Vietnam and other nations across the world are coping with challenges inpreserving species of primates since the animals are under the threatof extinction due to illegal poaching and trafficking, and fewer naturalhabitat areas, a senior Vietnamese official has said.

DeputyMinister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan raised theconcern at the 25th Congress of the International PrimatologicalSociety that opened in Hanoi on August 12.

During thefive-day event, nearly 900 experts from 56 countries and territoriesworldwide will discuss topics relevant to the evolution, genetics,ecology, breeding in captivity, primatology and preservation ofprimates.

Vietnam boasts a rich biodiversity of rare andprecious wildlife, with 26 primate species and sub-species out of 612recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),namely Vooc mui hech (Tonkin snub-nosed monkey or Rhinopithecusavunculus), Vooc mong trang (Delacour's langur or Trachypithecusdelacouri), Vooc Cat Ba (white-headed langur or Trachypithecuspoliocephalus), and Cha va chan xam (gray-shanked douc langur orPygathrix cinerea) which are all indigenous.

The country hasrefined its law on natural preservation and built a system ofspecial-purpose forests sprawling over 2.2 million ha, including 30national parks and 114 sanctuaries, Tuan said.

President ofthe International Primatological Society Tetsuro Matsuzawa praisedVietnam for its efforts to conserve primates.

Established in1993, the endangered primate rescue centre based in Cuc Phuong nationalpark, the northern province of Ninh Binh, has saved over 260individuals, bred 240 of 12 species, and released over 50 back to thewild.

Other similar centres are also operating well in Ho ChiMinh City’s outlying district of Cu Chi, Cat Tien national park in thesouthern province of Dong Nai, and Hon Me island in the Mekong Deltaprovince of Kien Giang.

The biennial event will also display 150 posters featuring the world achievements in primate protection.-VNA