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

Vietnam Primate Conservation Status Review Part 2: LEAF MONKEYS
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Tat Pet is the border area of the communes of Phong Huan, Yen My and Dai Sao in Cho Don District
(Bac Kan Province). The natural habitat has been reduced by intensive exploitation of bamboo. The
remaining forest is now located in the northeastern part of Phong Huan Commune and the eastern
part of Yen My and Dai Sao Communes. The primary forest is largely confined to steep hills.
In 1989, during a primate survey in north Vietnam (Ratajszczak et al., 1990), snub-nosed monkeys
were reported by local people in the vicinity of Phong Huan Commune.
In October and November 1999, FFI carried out a short survey to assess the primate status in this
area. 12 hunters interviewed in different villages reported one group of about 6 individuals. In 1998,
one female (7.5 kg) was shot in Tat Pet (22 O 05’03”N / 105 O 36’51”E, 390m) by a Tay hunter of Phong
Huan Commune. One left hand, kept for medicinal purposes, was photographed by the team.
Khuoi Muoc and Khuoi Chang areas, Cho Don District (BAC KAN) and Dinh Hoa District (THAI NGUYEN)
Special use forest: None
Tonkin snub-nosed monkey status: Provisional occurrence, last report in 1999 (interview, specimen)
(Dang Ngoc Can & Nguyen Truong Son, 1999)
Khuoi Muoc and Khuoi Chang are two mountains making the border between Yen Nhuan and Yen
My Communes (Cho Don District, Bac Kan Province) and Linh Thong Commune (Dinh Hoa District,
Thai Nguyen Province). The forest is very fragmented and not able to support any significant population
of primates.
One adult male skull (ZMVNU 787) was collected in Linh Thong by Hoang Dinh Mac in August 1966.
One adult male skull (ZMVNU 789) was collected in the same locality by Luu Dinh Kieu in March 1967.
In October and November 1999, FFI carried out a short survey in these communes to assess the
primate status. According to local hunters, snub-nosed monkeys still occur in this area.
Three hunters reported one group of 18 to 20 individuals in Khuoi Muoc (22 O 01’40”N/105 O 39’50”E).
In 1998, two Tay hunters encountered this group and shot one individual. To confirm this information,
one right hand and one left foot were shown to the FFI team. In this area, the last sighting was
reported in April 1999 (Dang Ngoc Can & Nguyen Truong Son, 1999).
According to nine local informants, another group of 4 individuals may inhabit the Khuoi Chang area
near Khuoi Phuong (22 O 01’40”N/105 O 39’04”E). In 1997, one animal was killed from a group of 7
animals in this area. In October 1998, another hunter shot an adult male from a group of 6 animals.
Its skeleton was photographed by the team. On the same mountain, another adult male was killed.
Hands and feet kept as medicine were observed. The last sighting was reported in October 1999
(Dang Ngoc Can & Nguyen Truong Son, 1999).
Ngoc Phai Commune, Cho Don District (BAC KAN)
Special use forest: None
Tonkin Snub-nosed monkey status: Provisional occurence, last report in 1993 (museum specimen,
FCXM)
This locality is reported by Ratajszczak et al. (1990) from their survey in 1989. Local informants claimed
that a small group of snub-nosed monkeys was occasionally seen on the upper slopes of Lung Luong
Mountain. In addition, a skull was observed in a hunter’s house at the base of this mountain. One adult
male skull (FCXM 009) was collected in September 1993 by Nong The Khiem in Ngoc Phai.