Mr Bui Van Tuan, the Manager of the Scientific Research Department of the Da Nang-based GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Centre, has a special sentimental attachment with the red-shanked douc langurs living on the Son Tra Peninsula. 

Mr Tuan (right) and a foreign friend during their research into the red-shanked douc langurs

The animal has been recognised by the Wildlife at Risk international organisation as the ‘Queen’ of the primate species.  Interestingly, this animal has been chosen as Da Nang’s official mascot for the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders’ Week in November, and is likely to be considered as the new symbol of the city in the near future.

Mr Tuan, whose hometown is in Quang Nam Province, began to show a keen interest in red-shanked douc langurs in 2007 when he attended a training course funded by Germany’s Frankfurt Zoological Society.  At that time, he was a second-year student at the city’s University of Education.  Tuan and a group of his schoolmates conducted a scientific study on the ecological characteristics and distribution of the animals.  In the end, their work won a second prize at a scientific research contest which was open for all students from the University of Da Nang.  Most notably, Mr Tuan also delivered a report on the animals at an international conference on the conservation of primates in Indochina, which was held at Ninh Binh Province’s Cuc Phuong National Park.

In 2009, the strong-willed man graduated from university, and then went to the provinces of Kon Tum and Gia Lai in a bid to pursue his ambition to research more about the langurs.  In 2012, Mr Tuan and his friends jointly founded GreenViet, which is now headquartered in Son Tra District’s Tho Quang Ward.

Mr Tuan has made great efforts to publise the langurs to the general public over recent years.  He took many photos of this endangered animal, and then had them displayed at local photo exhibitions.  Being impressed by his beautiful photos, both local residents and tourist visitors now often visit the peninsula to try to capture the amazing beauty of these animals.

In 2013, Mr Tuan and his colleagues from GreenViet initiated the ‘I Love Son Tra’ tour around the Son Tra Peninsula, which is offered free to local residents in order to raise public awareness of the multi-biological values of the peninsula’s nature reserve.  Mr Tuan has now become involved in managing a campaign entitled ‘Green Son Tra’ which appeals for more young people to collect rubbish on the peninsula.  This year, GreenViet intends to release a book featuring coloured photos of the red-shanked douc langurs, and copies of the book will be offered to local primary school pupils free of charge.

Most notably, during their field trip to sub-region 62 of the peninsula in 2015, Mr Tuan and his colleagues saw a group of people illegally cutting down trees, an action which would have adversely affected the natural habitat of the langurs.  He promptly made a video clip of this illegal act, and then posted it onto on his Facebook page.  Soon after, relevant local agencies conducted an investigation into the case, and took stronger measures to fight against such illegal actions.

Mr Tuan underlines the need to preserve this rare species of animal, with a focus on preventing illegal deforestation and wildlife poaching activities.