 A Golden Monkey
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Sept. 18, 2003 — China plans to increase the number of golden monkeys, a rare species native to China, by artificial breeding, state media reported recently.
Sources with the Shennongjia Nature Reserve in central China's Hubei province said the administration has designated a 166-hectare area in the reserve for artificial breeding, the Xinhua news agency said.
About 10 to 15 golden monkeys will be put into captivity for the project, the report said.
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Zhong Ran, deputy director of the state-run Shennongjia Nature Reserve, said that construction on the 30 million yuan ($3.6 million) project site was expected to begin next year.
The project is expected to be complete within two to three years, said Ran.
Initial investigations show that Shennongjia is now home to more than 900 golden monkeys belonging to eight groups.
More than 20 technicians in the nature reserve as well as scientists and researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing University and Wuhan University will join in the research.
The report did not set a goal on how many monkeys scientists hoped to breed.
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Name: Golden Monkey, aka Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana)
Primary Classification: Cercopithecidae (Old World Monkeys and Baboons) Location: East Asia. Habitat: Cold mountain forests. Diet: Leaves, buds, bark, seeds, lichen, grasses and wild onions. Size: Up to 28 inches in length and 46 lbs in weight. Description: Long, golden fur; pale blue face; stubby fingers; strong, stout limbs; bushy tail. Cool Facts: It is one of the few primates to live in a temperate environment. Local people have long believed that its coat can ward off rheumatism. Conservation Status: Vulnerable Major Threat: Habitat loss and hunting. What Can I Do?: Visit the Primate Conservation and Welfare Society for information on how you can help. |
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