Da Nang (VNS/VNA) - Forest rangers have been attemptingto drive troupes of monkeys (stump-tailed macaques) back to Son Tra Nature Reserve in the central city of Da Nang.

Vice Director of the municipal Department  of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Viet Phuong said a group of 30 monkeys that used to gather by Linh Ung Pagoda seeking food from visitors have been on the move sincesocial distancing orders were implemented from April 1.

Phuong said no tourists meant no food for the monkeys, so theywould be forced to return to their natural habitat to forage for themselves.

Recent research on thepossibility of SARS-CoV-2 passing from humans to monkeys found there was achance if the two were in close contact.

Tran Huu Vy, a biodiversity conservationist, said in order to stop themonkeys gathering at tourism sites, it was necessary to stop feeding them.

Last year, the city warnedtourists not to feed animals at the Linh Ung Pagoda, Son Tra Temple and Intercontinental Da Nang Resort.

The monkeys were getting used totaking candy, snacks and fruit from visitors. Several conflicts have occurred since last year.

A baby monkey was grabbed by alocal man at the Linh Ung Pagoda, while two other monkeys were killed by householddogs at farms in the Son Tra Reserve.

An older monkey was also hit bya car at the foot of Son Tra Mountain.

The 4,439ha reserve is a safehabitat for the red-shanked douc langur (Pygathryxnemaeus), an endangered primate species listed by theInternational Union of Conservation of Nature./.