BackSociety » Environment » The Greater Mekong's Primates Are Under Threat, but All Hope Is Not Lost

The Greater Mekong's Primates Are Under Threat, but All Hope Is Not Lost

A recent report from the WWF has highlighted ongoing threats to the Greater Mekong's wondrous, but shrinking, bounty of unique primates, as well efforts to bring these amazing creatures back from the brink.

"Primates of the Greater Mekong: Status, Threats and Conservation Efforts" notes that the region — which includes Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar — is home to 44 known primate species, 19 of which are only found in this part of the world. 

Vietnam is home to 24 species, the most in the region, but almost all of these primates are in trouble across the Greater Mekong: 11 are considered critically endangered, and another 21 are endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. 

Some of these animals have the benefit of a relatively wide distribution area, but others, such as Vietnam's Cát Bà langur, are only found in one location, and thus at particular risk of further population loss.

"Deforestation, habitat degradation and poaching driven by trade and consumption have forced many primate species to the brink of extinction," the report states. "Additionally, there is the potential for human pathogens to jump to primates, threatening them with deadly epidemics."

While much of this is bleak, WWF also notes that very targeted conservation efforts are ongoing. In Vietnam, protected areas specifically intended for the Delacour's and Cát Bà langurs have been created, while the Endangered Primate Rescue Center in Cúc Phương National Park is attempting to breed threatened species that could be reintroduced to the wild. 

The authors highlight a number of conservation NGOs working in the region, and ultimately conclude that "We must make all necessary efforts for the long-term survival of these fascinating, diverse and iconic primates of the Greater Mekong."

Related Articles

Michael Tatarski

in Environment

Scientists Confirmed 91 New Species in Vietnam in 2020, WWF Report Shows

A new report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) highlights just how biodiverse the Greater Mekong region remains, even as major threats continue to impact flora and fauna populations.

in Music & Arts

The Wildlife Artist Who Paints the Beauty of Vietnam’s Endangered Nature

Dao Van Hoang, a self-taught painter, welcomed us into his studio at Le Petit Musée in Thao Dien. Surrounded by watercolors of exotic plants and paintings of wild animals, he shared with us his life s...

in Environment

Award-Winning Children's Book on Conservation to Release Sequel Tomorrow

Saving H'non: Chang and the Elephants, a sequel to the critically acclaimed children’s book by Trang Nguyễn, is scheduled to hit shelves on June 11 following the success of Saving Sorya: Chang and the...

Paul Christiansen

in Natural Selection

Khỉ Vàng: The Shit-Stirrer, Snack Thief, and Petty Criminal of Vietnam's Forests

I’m not a fucking idiot — That’s what I thought while looking at the sign hung from the door of my hotel room in Đà Nẵng.

in Environment

Learning to Coexist in Peace Is the First Step to Protect Vietnam's Last Remaining Elephants

A trail of enormous footprints, criss-crossing slabs of cracked concrete, lead to a battered ranger station in Vietnam’s Pù Mát National Park. Park staff say the wild Asian elephant that left the trac...

in Environment

Lê Xuân Ái, Vietnam's Dedicated Turtle Conservationist, Passes Away at 63

Last week, Lê Xuân Ái, the former director of Côn Đảo National Park, passed away at the age of 63 after years of battling cancer. He had made great contributions to the revival and preservation of sea...

Partner Content