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Monkey business: German zoologist tends a snub-nosed monkey at the Cuc Phuong National Park.—VNA/VNS Photo Trung Dung

Viet Nam takes steps to protect turtles and snub-nosed monkeys

HA NOI — Viet Nam is participating in a Fauna and Flora International (FFI) campaign to save the snub-nosed monkey.

There are an estimated 400 snub-nosed monkeys in the world, 40 of which live in Ha Giang Province.

FFI has established a training course on protecting the endangered species, with the help of 10 forest rangers from the northern province. Trainees will be employed as FFI workers and will receive a monthly salary of VND300,000 (US$20).

The country has also pledged to protect to protect turtles and their natural environment in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.

Viet Nam, along with 19 other countries, signed an agreement at a conference in Bangkok last week.

The executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Klaus Toepfer, said the agreement was a turning point in protecting turtles in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. — VNS