Our Primates

At Dao Tien we rescue and rehabilitate four species of endangered primate, which naturally belong in the surrounding region of south Vietnam: golden-cheeked gibbons, black-shanked douc, silvered langur and pygmy loris.

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Black-shanked douc

Black-shanked douc (Pygathrix nigripes) are South-east Asian colobines.  Primatologists know very little about this species but they have become endangered through habitat loss.

They live mainly in the high canopy but, through sometimes venturing to the ground, they can get caught by indiscriminate ground snares in the forest.  Due to their specialised leaf eating diet, they rarely survivie if taken into the illegal wildlife trade.  As very beautiful and colourful, these “painted monkeys” are purchased to live in small bird-cages in people's houses.

 

Black-Shanked Douc

New Arrivals

  • A female and her infant were rescued in May 2010 from Binh Phuc Province.  Their forest had been felled and they were being taken into the illegal wildlife trade.
  • Following Vietnamese Law, confiscated wildlife that has been removed from the forest (thus only just been poached and healthy) must be returned back to the nearest forest.
  • Cat Tien was the nearest protected forest for the douc.
  • The female and her infant were very nervous, and the youngster refused to let go of his mum throughout the whole rescue.
  • Mum and infant were estimated to be only three days in the trade.  They were still healthy and had not had the opportunity to pick up any disease, so were released directly back on to Dao Tien to form a small social group with other rehabilitated douc (Chinh and Thanh).
  • As soon as they were released, they leapt into the trees without hesitation.  The two douc will be monitored on Dao Tien.

 
Chinh
Thanh

Chinh & Thanh

  • Chinh (female) and Thanh (juvenile male) arrived at Dao Tien in February 2009 after being released from a major tourist attraction in Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Chinh, estimated to have been born in 2000, has lost fingers from her hand, most likely from being snared.
  • DNA has confirmed that they are not related.
  • They were RELEASED in OCTOBER 2009.
  • Chinh and Thanh are now happily living free on Dao Tien, both adapting to a wild life easily.