Wildlife vets based in Keighley and Bradford have launched a campaign to save one of the world's most endangered primates.

It follows a cry for help from conservationists in Vietnam, where monkeys and apes are under the greatest threat worldwide.

The vets from the International Zoo Veterinary Group, which has its base in South Street, Keighley, will be armed with a special portable gas anaesthetic kit which they have devised to treat wild animals.

The aim is to teach the Vietnamese vets how to use the device in their battle to save the Golden Headed Langur and the Delacours Langur.

The fund to meet the cost of sending vets out to Vietnam's primate conservation programme at Cuc Phuong National Park, has been kick-started at a conservation event at Chessington World of Adventure in Surrey.

About £1,600 was raised when visitors were offered chances to feed penguins, work alongside a zoo vet and take part in a sea lion show.

IZVG vet, John Lewis, who earlier this year spent time in Sumatra helping to catch and collar the rare Sumatran Tiger, gave a presentation about his work in the country.

IZVG, which specialises in dealing with exotic animals, also works out of Shearbridge Veterinary Centre in Bradford.

Penny Cusdin at the IZVG base in Keighley, said the work in Vietnam was one of the first projects for the new charity Wildlife Vets International, which they were setting up.

"The project in Vietnam is estimated to cost about £6,000.

"We are hoping to travel out to Vietnam later this year or early next year.

"We plan to train the Vietnamese vets how top use the anaesthetic kit."

The device allows animals to recover quicker than using conventional methods in which they are given a drug to bring them round.

Primates in Vietnam were in an extremely vulnerable position, she explained, because there was an enormous threat from hunting and they were traded for medical purposes and for use as pets.

Long term the aim was to develop a fund which could be used to finance more work to save rare and endangered species around the world, she added.

A Chessington spokesman said: "Wildlife Vets International's work should be supported by conservation groups and zoos throughout the world. Chessington is proud to be involved at the beginning."

Anyone wanting to support Wildlife Vets International should contact Penny on (01535) 692000.