The Baima Xueshan Nature Reserve at the national level, a major habitat for Yunnan golden monkey, will be expanded substantially in southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
Under state first-class protection, the Yunnan golden monkey is the monkey species most similar to human beings in appearance. Known as “No. 2 national treasure” after giant pandas, some 1,000 to 1,500 such golden monkeys are believed to live in the world.
Because forests have been destroyed, Yunan golden monkeys are on the brink of extinction.
In a move to save them, the Yunan provincial government plans to expand the nature reserve from 190,144 hectares to 281,640 hectares. The expanded reserve will cover Deqen, Weixi counties of Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, including the Shiba forest area and the Samage forest area, two major habitats for these rare monkeys.
(Xinhua 05/25/2001)
