The central city of Da Nang has chosen the red-shanked douc langur as its mascot for the APEC Year to be hosted in the city in 2017.

The municipal Party’s Committee tasked the Department of Culture and Sports with popularising the mascot.

Red-shanked douc langur in Son Tra peninsula in central Da Nang city (Photo: VGP)

The red-shanked douc langur is listed in the Vietnam Red Book, and as a critically endangered species with unlimited protection by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

About 530 red-shanked douc langurs inhabit the Son Tra Nature Reserve – which is known for its rich biodiversity with 287 species of animals, 106 species of birds, and 15 rare wild animals under protection.

Featuring five colours, the red-shanked douc langur is nicknamed the "Queen of the primates" by the International Wildlife Protection Organization because of its beauty.

It lives in groups or in a family. They eat and sleep in trees and eat a diverse range of fruits and plants including the figs and the banyan leaves.

Source: VNA