History
The DLF was founded in 2007 after the largest douc population ever found was discovered by the DLF at Son Tra Nature Reserve near Danang, Vietnam. The story goes like this. In late November 2007 Danang Forest Protection Department asked the DLF to complete a critical survey at Son Tra Nature Reserve to substantiate whether doucs had become extinct as had been reported by a local scientist. In Vietnam environmental laws prohibit development in reserves and national parks where endangered species exist. The reported extinction of the doucs at Son Tra opened the reserve to intense development and enormous profits for the local government. However because the Forest Protection Department questioned whether the doucs were really extinct, they called the DLF and asked us to do a final survey of Son Tra Nature Reserve. We used a technique called direct observation. Using this technique, our team actually observed and counted the largest population of red shanked doucs ever discovered at a single site. We found 300 individuals in 12 groups– a number believed to represent at present approximately 40% of all the red shanked doucs in Vietnam.
Board of Directors
Lois K. Lippold, PhD is President and founder of the Douc Langur Foundation and has spent more than 40 years in scientific research and conservation activities focused on Douc Langurs in Vietnam. She conducted the first field study of doucs in 1974 during the Vietnam War (referred to as the American War in Vietnam) at what is now Son Tra Nature Reserve. She published the first field study of red shank doucs in 1977. Lippold’s contributions have come from both field and captive populations. Since being invited to return to Vietnam by the government, Lippold and the DLF have concentrated on scientific field studies and conservation activities focused on sustaining the endangered Douc Langur populations.
George Hoover, Jr. is the founder and president of Torrey Growth and Income Advisors and has been a registered investment advisor for more than 20 years. Before starting his career in wealth management, George was a world-class triathlete. Apart from his professional endeavors, George and his family have a passion for exploring the world, conserving the environment, and indulging in rock climbing adventures.
Vu Ngoc Thanh, a retired member of the faculty of Biology at Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University is one of the leading primatologists in Vietnam. He has worked closely with Dr. Lippold since her return to Vietnam in 1993. Together they have surveyed all parts of the country to establish the location of viable douc populations so that they can be conserved and protected. Mr. Thanh has worked for more than 30 years in animal conservation.
Luwain Ng is the financial administrator for Torrey Growth and Income Advisors. Luwain is a licensed stockbroker and has been employed as an investment executive and wealth management administrator since 1999. Before coming to Torrey Growth and Income Advisors, she served as operations manager for AG Edwards and other wealth management firms.
C.J. Thompson, founder and president of Boot Networks Global Support has been a certified technology professional for more than 25 years. His worldwide surfing expeditions demonstrated the critical need for the conservation of natural environments and the wildlife that inhabit them. As the IT Director of The Douc Langur Foundation, C.J. is entrusted with the responsibility of managing the foundation’s technology infrastructure.
Nancy Barnhart, MFC, CEAP is a retired Employees Assistance Program Center Manager of a leading Health Care Organization. She has great expertise in working with people of all backgrounds and is an expert in the administration of complex social and behavioral outcomes for both rural and urban societies.
Julie R. Fischer, DVM established the University of California at Davis Nephrology and Hemodialysis Service in San Diego and is a nationally recognized expert in upper and lower urinary tract disease. She has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine since 2000 with the specialty of Small Animal Internal Medicine.
Ruth Hayward is a retired engineer of an international aerospace company, renowned sculptress, local community leader, and activist with wide international experience. She has been a lifelong environmental steward concerned with native species biodiversity, habitat protection, natural resource conservation, and the economic management of sustainability-protected habitats.
