Journey to find white cheeked gibbons

Scientists climbed high mountains from dawn, listening to the chirping of chirping to follow, and finally found more than four hundred rare white cheeked gibbons and are threatened with extinction.

>>>Discovering rare and precious gibbon in Vietnam

Mr. Luu Tuong Bach, who is in charge of the International Conservation Research Group (CI), told about the trip to discover rare and precious gibbon in Pu Mat national park, Nghe An.

- How did CI perform a survey and research on white cheeked gibbon in Pu Mat National Park?

The species of white cheeked gibbon discovered in Pu Mat National Park was initially not very interested in CI, because at that time it was considered another species, scientific name is Nomascus siki very wide distribution.

By the end of 2010, the German team of scientists released a genetic and vocal study of gibbon species in Pu Mat and discovered that it was a white-cheeked gibbon. From here CI focused on researching this rare animal by establishing research sites in Pu Mat National Park. As a result, we discovered that this place has the largest population of white-cheeked gibbon in Vietnam compared to the information previously published.

We conducted the survey from 2010 to 2011, divided into 4 batches. The survey team usually only had two CI members and another member of the national park to help. We investigated from the north to the south of Pu Mat garden for 10 consecutive days. From there set up listening points on the map, then we go to each listening point and collect data.

- Specifically, how did you count the number of white cheeked gibbons?

Often to discover primates, researchers must rely on the sound of their songs. So is this ape. According to behavior, white cheeked gibbons often sing early in the morning. Pu Mat National Park is more than 90 thousand hectares wide, so we set up random listening points, each listening point is about 6 km away, using statistical methods to estimate that listening point.

Every day we climbed to the high mountain, must be present at the designated point before 5am to hear the chirping. By listening and analyzing methods, each officer can identify gibbon individuals.

Gibbon-like animals are highly territorial, each of which usually comes from two males, will sing to inform their territory. The team counted 445 individuals in 130 colonies.

White cheeked gibbon. Photo: AFP.

- Why is the International Conservation Organization calling for strict protection for white-cheeked gibbon?

- According to data collected by CI, there are only about 200 groups in Vietnam territory. White cheeked gibbon is an endemic species, it is mainly distributed in China, Vietnam and Laos. In it, in China this species is almost extinct. The white-cheeked gibbon does not have much economic value but is of great scientific value.

There are about 20 primates in Vietnam, particularly gibbons with 6 species, distributed from northwest to south. Their distribution area is shrinking.

The number of herds is decreasing, while each herd has only one male, one female and one mature young. They reproduce little, only one litter per year, each breed is only one animal, so the risk of decline of this species is at an alarming rate.

- According to you, why do you have a decline?

- The first reason is being hunted. This species is becoming a hunting target for many people, with the aim of making food and landscaping. In addition, gibbons are also caught to soak alcohol.

Another cause of their living habitat is affected by human behavior such as forest clearance for cultivation, timber exploitation affecting their habitats, separating their habitats into isolated areas, leading to Their communication ability is lost.

I know that in the future there will be a road built through Pu Mat Park. It is a threat to this animal because the white-cheeked gibbons move on the canopy, the path will make the distance between the trees thinning, their movement is difficult.

White cheeked gibbon has a scientifically important value. Photo: AFP.

- What can we do to avoid the endangered white-cheeked gibbon?

- Firstly, it is necessary to strictly protect living areas of gibbons, prohibiting hunting and illegal activities, making timber. In addition, support policies for local people are needed, so they do not rely on the forest economy anymore.

I hope that in the coming time, domestic and international animal protection organizations will pay more attention to this issue in order to invest human and financial resources, and have more long-term studies to protect precious gene species. .

In contrast, in the near future, the white-cheeked gibbon will disappear.