Volunteer farmers focused on protecting endangered langurs

Small population: The Hatinh langur can only be found in Vietnam and Laos. — Vietnam News/ANN

STARTING out as a voluntary group in 2011 to safeguard some 20 flocks of Hatinh langurs (Trachypithecus hatinhensis), a team of 14 farmers in Tuyen Hoa District of Quang Binh province is working hard to protect the endangered species, which can only be found in Vietnam and Laos.

The team, whose members were previously 80% male, has recruited several female farmers over the last five years for tracking on karst mountain trails to protect the primate population from poachers. They are the first female volunteers to do such work in central Vietnam.