Farmers and herdsmen of Markam County, in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, have began moving out of the Hongla Mountain Nature Reserve to leave more living space for golden monkeys.  

The Markam county government allocated over 20 million yuan (US$2.42 million) to relocate about 500 of over 800 households from the area, especially for golden monkeys, between March and October this year.

Each household was given arable land and pastures as well as free daily necessities such as cooking pans, blankets and cupboards.

It was the first time that human beings have moved to make way for this rare animal species, said Yang Shijian, a professor with the Yunnan Normal University, who has long devoted himself to research on golden monkeys.

Markam County is the northernmost habitat of golden monkeys in China, where four groups totaling 300 to 500 golden monkeys live.

Yang, the professor, said that the relocation project meant more living space was left for golden monkeys. He said the project was helping to increase the number of the rare creatures and protect them from extinction.

One of the endangered species native to China, golden monkeys mainly live in the forest on high mountains in Yunnan Province and Tibet Autonomous Region. Currently, the number of the rare animals is estimated to be about 1,500.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2003)