Seven groups of Indochinese gray langurs (scientifically named ‘Trachypithecus crepusculus’), with 192-212 living in the Xuan Lien Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa province, are endangered due to local residents’ hunting, the Nature Reserve’s management board said. 

An Indochinese gray langur

According to Head of the Reserve Division under the Thanh Hoa provincial Forest Protection Department, Mai Van Chuyen, the primate on the red list of threatened species in Vietnam and the world is currently found only in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and China, adding that protecting the primate is challenging as the reserve is facing wild-animal hunting and habitat degradation.

The reserve has taken various measures to protect the primate, focusing on enhancing patrol and control over hunting; preventing wood cutting, free grazing and illegal entry to the reserve; boosting natural regeneration of forests; and promoting communication to improve people’s awareness of protection work, Hai said.

Scientists have discovered many rare species in the reserve, including the Muntiacus rooseveltorum, which was thought to be extinct 85 years ago; the Aristolochia xuanlienensis, the only one recorded in the world; and three plants which had never previously been found in Vietnam - Lindernia megaphylla P.C, Kailarsenia lineata R.Br and Didymocarpus pupureobracteatus Smith.