Known for the beautiful mane of golden fur that surrounds its black face, the Cat Ba Langur (also called as the golden-headed langur) has become one of the rarest species in the world.
Found only on the island of Cat Ba - off the coast of Vietnam - these brightly colored primates spend their days foraging through the forest, and their nights sleeping in a variety of caves. Although much of their diet consists of leaves, bark and fruits – some of which contain high levels of substances that would be poisonous to other animals – these island dwellers are far from invincible. By the year 2000, their entire species population had dwindled to a mere 53 surviving langurs.
Luckily, the Cat Ba Langur Project was created to come to the aid of these imperiled primates. Langurs have long been the target of poaching for the preparation of a traditional medicine called “monkey balm,” a salve used for external pain relief. Knowing this, the project has made eliminating this sort of illegal activity its main objective. Members of the community have taken on the role of “Langur Guardians” - with the authority to patrol the guarded zones, confiscate any hunting devices being carried, and spread the word about conservation. As a result, the remaining populations of this vulnerable species have increased to at least 65 individuals, for the first time in over a decade.
In addition, the project closely monitors the langur population, creates protective measures for the species, promotes public conservation awareness, and aids the Cat Ba National Park staff.
With the support of the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, the project was recently able to expand their education program and begin holding a series of village meetings in an area that is notorious for its extensive illegal trapping and forest use activities. The Fund is pleased to support the establishment of a strong community based langur protection program and believes it will offer this unique species its greatest chance for survival. For more information, please visit http://www.catbalangur.org/
