Vietnam Primate Conservation Status Review 2002 - Hoang Lien ...

5.1.3 Distribution
5 SNUB-NOSED MONKEYS
The Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is endemic to northern Vietnam. Its range is historically limited to
areas to the east of the Red River.
Following the massive deforestation and the intensive hunting of recent decades, its distribution has
become dramatically restricted. It is currently only known from small forest patches in Tuyen Quang
and Bac Kan Provinces and to a lesser extent in Ha Giang and Thai Nguyen Provinces.
The Tonkin snub-nosed monkey was known from only a few museum specimens, until a WWF team
(Ratajszczak et al., 1990) surveyed the area around Ba Be National Park. Ratajszczak et al. (1992)
conducted the first survey with a special emphasis on R. avunculus. Since then, several studies have
been conducted, primarily in Na Hang region, Tuyen Quang Province, which have improved our knowledge
of the species (Le Xuan Canh et al., 1992; Pham Nhat, 1994b; Boonratana & Le Xuan Canh, 1994;
Boonratana, 1998, Dang Ngoc Can & Nguyen Truong Son, 1999; Long & Le Khac Quyet, 2001).
In 2002 a FFI survey team discovered a further Tonkin snub-nosed monkey population in Ha Giang
Province (Le Khac Quyet, 2002).
5.1.4 Tonkin snub-nosed monkey records
Duc Xuan Commune, Bac Quang District (HA GIANG)
Special use forest: None
Tonkin snub-nosed monkey status: Provisional occurrence, last report in 1999 (interview) (Dang
Ngoc Can & Nguyen Truong Son,1999)
Chiem Hoa District (Tuyen Quang Province) was visited by a FFI team in November 1999 (Dang Ngoc
Can & Nguyen Truong Son, 1999) with a special emphasis on R. avunculus. According to three local
informants interviewed in Trung Ha Commune (Chiem Hoa District), one group of 8 to 10 individuals
still inhabits Duc Xuan forest (Bac Quang District, Ha Giang Province) near the border of their commune.
Na Chi Commune, Xin Man District (HA GIANG)
Special use forest: None
Tonkin snub-nosed monkey status: Provisional occurrence, last report 2001 (interview, specimen)
(Le Khac Quyet, 2001)
Le Khac Quyet provisionally confirmed the presence of Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys during a FFI
survey (December 2000-January 2001). Interview data suggested 2 groups of 10-20 animals and two
tails were found in a local house in Na Chi village.
This very recent data is of enormous significance since it was formerly believed that the Tonkin snubnosed
monkey was confined to only two areas of forest surrounding Na Hang. These new data are in
accordance with the species range indicated by Fooden (1996) and Dang Ngoc Can & Nguyen Truong
Son (1999) and requires further investigation.
Du Gia Nature Reserve (HA GIANG)
Special use forest: Nature reserve
Tonkin snub-nosed monkey status: Occurrence confirmed, last evidence in 2002 (sighting) (Le Khac
Quyet, 2002)
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