I.

Project name:
Vietnam primate rescue handbook

II. Project proposer:

Nguyen Thi Thu Trang
Company: South East Asia TRAFFIC – Indochina.
Address: 39 Xuan Dieu, Ha Noi
Phone number: 0906282758
Email: trang.nguyen90@gmail.com

III. Researchers and collaborators:

1.
2.
3. Wildlife rescue Center in Soc Son
IV. Implemental Organization:

V. Project objectives:
- Support rangers (or Forest Protection Departments), staffs of Rescue Centers
to exactly identify rescued primate.
- Properly define the ways of raising and food ration of primate in the captive
condition
- Identify wounds in rescued primate (if have) and the temporary treatment.
- Describe the natural living environment of primate as well as provide the
methods and process to release them to this environment.
- Provide zoos, zoological and botanical gardens, parks, etc further general
knowledge about the ways to keep in captivity, raise Vietnam primate,
especially the species that are difficult to capture such as: Voọc chà vá,
snub- nosed monkey, etc.

VI. Project’s importance and needfulness:

Vietnam has high bio-diversity, especially a variety in flora and fauna and is a
distribution area of rare, unique and endemic species. From tropical dense wood
to offshore island or limestone mountain area, there is always a potential vitality
of species.

However, in recent years, because of the raising urbanization, uncontrolled

deforestation and increasing demand for wildlife products in big cities, urban
areas, a large number of wildlife has been in risk of extinction. According to the
survey by TRAFFIC in 2005, nearly 50% of people in Hanoi admitted having
once consumed wildlife products including Vietnam primate and of which nearly
45% often consumed over 3 times per year. For example, in 3 September in Hai
Phong, 213kg of monkey was confiscated by a working group of Quan Tru traffic
police. In 11 September, in Van Tho commune (Van Ninh, Khanh Hoa) the local

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rangers and policemen caught a lorry that was illegally transporting a large
quantity long-tailed macaque on the Highway 1A, etc _ ENV.

Besides the more and more sophisticated trading activities, happily Vietnam
wildlife controlling network is also stronger and more numerous since then
Vietnam has become a CITES member (the international convention on trading
extinct wildlife species) in 1993.

Rescue centers are gradually established to make a network in Vietnam. The

endangered wildlife are rescued, cared and then released to their natural
environment

However, it remains difficulties in identify primate. Most of rangers and staffs of

Rescue Centers, National Parks, special used forest and reserves, etc graduated
from Colleges of Forestry; some from Agricultural Colleges. They are good at
identifying only trees, wood not primate. Even students who graduated in spined
fauna at some universities also get the same difficulties because they were only
taught the general knowledge of zoology.

Further more, there are important things that have not been enough paid
attention. They are the methods of raising newly rescued primate and the
behavior of rangers as well as staffs of Rescue Centers so that the primate do
not fell afraid. For example, in some FPDs, after confiscating grey-shanked douc
langur that has a characteristic of less contact to human, rangers allowed
residents to directly see. As a result, they are too frightened and died.

Another aspect considered in the conservation work is the captivity and care of
primate in zoos, zoological and botanical gardens and even FPDs in Vietnam.
Some rare primate (Red-shanked douc langur, etc) were once raised in Hanoi
Zoo, but they have not been long-lived. It can be because of inadaptable climate
and living environment or inappropriate food ration and care. (Some rangers and
staffs of Rescue Center fed them with rice, vegetable, even wine, beer as for
human).

Thus, this handbook will provide rangers and staffs of Rescue Centers, National
Parks and all zoos in Vietnam detailed information of identification and care of
each group in 25 Vietnam primate species. Particularly, the information of each
species’ food ration; common wounds as well as first and long-term treatments
for those who are hurt due to trap, shotgun or transporting for trade; possible
ways of arranging the cage; especially methods as well as processes of
releasing them and some notes in the whole period of treatment – raising –
release.

VII. Overview of documents related.

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Vietnam has a high variety of primate with more than 25 species and sub-species
in the total 340 species and about 600 sub-species in the world. Three in five
worldwide primate families are available in Vietnam: Lorises (Lorisidae),
Macaques (Cercopithecidae) and Gibbons (Hylobatidae).

However, besides the variety of species including endemic ones, many of

Vietnam primate are threatened at a global level. According to the assessment of
IUCN, 65% of Vietnam primate are in the endangered or critically endangered
condition. In the 25 worldwide most endangered primate species, five are in
Vietnam with a few individuals existing in the nature. They are Delacour’s langur
(Trachypithecus delacouri ) with about 250 individuals, Cat Ba langur ( T.
poliocephalus poliocesphalus ) with about 60 ones, Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (
Rhinopithecus avunculus ) with about 200 ones and Black-crested gibbon (
Nomascus nasutus ) with about 40 ones. All Vietnam primates are classified in
Appendix I or Appendix II of CITES.

According to the Decree 32/2006/NĐ-CP in 30 March, 2006 on management of

rare and endangered forest fauna and flora, all 25 primate species and sub-
species in Vietnam are in the IB or IBB item (They are only exploited for the
scientific purpose)

So, the conservation of Vietnam primate becomes more and more pressing. Most
of recent researches and publications focus only on one or some certain species.
There are some publications of identifying Vietnam animals such as: Introduction
of some beasts in Indochina and Thailand (WWWF_2000) and Identification of
wildlife in trading (TRAFFIC_2000), etc. However, these publications have not
been detailed and the pictures of animals are mostly drawing.
Cuốn Hướng dẫn điều tra ngoại nghiệp Linh Trưởng ( Nguyễn Vũ
Khôi, Julia C. Shaw ) được xuất bản lần đầu vào năm 2002 và được tái bản lần
2 vào năm 2005.

The book “ …” by Nguyen Vu Khoi and Julia C. Shaw was firstly published in
2002 and second reprinted in 2005. It described Vietnam primate more
specifically with clear color and real pictures of 25 primate species. However,
there was a limitation in the content that covered only identifying characteristics
and distributive areas not conservation and captivity methods.

Therefore, it is imperative to compile a handbook with all necessary information

to rescue primate. It provides not only identifying information but also knowledge
about conservation of Vietnam primate in the captivity condition to minimize risks
in the whole process of treatment – raising – release.

VIII. Research methods

Objectives Implementation Expected results Places

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Collect the most Study primate Define basic
basic and related characteristics
necessary documents, and raising
information of especially what methods of each
primate raising mentioned in the species based on
and release. project. preceding
researches
Learn about Learn from
similar preceding
publications and publications’
projects. experiences of
writing, display
and arrangement
of pictures &
appendix.
Find out about Inquire into the Learn from the Emergency
difficulties as well rescue centers success of EPRC Primate Rescue
as mistakes of that are Rescue Centre, Centre (Cuc
Rescue Centers, successful in some FPDs and Phuong)
FPDs, zoos, etc rescuing as well zoos, etc in order
in the process of as captive raising to propose an Soc Son Wildlife
primate captivity and the optimal solution of Relief Centre (Soc
and raising. infrastructure of cage arrangement Son)
some FPDs, which is both
rescue centers, scientifically and Hanoi Zoo
etc. Compare the economically
successful models reasonable.
with unsuccessful
ones to find out
the mistakes.

Study individual Interview rangers, Pay attention and Emergency

wounds, common staffs of rescue analyze the Primate Rescue
diseases of centres and zoos, information. Then Centre (Cuc
newly rescued veterinarians, etc. conclude some Phuong)
primate. common
Interview EPRC’s diseases, its Soc Son Wildlife
veterinarians and treatments as well Relief Centre (Soc
staffs. Pay as some notes Son)
attention in when raising
common rescued primate. Hanoi Zoo
symptoms,
wounds and
treatments of
newly rescued
primate.

4
Define the food Interview the information, Emergency
ration of the successful rescue collect the data of Primate Rescue
primate in the centre - EPRC to common food Centre (Cuc
captivity investigate the ration for primate Phuong)
condition primate’s food in EPRC
ration as well as including: the time
learn about these of feeding, food
symbolic models. components and
food amount, etc.
Propose Take a specimen Define, classify Emergency
solutions that of plants and then and give a Primate Rescue
help FPDs, analyze to define suitable food Centre (Cuc
Rescue Centres, the varieties ration for the Phuong)
Zoos, etc prepare (common name, primate.
the suitable food scientific name,
ration. etc) as well as Define the
their distributive distributive areas
areas of the plants, and
then show some
that can be food
for primate in
different areas.
Some plants
should be
encouraged to
grow in the FPDs
or rescue centers
with large land
area in order to
have both shade
and food for
primate.
Provide methods Interview and refer Collect and Emergency
and processes of to primate experts. receive ideas of Primate Rescue
releasing primate experts, scientists Centre .
into their natural and veterinarians,
environment. etc about
releasing methods
and processes as
well as some
notes before and
after release.

- Receive experts’ ideas about conclusions of investigations and interviews.

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 - Make investigation and interview form (the interview form is in the
Appendix).

IX. Expected handbook content

The publication covers three following main parts:
Part 1: Primate Identification and basic knowledge of primate rescue.
Including two chapters:
Chapter 1: Vietnam primate identification
- 4 items : Culi, monkey, langur and gibbon
- The definition of Culi, monkey, langur and gibbon.
- The identifying characteristics of each species in each group (with
illustrative pictures).
- Distribution and endanger level.
Chapter 2: Basic knowledge of primate
- The definition of Rescue
- Early steps of receiving rescued primate, approaching methods
that avoid making primate frightened.
- Steps of examination and check of primate’s health.
- Some cases that need isolation and special attention.
- What should be avoided when arranging cages for primate.
- Ways of feeding, looking after and cleaning up the cages, etc
(times of cleaning the cages in a day or in a season, etc.)
Part 2: Ways of raising primate in the captivity condition
Including 4 chapters
Chapter 1: Loris (family of Lorisidae )
- General overview of the Loris family and its two species in
Vietnam.
- Cage requirements and some ways to enrich the captivity
environment (cage size, the number of individuals, etc) for Loris
- The food ration of Loris and some kinds of plants (flowers, fruits,
etc), insects that can be found and grown in some places.
- Ways of arrangement Loris’s cages and enrichment its captivity
environment.
- Loris’s common diseases, their precaution and treatment.
Chapter 2: Monkey (family of Cercopithicedae: subfamily of Cercopithecinae )
- General overview of the Macaca monkey family and its five
species in one subspecies in Vietnam.
- Cage requirements and some ways to enrich the captivity
environment for Macaca monkey.
- The food ration of Macaca monkey and some kinds of plants
(flowers, fruits, etc) that can be found and grown in some places.
- Ways of arrangement Macaca monkey’s cages and enrichment its
captivity environment.
- Macaca monkey’s common diseases, their precaution and
treatment.
Chapter 3: Langur (family of Cercopithicedae: subfamily of Colobinae)

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 - General overview of the leaves eating monkey group in the
subfamily Colobinae including 7 species of Trachypithecusin and 3
of Pygathrix.
- Cage requirements and some ways to enrich the captivity
environment for langur.
- The food ration of langur and some kinds of plants providing
leaves that can be found and grown in some places (plants with
leaves all year round).
- Ways of arrangement langur’s cages and enrichment its captivity
environment.
- Langur’s common diseases, their precaution and treatment.
Chapter 4: Gibbon (Family of Hylobatidae)
- General overview of the gibbon family and its five species in
Vietnam.
- Cage requirements and some ways to enrich the captivity
environment for gibbon.
- The food ration of gibbon and some kinds of plants (flowers, fruits,
etc) that can be found and grown in some places.
- Ways of arrangement gibbon’s cages and enrichment its captivity
environment.
- Gibbon’s common diseases, their precaution and treatment.

Part 3: Process of releasing primate to the nature and some notes.

Chapter 1: Process of releasing primate to the nature.
Chapter 2: Some experiences of raising and veterinary care.
Chapter 3: Some special notes in the process of treatment – raising – release.

X. Implementation time
Anticipated start: November, 2007
Anticipated finish: October, 2008

XI. Implementing plans

Order Activities Months

No 1 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1
1. Research and
collect related
documents, etc.
2. Interview,
investigate, study
and field work, etc.
3. Collect necessary
pictures and
information, etc.

7
 4. Write the
manuscript.

5. Exchange and
discuss with
consultative
scientists.
6. Complete the
handbook.

7. Print and deliver

them to offices, etc.

XII. Expected results

1. Find out about FPD staff’s difficulties in receiving, looking after and
capture primate, etc as well as some common wounds of newly rescued
primate.
2. Collect pictures of primate captivity condition from some FPDs and Soc
Son Wildlife Relief Centre as well as their wounds for data.
3. Collect necessary knowledge of temporary and long-term treatment for
primate’s wounds as well as methods of captivity including: ways of cage
arrangement, the food ration and especially some notes in the process of
treatment – raising – release.
4. Collect valuable experiences of the raising method and the process of
releasing primate to the nature.
5. Make good some disadvantages in the captivity process, which are
realized through survey and interview of rangers, staffs of rescue centers
and zoos, etc.
6. Successfully complete the handbook, provide necessary information and
experiences of primate identification and care.

XIII. References
• Bina Venkataraman. (2007). A TRAFFIC report: A matter of attitude: The
consumption of Wildanimal Products in Hanoi, Vietnam.
• Camille Dorian. ( 2002 ). Monkeys of Asia : The Endangered Douc Langur.
Monkey matters Website.
• Eleanor Jane Sterling, Martha Maud Hurley, Le Đuc Minh. ( 2007 ). Lich Su
Tu Nhien cua Viet Nam. Yale University Press – New Haven and London
• Nguyen Vu Khoi, Julia C. Shaw . ( 2005 ). Huong dan đieu tra ngoai nghiep
Linh truong, WAR, HCM FPD, FZS, FFI
• Nhan dang đong vat hoang da bi buon ban. ( 2000 ). Nha xuat ban Nong
Nghiep.
• Paul W.Sherman and John Alcock. ( 2001 ). Exploring Animal Behavior.

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• Tilo Nadler, Frank Momberg, Nguyen Xuan Dang, Nicolas Lormee. ( 2002 ).
Leaf Monkeys.

XIV. Necessary requirements

Camera……………………………………..CI
Book editors
Book consulters
Coordinators

XV. Budget estimation