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

6. Threats to primates in Vietnam
6.1 Hunting and wildlife trade
6 THREATS TO PRIMATES IN VIETNAM
Hunting is the main threat to primate populations in Vietnam. This activity has a considerable
impact on wildlife in the country due to high human density, easy access to guns and the existence
of a well-connected wildlife trade in South-east Asia.
The use of guns to hunt is widespread and largely uncontrolled. Possession of firearms is common
and they are easily available. Some weapons were kept by people after the wars, however, homemade
guns are also commonly used. In 1992, in a two month period, Nghe An Province policemen checked
and confiscated 10,124 weapons including 3,829 army guns, 5,895 shotguns and 317 sport guns
(Nhan Dan Newspaper No. 15150, cited by CRES 1997). Shooting animals is often opportunistic and
every mammal and bird species constitutes a potential target. Use of non-selective trapping is also
common and widely reported.
Although the proportion of wildlife in local diet is not well assessed, it is clear that it represents a
protein source, mainly in the remote mountainous areas where agricultural resources are poor (e.g.
Che Tao Commune in Yen Bai Province, Geissmann et al., 2000). Local people traditionally eat all
primate species. Being a target of relatively large size, primates are systematically shot when
encountered. However, if we consider the extremely low density of primates in Vietnamese forests, it
cannot be expected that they constitute an essential food source for local human populations.
Several interviews report that the meat of leaf-monkeys is not tasty and so unpopular (Ratajszczak et
al., 1990; Nadler & Ha Thang Long, 2000; T. Nadler, pers. comm.; Dang Ngoc Can, pers. comm.).
However, reports of local consumption of these animals have been documented and may not be
uncommon (Eames & Robson, 1993; Duckworth et al., 1999; Ngo Van Tri & Lormée, 2000).
The main threat is posed by commercially oriented hunting. Wildlife constitutes a large part of the local
income through markets. Primates are sold for food, medicine, pets or for various decorative purposes.
The internal wildlife trade in Vietnam is particularly active. However, a number of people involved in this
lucrative trade point out that most animals are destined to be sold in China. It is clear that China has
played, and continues to play, an important role in biodiversity loss in Vietnam. Furthermore, Vietnam is
the center of wildlife traffic in Indochina with the trade being well organised (Compton & Le Hai Quang,
1998). Wildlife is bought in Lao PDR (Nooren & Claridge, 2001) or Cambodia (Martin & Phipps, 1996),
then brought as far as China to supply its rampant wildlife trade. In addition, since hunting in Vietnam
is not profitable due to the rarity of valuable animals, Vietnamese hunters often act in adjacent Laotian
forests (T. Osborne, pers. comm., 2000; Duckworth et al., 1999; Timmins & Evans, 1996).
It is probable that the main motivation to hunt primates in Vietnam is for medicine production. This
activity is widely reported in several areas. It may constitute the most serious threat for the survival of
primate populations. Evidence of commercial exploitation of primates for this purpose suggests that this
activity is particularly intensive and is a major concern. During one month of surveying, Dang Ngoc Can
& Nguyen Truong Son (1999) found the remains of eight Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys shot during the
last ten years which were kept for traditional medicinal purposes. The case of the Tonkin snub-nosed
monkey reveals the level of hunting for such a purpose. This species is eaten and is not kept as a pet
because it cannot survive in captivity without proper care. However, the population has been seriously
reduced throughout its range. In Phong Nha-Ke Bang area, Timmins et al. (1998) cited various sources
reporting organised hunting groups from local communities going into the forest to hunt diurnal primates
with the apparent objective to sell the animals for medicinal preparation. Each year several tonnes of
dried carcasses are prepared in this way for sale (Pham Nhat & Nguyen Xuan Dang, 1999).
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