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New population of Tonkin snub-nosed monkey discovered

4/12//2008

FFI finds new population of one of world’s most endangered monkeys in forests of northwest Vietnam

FFI has discovered a new population of the extremely rare Tonkin snub-nosed monkey, so-called because of its unusual and distinctive up-turned nose, in a remote forested area of northern Vietnam.

Believed to be extinct until the late 1980s, only around 200 Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys are left in the world, making it Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species.

In April 2008, thanks to a community tip-off, an FFI-led team of biologists managed to observe 15-20 individuals in forests near the Tung Vai Commune by the Chinese border– the first known population in Vietnam’s Quan Ba District. Three of the individuals were infants - an encouraging sign, indicating that this is a breeding population. Excitingly, local reports indicate that another - possibly larger - group also exists.

 

This new population provides hope for the future of this species, as the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is now known to survive in no more than five locations in Vietnam. Habitat loss and hunting for the bush meat and traditional medicine trades have been pushing the species to the brink of extinction.

At this new location, cardamom plantations and logging for the Chinese timber market are clearing the few forest refuges left for this unique primate and it looks as though FFI has arrived in the nick of time to drum up the local and international support necessary to protect it.

With urgent funds provided by Twycross Zoo in the UK, the first significant steps have been taken to protect this population. FFI is also working to safeguard the species’ best chance for survival - a 70-strong population in Khau Ca forest, Ha Giang Province which we also discovered in 2002.

Conservation biologist Le Khac Quyet, who is credited with discovering both the new population and the one in Khau Ca in 2002 said:

‘When I saw the Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys in Tung Vai Commune I was overjoyed. This new discovery further underlines the importance of learning more about the Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys’ range and distribution. There is still time to save this unique species, but with just 200 or so left and threats still strong, we need to act now.’

Click here to download full press release

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FFI Communications contact:
Rebecca Foges
FFI Communications Officer
Tel: +44 (0)1223 579 491
rebecca.foges@fauna-flora.org

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