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 an endangered South-east Asian colobines.  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 or more commonly now are shot for their meat.  Douc intestines are sadly a highly prized delicacy in Vietnam.  As very beautiful and colourful primates, these 'painted monkeys' are also purchased to live in small bird-cages in people's houses or as tourist attractions at large resorts.

Having specialised leaf eating guts, few doucs remain healthy to survive in captivity, and many die soon after being illegally caught.  With increased awareness of their delicate nature, however, the Forestry Protection Department are now acting more swiftly in transferring confiscated douc to speicalised centres where they can receive the correct care.  Individuals are transferred to Dao Tien where they can be health checked and vitally fed a range of native leaves to stay healthy.

Healthy individuals are rehabilitated and returned to the forest as soon as possible.  Confiscated douc have been successfully returned to live freely in the forests of Dao Tien.  Now a small healthy group has developed, led by Thanh (released 2009), who fathered his first infant at the end of 2011, born naturally in the wild. 

To help us continue rescuing, releasing and increasing awareness for douc you can SPONSOR an individual for one year, VOLUNTEER at the centre, working with primates or even on our forest rehabilitation project, improving the habitat of Dao Tien for the growing family group of douc.

 

La La
La La in trees

La La

  • La La, an infant douc, was rescued on 24/02/12 by a local teacher in Bao Loc (north of Cat Tien).  A young boy had been trying to sell the infant for 3.5 million VND ($175).
  • The confiscated infant was transferred to Dao Tien where, at an estimated 3.5 months old, she still needs full time care.
  • La La is proving very strong, fiesty and loves her milk.
  • We are hoping to transfer a douc from another rescue centre to act as a surrogate mum or big sister to La La so that as soon as she is weaned, La La along with her douc companion can be released on to Dao Tien to join Thanh's wild group.  As a young female she should have no problem being accepted into a wild group.

 
Black-Shanked Douc

The rescue of a young female with infant

  • 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.
  • At the end of 2011 Thanh, now a large adult male, fathered his first infant, born naturally in the wild.