Wild monkeys appear in many places in Hai Phong

On the morning of May 17, in a statement to Vietnam Agriculture News, Mr. Ngo Viet Dong, Head of the Economic Department of Do Son District, said that in the past month, two wild golden monkeys have been frequently moving through various wards, damaging trees and crops, and stealing food.

Upon discovery, local authorities reported to the forest rangers and related agencies to organize the capture and release of the monkeys back into the natural environment. However, this has not been successful so far due to the monkeys' cunning nature, raising concerns among many residents.

In response to this situation and to ensure the stability of residents' daily lives, the Do Son District People's Committee has sent an official letter to the Hai Phong City Forest Protection Department to coordinate the capture and handling of the monkeys according to regulations. It is expected that on the morning of May 18, functional forces and the Ngoc Xuyen Ward People's Committee will conduct a tranquilization operation to capture the monkeys, having identified the travel patterns, characteristics, and habits of one of the two monkeys.

“The group of monkeys, whose origin is unknown, appeared in Residential Group 9, Ngoc Xuyen Ward, from April 30 until now. The larger monkey weighs about 10 kg, while the other weighs around 5 kg. These two monkeys frequently break tree branches, pick fruits, and steal food from households, posing a threat to the residents' psychological well-being and health”, Mr Dong reported.

Simultaneously, reporters also noted the presence of three similar monkeys in the Tay Son residential area, Tran Thanh Ngo Ward, Kien An District, displaying comparable behaviours.

According to local residents, the area where the wild monkeys have appeared is located at the foot of Thien Van Hill, which is densely forested, primarily with acacia trees. The monkeys are very bold, often climbing into gardens to pick fruits and even entering houses to rummage through belongings.

Upon investigation, it was found that the Thien Van Hill area has a fairly large plantation forest, but monkeys have never been seen there before. After receiving reports, the forestry protection force came to record the incident and continued monitoring to identify the species and origin of the monkeys to devise conservation solutions.

Previously, on May 7, in Hai Phong City, Mr Luong Van The, a resident of Trang Cat Ward, Hai An District, discovered a black-cheeked gibbon in his family's aquaculture area and reported it to the Cuc Phuong National Park Management Board for handling.

This gibbon is listed as an endangered, precious, and rare forest animal, strictly protected under international conventions. Subsequently, the Rescue, Conservation, and Development Center of Cuc Phuong National Park arrived at the scene to rescue and take care of the gibbon.

According to representatives from the Hai Phong Forest Protection Department, upon receiving information about the appearance of wild animals, the unit promptly dispatched officers to the scene to assess the situation and coordinate with local authorities to handle it according to legal regulations. As for the origin, the authorities have yet to determine where these animals came from, but it is highly likely that they were illegally kept by residents and either released or escaped from captivity.