eastern Laos.
Thelargest population is in Quang Binh province, and a small group lives inneighbouring Quang Tri province.
Aherd of five Hatinh langurs, which was found in a primary forest of Huong Lap communeof Huong Hoa district in Quang Tri, was reported to have had conflicts withlocal residents in 2020. The district rangers have been trying to move theendangered herd back to the forest since early May./.
VNA
