(VNF) – The Merit Cross, one of Germany's highest order of merit, was presented to Dr. Jörg Adler, a great friend of Vietnam, on October 12^th, for his contribution to the biopersity conservation and zoos development in the country.

Dr. Jörg Adler (center) and Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Doan Xuan Hung (right) in the awarding ceremony. (source: Vietnamese Embassy to Germany)

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Doan Xuan Hung attended the ceremony to congratulate Dr. Adler on receiving the honor.

The Merit Cross is one of the most prestigious order of merit awarded by the Federal Republic of Germany to inpiduals with distinguished service in arts, literature and science, among others.

Dr. Adler traveled to Vietnam in 1984 to support the country in biological persity and developing zoo system in HCM.City, especially in detecting and protecting the primates in National Park of Cuc Phuong (Ninh Binh province) and Cat Ba (Hai Phong), which are on the brink of extinction.

In 1993, he joined hands with local authorities and people to build the Endangered Primate Rescue Center in National Park of Cuc Phuong, to actively rescue, rehabilitate and breed the endangered primates of Vietnam for the purpose of reintroduction to safe habitat.

Dr. Jorg Adler with a langur in Vietnam in the 1980s. (source: TTO)

He and his colleagues later discovered three more “voc cha va” (shanked langurs) at the park.

Dr. Adler was awarded in 2009 with a “Medal for peace and friendship between peoples” by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.

He has returned to Germany after his retirement. Nevertheless, he remains concerned about and keeps a constant, close watch on the langur conservation projects in Vietnam.

He still finds chance to visit Vietnam regularly, and at the same time, instils the love for Vietnam in his friends in Germany and encourages them to visit his beloved host country.

Dr. Jörg Adler was born in Leipzig, Germany in 1946. He studied Agricultural Science at the Leipzig University and the Veterinary discipline at the Rostock University.

Since 1996, he has served as director of the Allwetterzoo Münster Zoo. He is among the special team of experts of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)./.

( Translated by Phi Yen )