Rare primate handed over to Cúc Phương park

A red-shanked douc langur (pygathrix nemaeus) has just been handed over to the Cúc Phương national park in the northern province of Ninh Bình by forest rangers in Phú Lộc District in central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế.

A red-shanked douc langur (pygathrix nemaeus) was handed over to the Cúc Phương national park in the northern province of Ninh Bình by forest rangers in Phú Lộc District in central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế on Monday.

The red-shanked douc langur is handed over to Cúc Phương national park in northern Ninh Bình province. - Photo Vietnamplus

The stray male langur, weighing 6.5kg, was caught in Lăng Cô Town of Phú Lộc District by the local people on August 13.

The primate is listed in the IIB group as endangered in the Red Book of Vietnam.

About 80 red-shanked douc langurs are living and being protected in North Hải Vân protective forest in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species can also be found in Laos and Cambodia.

It is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book and is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Hunting is a major threat to this species, most often used for subsistence and traditional medicines. It is also sold in international pet trade. The destruction of its natural habitat has become a threat to this species, according to IUCN.