VIETNAM, Cat Ba Island - June 2007
Relocation of female Cat Ba langurs
(Vietnam 2002, Vietnam 2003)
Click photo to enlarge
Since 2000, the Cat Ba langur has been listed as one of ‘The World’s Top 25 Most Endangered Primates’ (Conservation International and IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group), due to its small population and restricted range. In the past, poaching constituted the primary threat to the langurs’ survival and resulted in a population decline from an estimated 2500-2800 individuals in the 1960s to a mere 53 individuals by 2000. In November 2002, Seacology began support for a langur-guarding program, instituted by the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP), whereby local residents are in charge of guarding particular subpopulations against illegal poaching. The langur population has increased since the onset of this project, comprising 65 individuals at present, yet the overall status of this species is extremely critical. The remaining langur population is severely fragmented into seven isolated sub-populations, four of which are all-female groups. Due to the isolation of langur groups, an exchange of individuals between groups is no longer possible. The only solution is the relocation of some individuals and groups on Cat Ba Island to the strictly protected langur sanctuary that the Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project (CBLCP) established in 2001. An isolated group of three females has been designated as the first target group for relocation. These females are trapped on a small offshore island, and their return to the main island on their own is no longer possible because the mangrove forests between the main and off-shore islands were destroyed. Seacology will help fund the relocation of these isolated females in an attempt to help the Cat Ba langur population continue to grow. 
UPDATE October 2007 - Project coordinator Dr. Rosi Stenke and her colleagues are currently assessing the habitat use and migration routes to determine suitable sites for catching and relocation. They are scheduled to begin relocation in October 2007.
UPDATE May 2008 - In 2007 project leaders assessed the habitat use and migration routes to determine suitable sites for catching and relocation. The best possible site for capture was determined to be a sleeping cave 40 feet above the forest floor. In early 2008 staff blocked off small niches in the cave for langur and human safety during the eventual capture. Plans for mid-2008 include continuing an assessment of the langurs' response to staff activity and climbing equipment at the cave to determine the best method of capture.
UPDATE June 2009 - As of April, 2009 after fixing a rope and a test net at the cave, one Vietnamese bachelor student spent several weeks at the catching site to monitor the reaction of the langurs to the equipment, to collect data about home range size and with what frequency the langurs use the cave as a sleeping place. It was observed that the langurs accepted the equipment, even using it to access the cave. A design for the catching net was finalized by the technical staff of Zoo Muenster and the equipment was transferred to Vietnam. The next step will be to fix the first parts of this equipment at the cave before the rainy season starts. In addition to preparing the catching site, several trips were organized to study various release sites in the sanctuary to make sure that the release will not be too close to other langur or macaque groups.
UPDATE August 2009 - As of August 2009 the catching net has been attached to the sleeping cave and the project leaders are waiting for the langurs to access it - unfortunately they rarely do during the rainy season. Collars for the relocated langurs will also be ordered which will include both VHF and GPS tracking and a drop-off system for when the project is completed and the langurs have been successfully relocated.
UPDATE November 2009 - In September 2009 the CBLCP finalized a risk assessment for the translocation plan. The master plan will be finished in this month. The next steps will involve the translation and the delivery of these documents to the authorities and the subsequent discussion to finally agree on the entire translocation plan.
UPDATE June 2010 - As of June 2010 the master plan and risk assessment have been translated and submitted to the local authorities, after which meetings were held with the Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development in Hanoi and with the Peoples Committee in Hai Phong. Both meetings went extremely well and the project has finally received all the necessary support from all the involved local authorities. Implementation of the master plan will be the next step.
UPDATE January 2011 - A Seacology expedition visited the project in November 2010. The group visited a floating ranger station, as well as one of the rangers in a remote part of Cat Ba Island. The relocation will likely take place within the next month. It is to be the first wildlife relocation to be attempted in Vietnam in several years. If the langurs cannot be lured out of their cave, the animals will be darted with tranquilizers.
UPDATE June 2011 - Regular trips to the catching site of the langurs took place to check the equipment already fixed at the cave entrance and to plan the remaining steps for the translocation. Due to the fact that the rainy season started much earlier than expected, the translocation had to be postponed to the beginning of the next dry season.
Indicates full or partial funding by Seacology Japan
