Photo: Francois’ Langur Photo: Xu Jianming
The program aims to conserve the small population of Ba Be National Park’s iconic species. Activities include population surveying, threat assessment, conservation planning, and, more recently, implementation of the Francois’ langur Conservation Action Plan.
The Francois’ Langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) is an endangered monkey distributed north of the Red River in Vietnam across the Chinese border and through Guangxi and Guizhou Provinces. It is restricted to habitats characterized by karst topography with plentiful cliffs. The species was historically widespread in seven north-eastern provinces of Vietnam. Now all remaining populations are small, isolated, and vulnerable to extinction.
The main threats to the Francois’ Langur are hunting and habitat destruction. From 13 to 26 February 2009, a status survey was carried out in Ba Be National Park to provide adequate field data to develop a Conservation Action Plan for the species and to design a long term monitoring program for the species at the site. The survey was co-funded by the Twycross Zoo Conservation Welfare Fund. Sightings of Francois’ Langurs were rare in the surveyed areas, with only one group of four individuals recorded at one location and a group of 6 to 13 animals reported by local people at another location.
In general direct animal observations were surprisingly rare. Like other primate populations, hunting and habitat destruction are the main threats to the Francois’ Langur and its habitat. Illegal logging poses a serious threat to the habitat of the leaf monkey, while shotguns and traps were identified as the main methods for hunting in the area. Logging and hunting activities often occur in remote and difficult to access areas where control of forest rangers is irregular, due to a limited number of staff.
The report outlines actions that are needed to address the immediate threats to the species at the national park. These recommendations will be used as guidelines for developing a Conservation Action Plan for the Francois’ Langur in Ba Be National Park. A follow-up survey will be needed to re-examine areas where no leaf monkeys were directly sighted, but reported by local communities and national park rangers.
Reports Survey of Population Status of Francois’ Langur May 2009 English (1 MB)
Proposed Francois Langur Species and Conservation Area
The proposed reserve, in the north of Tuyen Quang Province, is almost 16,000 ha and splits into three distinctive areas. Recent surveys have confirmed that the region holds national and global biodiversity significance, while it possesses suitable habitat for White-eared Night Heron and Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey and holds Vietnam’s largest population of Francois’ Langurs. Major threats to biodiversity include: shifting cultivation related forest clearance, timber extraction, hunting, over harvesting of non-timber forest products, and habitat fragmentation. Species Conservation Program The Conservation Program commenced in 2010 with initial activities focusing on Francois’ langur, conifers (in collaboration with the Centre for Plant Conservation), and nest protection for the White-eared Night Heron. In addition, the definition of community-based Francois’ langur conservation action planning is currently underway.
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