Yunnan keeps a close eye on the protection of snub-nosed monkeys

Yunnan province in Southwest China launched a project on dynamic monitoring of snub-nosed monkeys on Nov 18, marking the first ever monitoring on the amount of snub-nosed monkeys across the country.

Organized by the Forestry Department of Yunnan province, the project was funded by the Society of Entrepreneurs & Ecology (SEE), the most influential entrepreneur environmental organization in China, with about 1.03 million yuan ($155,285).

The project will be carried out by eight professional institutes including Institute of Forest Ecological Environment and Protection of Chinese Academy of Forestry and Yunnan Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve Management Bureau.

A snub-nosed monkey is found in the Yunnan Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve. [Photo/Yunnan.cn]

Snub-nosed monkey is locally known as the Yunnan golden-haired monkey and is only found in the Chinese provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Tibet and Guizhou, in addition to northern parts of Vietnam and Myanmar. Lijiang's Yulong county, the location of the Yunnan Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve, is home to approximately 1,000 snub-nosed monkeys.

The two-year project will form a complete documentation on geographical distribution, population and habitat status of snub-nosed monkeys in Yunnan province laying a solid foundation for long-term monitoring and protection of the snub-nosed monkey.

Researchers interview a local Yunnan resident to get information about snub-nosed monkeys. [Photo/Yunnan.cn]

Guo Huijun, deputy director of the Forestry Department of Yunnan province, said that the project is necessary to further understand the population, dynamics, habitat status, conservation and management effectiveness of Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, as well as their threats and protection needs.

Guo added that people can scientifically formulate protective measures to promote the population growth and habitat improvement of the species.

A snub-nosed monkey jumps across the forest. [Photo/yn.people.cn]