In more than 6 months of 2024, 15 Cat Ba Langur individuals were born, bringing the total population to more than 90, the highest number in the past 100 years.
Mr. Neahga Leonard, Director of the Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project, said that the population number was confirmed through genetic research on Cat Ba Langur by the Göttingen Primate Research Center – Federal Republic of Germany.
Cat Ba Langur or Golden-Headed Langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus) is a primate endemic to Cat Ba Archipelago, Cat Hai district, Hai Phong city, is critically endangered and has the second smallest population in the world.
Once widely distributed on Cat Ba archipelago, hunting reduced this endemic species to just over 40 individuals in 2000. Cat Ba National Park then coordinated with the Zoological Society for Species and Population Conservation (ZGAP) and Allwetterzoo Münster Zoo (Germany) to establish the Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project to prevent the risk of extinction of this species.
As a result, the number of Langur individuals has gradually increased. From the beginning of 2024 until now, 14/15 calves have been born and are living healthily. According to the Project Management Board, this is the year with the highest number of calves born. “This proves that efforts to protect the safety of the Cat Ba Langur population are working. We hope to have more calves from now until the end of the year,” said Mr. Neahga.
An adult Cat Ba Langur and a juvenile. Photo: Neahga Leonard
According to Mr. Neahga Leonard, the project started with a wildlife population that had declined to a dangerous level, standing on the brink of extinction in 2000. In the early years, the implementation team tried to stabilize the population, avoiding further losses due to hunting. At that time, the rate of females participating in reproductive activities was low. Every two years, the mother gave birth to a calf. Therefore, the increase in the early years was extremely slow. “It was only when the population size gradually increased that we had a significant increase in the number of females participating in reproduction as today, about 30 individuals, accounting for 30% of the Cat Ba Langur population,” said Mr. Neahga Leonard.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice Chairman of Cat Hai District People’s Committee, assessed that the increase in the Cat Ba Langur population is a positive sign for primate conservation in Vietnam and the world. Cat Ba Langur is one of the few endangered primate species that is on the rise.
More than 90 Cat Ba Langurs currently live mainly on the steep cliffs along the coast of Cat Ba Archipelago, which is associated with their food source and safe shelter.
A flock of Cat Ba Langurs on a cliff. Photo: Mai Sy Luan
All species of langurs in the genus Trachypithecus give birth to orange-yellow babies. This is a social trait that helps attract the attention and interest of adult individuals, creating cohesion and sharing in the herd. Young langurs suckle their mother’s milk in the first months of life. They start eating young shoots from around the 3rd month. Depending on the individual, from the 5th month the skin and fur color of the adult gradually appears – darker on the body, slightly gray on the legs and yellow to light yellow on the neck and head. When the fur color of the young gradually changes to that of the adult, the interest of other individuals in the herd will also gradually decrease. Females begin to reproduce from around 4 – 6 years old.
Cat Ba Langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus) has physical characteristics quite similar to the White-headed Langur (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) in southern China and is often mistakenly called by that name. However, the head color of the adult Cat Ba Langur is white and yellow, that of the White-headed Langur is only white and they are still distinct species.