The remains of the critically endangered species were found at Kon Cang forest in Kon Doc Commune of the central province’s Ba To District.

The corpses of five grey-shanked douc langurs (pygathrix cinerea) who are one of the world’s 25 most critically endangered primates. — Photo courtesy of Chi Dai

The grey-shanked douc langur is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list as one of the world’s 25 most critically endangered primates. The primates can only be found in Vietnam.

Head of Ba To forest protection section, Ngo Vinh Phong, said remains of the five endangered primates were found by a patrol on October 8. The local rangers, police and militia recovered valuable evidence left behind by the hunters which they hope will aid their investigation. 

He said hunters had left the forest when rangers came, leaving the five corpses, one motorbike, an air tank, 53 dust shots and a silencer at the site.

Phong said the illegal hunters used handmade air guns to kill the primates, based on an examination of the bodies.  

The forest is under the management of Ba To forestry private company, he added.

It’s the worst illegal hunting case of endangered wildlife in the province since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Frankfurt Zoological Society, some 1,000 grey-shanked doucs have been found in forests of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Kon Tum and Gia Lai.

According to the provincial forest department, at least three illegal logging cases have been found in protected forest areas in Pho Phong Commune of Duc Pho Town, Son Long Commune of Son Tay District and Long Mon Village in Minh Long District between late September and early October.

The province plans to allocate 6ha of coastal forest protection area for the development of the Dung Quat-Sa Huynh Road.

Source: Vietnam News

Five rare gray-shanked douc langurs shot dead in central Vietnam

A group of hunters have been suspected of shooting dead five rare gray-shanked douc langurs in a forest in Quang Ngai province, central Vietnam, local authorities said on October 18.