Vietnam: Rare and endangered langurs

The white-headed langur (Cat Ba langur), one of the world's rarest primates, is at risk of extinction due to natural tree hunting.

>>> Red-shanked douc langur fell sharply in Son Tra

Currently, there are about 70 individuals of the white-headed langur in Cat Ba National Park, an increase of 10 individuals compared to 2000.

However, conservationists warn the white-headed langur is facing another risk: getting into the forest to extract trees for sale to the bonsai industry. One of the most plucked trees is the fig tree.

White-headed langur (or Cat Ba langur) faces the risk of extinction due to bonsai hunting

Fig tree, or fig tree, is one of the popular plants to shape into ornamental plants in Asia, such as Vietnam, Japan, China, . Small full fig trees can be sell for $ 1,000. The longer the tree is, the more valuable it is.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Chi, who owns about 700 valuable ornamental plants in a bonsai garden in Hanoi, said some of his ornamental plants were over 150 years old and some plants were sold for up to $ 350,000.

The temptation of money has made poor families near Cat Ba National Park into the forest to steal trees for sale. Pham Van Tuyen, a conservation officer, said on Guardian: "When hunting becomes more difficult because animals are scarce, local people have switched to stealing trees for sale. Just a few hours into the forest, they can earn a bonsai about 30-40 years old ".

In 2000, the Cat Ba langur conservation project was established with the help of a German expert. Scientists have claimed that Cat Ba langur is one of the world's rarest primates. The project has hired local people to protect this langur instead of hunting them, and opening educational programs in surrounding communities.

Even so, people continue to go to the forest to steal trees to degrade the damaged ecosystem and encourage those who have opportunities to destroy forests more often.

Project director Rick Passaro said: "Cat Ba Island has a very diverse ecosystem. A new snake, a bat species and a new species of gecko have been discovered here. Larger animals are in serious danger of extinction if the forest is destroyed at the current rate ".