STORY and PHOTOS by MOHIT GHATAK
As a wildlife photographer drawn to the rare and the elusive, I’ve long dreamed of photographing the Red-shanked douc Langurs.
That dream came true on Vietnam’s Son Tra Peninsula, a coastal rainforest where these endangered monkeys still survive in one of their last strongholds. They are called the ‘Queen of Primates’ for their vibrant, five-colored coats and regal presence.
I have visited Son Tra twice—first in April 2024 and again in January 2025, with each trip offering a different perspective. In January, with the forest thinned by seasonal storms, the Doucs were easier to spot. In April, the canopy was lush and dense, but I was rewarded with sightings of mothers cradling their newborns.
One moment remains etched in my memory of a one-eyed male perched silently above, surveying his family with calm authority. Below him, a mother fed her baby while another female stood guard. These Doucs weren’t just subjects through my lens—they were individuals, living complex social lives in a fragile world.
Their lives are bound to the treetops, rarely touching the forest floor unless driven by thirst. I witnessed them cautiously descending for water, the male ever alert, a reminder of how precarious their survival is. The Doucs’ connection to their habitat is profound—they feed on native leaves and play a key role in forest regeneration.
But even here, threats loom. Development encroaches, roads slice through habitat, and the pressure to survive grows. Working with a responsible local ecotourism group allowed me to observe them ethically. However, we need broader conservation action to ensure their survival.
“Through my images, I hope to offer more than beauty. I hope to show the urgency—and the wonder—of protecting these guardians of the canopy.”
- Mohit Ghatak
