The grey-shanked douc monkey (Pygathrix cinerea) is a leaf eating monkey and a member of the colobine monkey group in Asia. They live in the top canopy of tropical forests within this region. Due to habitat loss and extreme hunting pressure stemming from traditonal Chinese medicine and the pet trade, the grey-shanked douc monkey is classified as Endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Denver Zoo helps fund this important conservation project. The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of the behavioral ecology of the grey-shanked douc monkey and their ecological requirements in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Recently, a wild population of grey-shanked douc monkeys was discovered in the Central Highlands of Vietnam in Kon Ka Kinh National Park and Kon Cha Rang Nature Reserve. This group may be the largest population remaining in the wild.
The project aims to apply conservation knowledge to improve protection activities of this species in protected forests, and to train staff and community members on the importance of long-term sustainable use of the forest.
The study focuses on the behavioral ecology of the grey-shanked douc monkey by concentrating on feeding and ranging behavior. Data is being collected on the ecological requirements, forest condition, and impacts of human activities.
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