Aerial Survey Confirms Critical Primate Population in Ninh Binh Forest

Advanced aerial surveys conducted between July 29, 2025, and October 21, 2025, have confirmed the presence of several rare wildlife populations within the Dong Thai protection forest in Vietnam's Ninh Binh Province. Specialists from the Center for Resources, Environment and Climate Change Research (CeCREC) utilized Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and fixed camera traps for the systematic investigation. The effort yielded 3,340 images, leading to the identification of 12 mammal species and 15 bird species, many of which are listed in Vietnam's Red Book of endangered species.

The most significant finding was the verification of the critically endangered Delacour's langur, with researchers estimating a local population of approximately 37 individuals. This count suggests the Dong Thai area may host one of the largest known concentrations of this highly vulnerable primate in the nation. The inventory also documented other notable mammals, including the Southern Red-shanked Douc, the Sun Bear, and the Leopard Cat. Of the identified fauna, six species were categorized as rare, with the Delacour's langur classified as 'Critically Endangered' under national standards.

This robust scientific evidence provides a foundation for immediate conservation advocacy, particularly concerning the Delacour's langur, a species endemic to Northern Vietnam threatened by habitat loss and poaching. Experts assert that the ecological integrity of the Dong Thai forest now meets the benchmarks for an official elevation in protected status to a Species and Habitat Conservation Area. This proposed designation is intended to secure the future of these species while fostering sustainable ecotourism ventures in the region.

This conservation push aligns with ongoing efforts in the surrounding Kim Bang area, which seeks to protect the second-largest viable population of the Delacour's langur from threats associated with poaching and limestone quarrying impacting its karst habitat. The proposal to upgrade Dong Thai is supported by existing legal frameworks, such as Decree 156/2018/ND-CP, which details provisions of the Forestry Law, suggesting the area qualifies for enhanced protection coupled with ecotourism development. The findings, which identified seven threatened species and 12 protected species according to Decree 84/2021/ND-CP, underscore the high biodiversity value of the forest.

Ninh Binh Province is recognized for balancing nature preservation with economic activity, exemplified by the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, which successfully protected its Delacour's langur population, leading to its inclusion on the IUCN Green List of Protected Areas in 2020. The commitment to protecting biodiversity is a long-standing priority for the province, which manages over 29,000 hectares of forest, making it the largest in the Red River Delta region. The push for this new designation, anticipated to be implemented with efforts already underway in the Kim Bang area as of January 2026, signals a proactive approach to safeguarding critical habitats.