Forest hid unknown population of rare primate in Vietnam — and there may be more
In a forest in the central highlands of Vietnam, researchers came upon a small unrecorded group of critically endangered primates.
Perched in the trees, with their distinct long white whiskers and orange collars, were several grey-shanked douc langurs, according to a May 16 study published in Oryx.
The group, which included “one adult male, two adult females, two subadults and two juveniles,” was found in mountain terrain in Khe Lim Forest, according to the study.
Through additional field work and interviews with local residents, researchers identified two more sites where grey-shanked douc langurs could be found, according to the study.
The species has been severely impacted by hunting, trapping, road construction and habitat loss, the study said.
The discovery of these seven primates is significant because it suggests there may be more unknown groups, “highlighting the urgent need for conservation interventions to protect the remaining langur populations,” according to researchers.
The species is primarily found in Vietnam and neighboring areas of Cambodia, and fewer than 2,000 individuals have been recorded in the wild, according to the study.
About half of the known grey-shanked douc langurs live in unprotected areas with “limited habitat,” the study said.
The research team included Linh Nguyen Van, Tai Anh Nguyen, Tay Van Nguyen, Chuong Van Hoang and Long Ha Thang.
Khe Lim Forest, located in Quang Nam Province, is about a 500-mile drive southeast from Hanoi.
This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Forest hid unknown population of rare primate in Vietnam — and there may be more."
