Yu Jianhua (left), a forest ranger at the Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve in Yunnan province, is joined by Lai Jiandong (middle), head of the wildlife protection station at the reserve, and French travel writer Yannick Benichou as they check the feces of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys to monitor the animals' health in March. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Dedicated rangers are helping to ensure that one of China's most endangered species is flourishing. Zhang Wenfang and Li Yingqing report from Kunming.
The number of endangered Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys is rising, thanks to growing public awareness and concrete action, according to experts at a nature reserve.
"On Jan 29, Xiangguqing village welcomed its first Yunnan snub-nosed monkey baby born in the Year of the Rabbit," announced Lai Jiandong, head of the wildlife protection station at the Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve in northwestern Yunnan province, in a WeChat post earlier this year.
The post was accompanied by a video clip showing the mother in the woods, holding her newborn with one hand as she picked up peanuts with the other.
"This marks an auspicious start (to the breeding season)," Lai wrote.
When the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey breeding season ended in late May, Lai was pleased to see that the monkeys in the village had given birth to 12 infants, bringing their total population to about 80.
"It is also a good sign for the reproductive activities of many other monkey troops who live deeper in the mountain's forests," Lai said.
Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys inhabit the mountainous forests of the southwestern province and the neighboring Tibet autonomous region, with most of them being found in the Baima reserve. Xiangguqing, in Yunnan's Dechen Tibetan autonomous prefecture, is the only place where people can observe the monkeys in close proximity.
Over the decades, the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, one of world's most endangered primates, has been saved from extinction. According to a survey conducted in 2017-18, the population had risen to more than 3,800, while in the 1980s the monkey was rarely seen.
Israeli airstrike kills 14 in Gaza's refugee camp
Djokovic, Bonmati win Laureus Awards
China's property sector advances on new fronts
Inter secure Serie A title in heated win over Milan
Global negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution at critical phase in Canada
Former Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton agrees to 1
Stock market today: Asian shares rise, cheered by last week's tech rally on Wall Street
China willing to deepen strategic mutual trust with Indonesia: Wang Yi
A retired Roman Catholic bishop who tried to mediate between cartels in Mexico has been kidnapped
Girona close in on UCL sopt with Las Palmas win
50 migrants reported missing and 9 rescued after their boat overturns off Spanish Atlantic island
US GDP growth slows to annual rate of 1.6% in Q1