More than 1,600 golden monkeys,a rare species under top state protection in China,have been found at the Baihe Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
They live in an area covering five square kilometers at the center of the nature reserve. They are divided into four to six types,said He Guojian,a reserve official.
The nature reserve has set up two monkey protection centers,and another is being built,he added.
Baihe Nature Reserve,built in 1963, covers an area of 16,000 hectares adjacent to the Jiuzhaigou Valley and the Huanglong (Yellow Dragon)Scenic Area, which had been included on the list of world natural heritage spots by theUnited Nations Education,Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO).
It is the home to 46 kinds of rare animal species including the giant panda.
(eastday.com December 27, 2001)
