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Story: Chi Hoa
Photos: Mua Thu, Kim Lien
The Son Tra Peninsula is home to a wealth of wildlife, including rare red-shanked doucs.
Voted “the most livable city in Vietnam”, Danang boasts long golden beaches, sapphire seas and stunning coastal scenery. As well as being beautiful, the Son Tra Peninsula is home to diverse flora and fauna, serving as the “green lungs” of the city. The tropical jungles are home to hundreds of species of animals, including the famous red-shanked douc – one of the most endangered primate species in Indochina.
For nature photographers, Son Tra is full of opportunities. Through binoculars or long lenses, it’s not difficult to catch sight of families of red-shanked doucs playing in the branches high overhead. The Danang Union of Science and Technology Associations recently reported in May 22, 2017 that there are approximately 1,300 red-shanked doucs dwelling in the peninsula’s forests. Local people have many colloquial names for these primates, including “rainbow colored apes” because they come in a range of colors, including yellow, red-, orange and grey. They are also coined “the queen of primates”.
Red-shanked doucs usually live in groups of five to seven. They move from tree to tree. Clusters of doucs will select big branches and thick foliage in which to shelter from the wind and sleep. They do not sleep in caves or on cliff tops. Though classified as folivorous primates, these creatures sometimes consume fruit and nuts. They obtain additional minerals from drinking water or eating clay.
Researchers have found that doucs in different regions have differing diets. Out of the 1,000 plant species recorded on Son Tra, the local doucs consume over 150 species of plants, including trees, vines and herbs. They choose their meals carefully.
According to research undertaken by Conservation International and local scientists, while doucs are on the verge of extinction around the world, the population on the Son Tra Peninsula is quite stable.
However, their future remains uncertain as this species faces many dangers, namely a sharp decline of their habitat area and rampant illegal poaching. The Vietnamese government strictly forbids the poaching and trafficking of red-shanked doucs under any circumstances. Doucs are also listed in the Red List of Vietnam at an Endangered level (EN), which means they need unconditional protection.
The Danang People’s Committee has chosen red-shanked doucs to represent their city in the APEC Summit 2017, which will take place in Danang this November. The choice of this mascot conveys a message about environmental protection, especially in relation to endangered species.
The Son Tra Peninsula is lucky to house the world’s largest remaining population of red-shanked doucs. Many domestic and international animal protection organizations are working hard to protect the diverse wildlife of Son Tra, including the “Queen of primates”. It’s also the duty of all residents of Danang to protect the city’s green lungs.
