A monkey is given food by a visitor at a destination in Da Nang (Photo courtesy of Tran Huu Vy) Directorof GreenViet, Tran Huu Vy, said the research, which began last December, hasbeen tracking the habitat and population of the monkeys as well as food chainsto limit risks of conflict with human activities.
Hesaid the research was urgent as many flocks of monkey had left their habitat inthe primary forest to seek food from tourists and offerings at temples andpagodas at the foot of Son Tra mountain recently. Monkeys had conflicts withpeople when local residents and visitors tried to feed them.
Monkeyseven broke into kitchens and fruit farms in the reserve, raising risks oftransmitting viruses between the primates and people.
Despiteserious warnings to not feed monkeys in the reserve, some local residentsand tourists have given monkeys fruit, snacks and bread in the reserve.
Localrangers said they believed a group of 30 monkeys that used to gather by theLinh Ung Pagoda to seek food from visitors returned to their naturalhabitat during COVID-19 social distancing orders between April and July.
However,the monkeys reappeared at some destinations to get food from tourists duringthe Tet (Lunar New Year)holidays.
Vy,a biodiversity conservationist, said it was important to stop feeding monkeysat tourism sites and long-term research should be built-in with theconservation and protection of the monkeys.
Researchby a group of conservationists from GreenViet and Da Nang University’s Scienceand Education College found there were about 50 herds of rhesus macaques withmore than 500 individuals living in the reserve.
Biologistsalso warned that monkeys living in the reserve could break into resorts,causing trouble for tourists and management if local authorities do not haveany effective solutions for the conservation and protection of the primates.
Accordingto Son Tra-Ngu Hanh Son forest protection sub-department, some trafficaccidents occurred in the area in recent years when cars and motorbikes hitmonkeys crossing the road.
Lastyear, a baby monkey was grabbed by a local man at Linh Ung Pagoda, while twoother monkeys were killed by household dogs at farms in the reserve.
Atleast eight rhesus monkeys were found living at the Linh Ung Pagoda withserious injuries or missing limbs, according to local freelancephotographer Nguyen Cong Hung
Sixmonkeys were killed by motorcyclists in 2015-2017, and two cases of illegalhunting were uncovered in the area, with three red-shanked douc langurs killedfor money.
Therhesus macaque is listed as Least Concern in the International Union forConservation of Nature (IUCN)’s red list of threatened species.
The4,400ha reserve is home to more than 1,300 red-shanked douc langurs – anendangered primate species listed by IUCN – and more than 1,000 plant and370 animal species including 15 flora and 25 fauna species listed as themost threatened species in the world.
Ithosts at least 10,000 people each month./.
VNA
