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Golden snub-nosed monkeys in Shennongjia, Hubei province

Updated: Nov 13,2015 10:59 AM     cntv.cn

Golden snub-nosed monkeys get their name from the fact that they have mostly nostrils and virtually no nose. Four of the world’s five species are found in China, and three of them are endangered species. Researchers have done considerable work over the years to protect them. CCTV reporter went to the Hubei Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Protection and Research Center to see how it’s done.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are rare primates and one of the first class-protected animals in China. We were privileged to see these golden monkeys at the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Protection and Research Center in Hubei Province’s Shennongjia Nature Reserve.

These animals finally walked out of the endless primeval forests and revisited the human world thanks to researchers’ efforts that included artificial feeding and habitat restoration. The more than 1,200 golden monkeys constitute the largest population within China.

Lu Weimin, Director of Wuhan Endangered Species Import & Export Management Office, said: “Golden snub-nosed monkeys inhabit high mountainous forests, reaching elevations of around 3,000 meters. They live in deciduous, broad-leaved and coniferous forests, with leaves, grass, lichens, buds and fruit being their primary food. The life span of a healthy golden monkey is around 20 to 30 years.”

It is such a thrill to see this precious animal while having the opportunity to closely watch them is a lifetime unforgettable experience.

The monkeys are immensely adorable and it’s hard to take one’s eyes off their lovely blue faces and cute snubbed noses.

Animal scientists say golden monkeys in the Shennongjia area were once under threat, due to vast deforestation from decades ago. But people there realized the problem and initiated a series of measures to protect the endangered animal.

Animal scientists say, too, that the protection of endangered animals such as the golden monkey has profound meaning.

Yan Xun, chief engineer at the Wildlife Conservation & Nature Reserve Management State Forestry Administration, said: “Golden snub-nosed monkeys are at the top of the primeval forest food chain. Their existence illustrates the healthy state of the ecosystem in the Shennongjia area and exemplifies China’s efforts to protect wild animals. A series of emergency measures, including the construction of reproduction and rescue centers to protect endangered animals such as the golden monkey, will be carried out in the coming five years under China’s 13th Five-Year Plan.”

It’s a long-term, arduous task to protect endangered animals such as the golden snub-nosed monkey, but China is devoted to protecting its most precious natural resources.