Golden-headed langur
Trachypithecus poliocephalus poliocephalus (Trouessart, 1911)
CR A3cd; B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C1+2a(i); D

This rare leaf-eating monkey is presently known only from a single 98 km² national park on Cat Ba, the largest of more than 3,000 islands located in northeastern Vietnam’s Halong Bay. Cat Ba is a series of karst outcroppings largely covered by forest, with a terrain too rocky for agriculture. Island inhabitants make their living traditionally from the sea and more recently from a growing tourism industry. The langurs of Cat Ba appear to number only in the low hundreds and can occasionally be seen in early morning or late afternoon amidst low vegetation that grows on nearly vertical rock cliffs that face the sea. The number and status of remaining groups remains unclear, as no systematic survey has been attempted of Cat Ba’s contorted coastline and uninhabited nearby islets. Anecdotal evidence points to a declining population overall, with ongoing human encroachment and hunting identified as the major threats. This monkey is sometimes sought for the cooking pot, and its bones and organs are also reputed to have medicinal properties. However, it’s potential as a tourist attraction could very well help secure the golden-headed langur’s future. The most recent estimates suggest a population of approximately 120 animals.