Ms Le Trang, a representative from the Da Nang-based GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Centre met with the UK’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, at the 3^rd International Wildlife Trade Conference which was held in Ha Noi in mid-November 2016. 

A red-shanked douc langur on the peninsula

She had a chance to talk with him, and presented him with a stuffed replica of the red-shanked douc langur.  Ms Trang told him that this animal had 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. 

Prince William, who is President of the United for Wildlife organisation, was very eager to learn about the great efforts of local young people in protecting the red-shanked douc langurs on the Son Tra Peninsula.

Prior to Prince William’s 2-day working trip to Viet Nam for the conference, his office had issued this statement.  “The Duke of Cambridge knows the people of Viet Nam will share his concern that we have less than 25 years to save some of our most iconic species from extinction.  He believes Viet Nam has a real opportunity to be one of the leaders in wildlife conservation”. 

In 2012 Ms Trang, and a group of young researchers who had studied the ecological behaviour of grey-shanked douc langur’s in Gia Lai Province’s Kon Ka Kinh National Park, jointly founded GreenViet, which is now headquartered in Da Nang.

Thanks to the unique beauty of its 5 impressive colours, the red-shanked douc langur has been recognised by the Wildlife at Risk international organisation as the ‘Queen’ of the primate species.  It belongs to Group IIB which is rare animals restricted from being held in captivity, hunted, traded or killed.  The Son Tra Peninsula is home to around 530 red-shanked douc langurs, which accounts for 83% of the world’s total of this species of primate.

Prince William hearing about conserving the red-shanked douc langurs

GreenViet has seen positive results from the use of images of the red-shanked douc langurs in appeals for the community to protect the biodiversity of the peninsula.  Its effective model has been recommended for use in other conservation areas elsewhere in the world.  Thanks to this, Ms Trang was invited to the North American Congress of Conservation Biology in Madison, Wisconsin, USA from 17 to 20 July 2016, where she delivered a report.  Since that event, many scientists have visited the peninsula, and they have remarked that Da Nang is a special place because the nature reserve has such a high degree of biodiversity. 

Ms Trang said that her centre will join with relevant local agencies to conduct research in a bid to expand the existing data about the city’s biodiversity, including that of the Son Tra and Ba Na-Nui Chua natural conservation areas.  Also, research will be conducted every year into the estimated numbers, density and distribution of the red-shanked douc langurs to offer more suggestions to the city authorities about protecting these animals.

Ms Trang invited Prince William to the Son Tra Peninsula in a bid to encourage the city authorities and local organisations to join efforts to protect the red-shanked douc langurs.  Unfortunately, he could not accept the surprise invitation because he had a busy schedule during his State visit to Viet Nam.  Instead, Jeremy Warford, who is Senior Advisor to the Environment Department of the World Bank in Washington DC and one of the people who arranged Prince William’s trip to Viet Nam, paid a visit to the peninsula.

Mr Warford and representatives from GreenViet together discussed more effective ways to promote the peninsula’s development in a sustainable manner.  He said that the peninsula already has sufficient infrastructure for the development of eco-tourism, and he did not favour the development of a cable car system or more holiday resorts there.

Municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho said that the city leaders have never discussed a plan to build a cable car system, and no business has been allowed to conduct a feasibility study into the deployment of such a project.  He underlined, “The Son Tra Peninsula is considered as a local precious natural gift, and a ‘green lung’ for the city.  Therefore, peninsula-related issues always take into account the common benefit to local citizens”.

It is hoped that the natural habitats of the red-shanked douc langurs will be preserved, and that the animals will always live in harmony with the locals, and help to make Da Nang even more attractive to visitors.