Gibbons find sanctuary on island

Up to 10 pairs of primates will be able to stay at the centre.

A sanctuary in Dorset has started work on a new home for endangered primates in south-east Asia.

Rescued animals will be given a home at the Endangered Primate Species Centre (EPSC) on Tien Island in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam.

The centre is a joint collaboration between Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset, Pingtung Rescue Centre in Taiwan and Cat Tien National Park.

Work on the centre began on Friday and is expected to finish in March 2008.

Lou Matthews, from Monkey World, said: "The new centre will receive confiscated golden-cheeked gibbons, silver langurs, douc langurs and lorises.

"There is an illegal trade in these endangered primates for bush meat and the pet trade."

Medical treatment

So far Monkey World and Pingtung Rescue Centre have rescued golden-cheeked gibbons from France, Russian, Taiwan, and the UK.

Up to 10 pairs of primates will be able to stay at the centre at any one time.

The rescued primates will receive medical treatment if necessary and put into appropriate social groups before being released into the forests of Cat Tien National Park.

Future plans for EPSC include a scientific research centre and a public education centre.