Loving life like langurs

Over the years, we have earned our credentials for our work to protect pristine environments and species that call it their home. We track our positive impacts on the surrounding ecosystems and communities.

Conducted in cooperation with the GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Centre (GreenViet), the study was carried out between April 2019 and February 2020 in the forested area around the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay resort. Its main objective was to collect some primary information about the species, including the number of individuals and families, their population structure, the food they eat, distribution and behavioral characteristics and assess possible threats to the species.

Meet our troop of black-shanked douc langurs

Nature has given this beautiful species a striking appearance - distinctive black limbs, contrasting grey body, a grayish-green face ringed with a beard of white whiskers. As with the red and gray-shanked doucs, all of which are native to Southeast Asia, black-shanked doucs are unfortunately under a serious threat of extinction.

We are blessed with a healthy community of black-shanked douc langurs who call the hills behind our resort their home. The GreenViet study has recorded 109 individuals of black-shanked douc langurs belonging to 16 families living in 150 hectares of forest area around the resort. There are 78 adults, 18 of which are sub-adults, 13 juveniles (naughty teenage monkeys!) and five babies.

They are very shy and if you encounter them during your stay, this experience is both seriously exciting and humbling.

Family matters

Generally, black-shanked douc langurs live in families of approximately six to eight individuals with one male adult leader who spearheads foraging for food and interactions with other families. On some occasions, there are more males in one family, and smaller units merge into larger groups.

The study observed two troops at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay – one by the Dining by the Bay area with 15 douc langurs and the second one was at the Hill Top Villa with 23 individuals. They normally come together for a spot of socializing during the day before they retrieve back to the safety and comfort of their own family.

Black-shanked douc langurs spend only 22 percent of their time moving, mainly to find food. If you see them leaping between the branches, it looks as if they are flying, propelling themselves forward, swinging from branch to branch landing confidently on their feet, using their long tail for balance. The rest of their time is spent resting and eating, playing, grooming each other and caring for their young, and carefully observing their environment for threats.

They hang out mainly around the reservoir (especially during the dry season), rocks on the mountain, streams near the spa, Elephant Mountain and restaurant.

Although it is a rare privilege to meet them “in person”, we can arrange hikes into the hills where you may have unscripted encounters with douc langurs and other local wildlife.

Vegetarian by nature

Black-shanked douc langurs are vegetarian with a fondness for young leaves, flowers, green berries and tree nuts. What’s more, 19 species of trees in the area surrounding Six Senses Ninh Van Bay have been identified as the main food source of douc langurs, such as the dragon tree, yellow flame tree and wild pineapple. In summer, they move near the Hill Top Pool Villa to find food as their supplies in the higher forest become scarcer. This is the best time to observe them from up close at the resort.

We are very proud to provide an ideal home to our douc langur families with an abundance of food and good protection.

Helping to protect douc langurs

Deforestation and habitat fragmentation are major threats to the survival of primates in general and douc langurs in particular. Hunting, trafficking, illegal consumption, encroachment or conversion of forest land and construction of roads or hydropower plants have seriously affected the survival and development of douc langurs.

It is fortunate that black-shanked douc langurs at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay have not been affected by those threats. We are committed to their protection and ensuring the survival and sustainable development of their population around the resort area.

Our partnership with the GreenViet Biodiversity center aims to develop solutions for sustainable development and conservation of black-shanked douc langurs and other wildlife species. A massive thanks to all of our guests as a portion of every stay goes directly to our sustainability funds at each property. These are used locally to fund important work such as this as well as environmental and social projects.

Click here fore more information about sustainability commitments.