Strengthening Biodiversity Conservation: The Population of Yunnan Golden Monkey, known as the "Snow Mountain Elf", is Steadily Increasing
CCTV News: The Yunnan golden monkey is a rare and endangered species unique to China, and is a national first-class key protected animal. Experts mentioned that Yunnan golden monkeys were not detected in the Yulong Snow Mountain, but their tracks were detected in the nearby Laojun Mountain. Next, we will follow the reporter's footsteps to visit the habitat of Yunnan golden monkeys in Laojun Mountain.
Lijiang Laojun Mountain is located in Yulong County, northwest of Lijiang City. It belongs to the main vein of the Yunling Mountains in the southern section of the Hengduan Mountains and has multiple identities such as a national geological park, a world heritage site with three parallel rivers, and a scenic spot. The geological landscape here is magnificent and magnificent, with forests and grasslands connected in a magnificent manner. The beautiful Yunnan golden monkey lives in a primitive forest with an altitude of about 3200 meters and an area of about 120 square kilometers in the hinterland of Laojun Mountain.
Zhang Fang from the Biodiversity Conservation Center of Laojunshan in Lijiang City: There are mainly two populations of Yunnan golden monkeys in Laojunshan, one called Jinsichang population and the other called Dapingzi population. Through our years of investigation, the number of monkeys in Jinsi Factory has increased from over 180 at the beginning to around 280 now, and there may be around 50 monkeys in Dapingzi.
Clouds steaming and mist swirling, ancient trees towering in the sky, and pineapples hanging on the ground are the portraits of this forest. Yunnan golden monkeys are known as "snow mountain elves". Although they are known for their "red lips" that resemble facial features, their living environment is mostly far from human habitation and unattainable.
Zhang Zhixiang, Chief Expert of Forest and Grass Science Popularization at the National Forestry and Grass Administration: The Yunnan golden monkey has a really special requirement for vegetation. It requires dark coniferous forests, as well as pineapples. In primitive forests, only a large number of pineapples appear in dark coniferous forests. In addition, there are broad-leaved forests in high mountain areas, and only environments shrouded in clouds and mist may produce pineapples or such lichens, mainly branched lichens.
Due to living only in primitive forests or primitive secondary forests with minimal human interference, Yunnan golden monkeys are considered as indicator species of forest authenticity. The habitat they choose must be a pristine and sufficiently fertile land, where many other species freely reproduce and thrive together.
Zhang Fang from the Laojunshan Biodiversity Conservation Center in Lijiang City: A total of more than 80 infrared cameras have been installed, monitoring the Yunnan golden monkey, black necked pheasant, yellow throated pheasant quail, forest musk deer and other national key protected animals, as well as numerous rare and endangered animals such as yellow throated marten, red panda, blood pheasant, and white bellied pheasant.
