Forest patrol and White-cheeked Gibbon monitoring in Van Ho

Van Ho commune, located in Son La Province, is home to the White-cheeked Gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) – one of Vietnam’s most endangered and precious primate species. The Pa Cop forest (Van Ho Commune, Van Ho District) and Pu Tau forest (Phieng Cam Commune, Mai Son District) are known habitats of at least three gibbon groups with 14 individuals, as recorded in a 2020 survey conducted by People and Nature Reconciliation (PanNature).

However, the gibbons’ natural habitat has been increasingly threatened by activities such as fuelwood collection, shifting cultivation, wildlife hunting, free-ranging livestock, charcoal production, and fruit tree planting inside forests. In particular, road construction into valleys for farming and grazing has disrupted gibbon movement corridors, leading to habitat fragmentation and potential population decline.

To address these challenges, PanNature, in collaboration with the Van Ho Forest Protection Unit, local forest protection teams, the Van Ho Gibbon Conservation Group, and the local Youth Union, has been conducting regular forest patrols across key gibbon habitats. During these patrols, several signs of violations—such as animal traps and evidence of illegal hunting—have been detected, highlighting the continued pressures on the species.

With strong community participation and technical support from PanNature, forest patrols and gibbon monitoring activities will continue on a regular basis. The goal is not only to ensure the protection of the White-cheeked Gibbon but also to safeguard the integrity of Van Ho’s forest ecosystems.

Some photos from the patrol: