Primate Watching
Primatology
Taxonomy
Pygathrix cinerea is a monotypic species (no subspecies).
Occurrence
Central Vietnam
IUCN Conservation Status
Critically Endangered
With 600-700 individuals in the wild [1], the Grey-shanked douc is among the world's top 25 most endangered primates [2] and the most threatened of all doucs (including Black-shanked Douc and Red-shanked Douc).
References
[1] Ha Thang Long, 2004. Distribution and status of the grey-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix cinerea) in Vietnam. In: Nadler T., Streicher U. & Ha Thang Long (eds.): Conservation of Primates in Vietnam, Frankfurt Zoological Society. Hanoi, 52-57.
[2] Mittermeier R.A., Schwitzer C., Rylands A.B., Taylor L.A., Chiozza F., Williamson E.A. & Wallis J. (eds.), 2012. Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2012–2014. IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), International Primatological Society (IPS), Conservation International (CI), and Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation, Bristol, UK., p25.
Illustration by Stephen Nash
Page Last Updated: 6 February 2014
Seeing this Species
Grey- and Black-shanked Doucs are difficult to distinguish in the field. A distinguishing factor is the color of the face. Adult Grey-shanked Douc has a bright orange face while adult Black-shanked Douc has a dark blue face with cream eye rings. But infants and juveniles of Grey-shanked Douc also have dark bluish-grey face. Oops.
Song Thanh Nature Reserve, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
Near the Laotian border is this remarkably preserved, yet little known nature reserve, the largest Vietnamese protected area in the Greater Annamites. This, coupled with the large tracts of relatively intact forest, make Song Thanh a vital haven for many endangered species such as tigers and sun bears.
Probability of Success: ◆ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Overlapping species: Northern Yellow-cheeked Gibbon
Other sites:
Kon Ka Kinh National Park, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam
Ha Ngoi Stream and Ngut Mountain have been listed as good spots for seeing them.
Overlapping species: Northern Yellow-cheeked Gibbon
Kon Cha Rang Nature Reserve, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam
The Kon River has been cited as one of the places to see the Grey-Shanked Douc.
Overlapping species: Northern Yellow-cheeked Gibbon
Local contacts: