Saving the Rare Snub-nosed Monkeys of China

Sun Sep 14 2025 02:54:35 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A journey into the efforts to conserve China's endangered golden snub-nosed monkeys, featuring insights from Professor Yang Jingyuan and the transformation of their habitat.

The golden snub-nosed monkeys in China's Shennongjia region are on the brink of extinction. However, significant conservation efforts led by Professor Yang Jingyuan have shown promise in increasing their population from under 500 to over 1,600. The transformation of local attitudes towards wildlife preservation played a crucial role in this success, where previously hunting and logging devastated their habitat. This article explores the complex social structures of these primates and the ongoing efforts to protect them.

The battle to save China's rare snub-nosed monkey

Until the 1980s, people roamed the mountains of Shennongjia in central China hunting monkeys for their meat and fur...

Now, the national park established in 1982 plays a crucial role in conservation efforts.

With a focus on turning farmers into protecting agents instead of destroyers of the environment, the conservation approach is yielding results.

Professor Yang Jingyuan, a leading figure in these efforts, discussed the monkeys' complex social structures and successful methods for studying and protecting this unique species.

Today, there are approximately 1,600 golden snub-nosed monkeys in the wild, and with strong protective measures in place, their numbers are expected to rise further.