The Species: Douc
Hunted for meat, medicine and threatened by habitat destruction
| Scientific name | Pygathrix nemaeus |
| Conservation status | Endangered |
| Status in Vietnam | Endangered |
| Endemism | Indochina |
Grey-shanked douc
| Scientific name | Pygathrix cinerea |
| Conservation status | not evaluated |
| Status in Vietnam | Data deficient |
| Endemism | Vietnam, Lao PDR |
Often considered one of the most beautiful and threatened primates in the world, the douc characterises the mystery, fragility and beauty of the Greater Annamites ecoregion.
Three species of douc are found in the ecoregion – the red, grey and black-shanked, with the first two being found in the Central Annamites.
The beautiful red-shanked douc's habitat is in the lowland to montane primary and secondary rainforest where it lives in the mid to upper levels of the canopy.
Their brown heads are trimmed with a brown chestnut band below the ears, while their bright yellow faces are framed with white whiskers. As their names depicts, the colour of the shanks of the douc vary from grey and black to bright red.
The species are active during the day and live in the middle canopy of the trees. Feeding mostly on leaves and fruit, the douc helps to maintain levels of tree diversity in its habitat by distributing seeds throughout the forest. With the aid of their very long tails, doucs jump and leap from tree to tree with amazing agility and speed.
All of the primates in this region are threatened by people who hunt them for meat and to use as an ingredient in traditional medicine. Doucs watch threats rather than run from those seeking to cause it harm, such as hunters, increasing its vulnerability. They are also threatened by the destruction of their habitat as the forests are cleared for cultivation.
The MOSAIC project is working with the Quang Nam Forest Protection Department to survey, census and conserve these primates with the support of the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation.
