Scientists from 56 countries discussed how to conserve primate species at the International Primatological Society's 25th Congress yesterday in Ha Noi.

The five-day congress, which wraps up on Sunday, aims to raise public awareness about primate research and conservation around the world.

Despite conservation efforts over the past five decades, primate species in Viet Nam and other countries faced the threat of extinction due to illegal hunting and trading as well as habitat loss, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan said at the congress.

He added that Viet Nam had finished building the legal framework on nature conservation and set up a specialised-use forest system covering more than 2.2 million ha, including 30 national parks and 114 nature reserves.

Tetsuro Matsuzawa, President of the International Primatological Society, said that efforts to conserve primate species in Viet Nam had gained remarkable achievements.

These began with establishment of the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre in Cuc Phuong National Park in 1993, which has since rescued more than 260 individuals, successfully bred around 240 individuals of 12 species and released over 50 individuals to the wild.

The centre is currently taking care of more than 150 individuals. Following the success of the Cuc Phuong Centre, other centres were established in HCM City, southern Dong Nai Province and Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta Kien Giang Province.

Viet Nam is now home to 26 primate species and subspecies recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, including five endemic to the country: vooc mui hech (Tonkin snub-nosed monkey), vooc mong trang (Delacour's langur), vooc Cat Ba (golden-headed langur), cha va chan xam (grey-shanked Douc) and khi duoi dai Con Dao (Con Dao long-tail macaque).