The population of the endangered Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys in southwest China's Yunnan Province is on the rise, thanks to the adoption of innovative technologies by conservation authorities at the Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve.
Nestled in the core zone of the Sanjiangyuan area—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—the 2,821-square-kilometer reserve has become a beacon of hope for this unique species. Once numbering nearly 500 individuals when the reserve was established in 1983, the population has now grown to approximately 2,500, representing 65 percent of the total Yunnan snub-nosed monkey population in China.
At the heart of this success is the integration of new digital technologies. This year, remote-controlled weight scales have been introduced to better monitor the health of the monkeys. \"A total of 11 new baby monkeys were born this year,\" reported the reserve staff. \"Their current weights are within the normal range, and they are all in good health.\"
Beyond tracking weight changes, conservationists are collecting and analyzing fecal samples each season to assess the primates' physical condition. \"We monitor the monkeys' health by detecting any abnormalities in their feces,\" explained Lai Jiandong, head of the wildlife rescue station at the reserve.
Cutting-edge technologies are also enhancing habitat assessment. \"We are utilizing laser radar technology to create a three-dimensional reconstruction of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys' habitat,\" said Yang Haitao, an associate researcher at the Institute of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System under Peking University. \"This enables us to assess the habitat quality over a larger area compared to traditional methods, which cannot reflect the three-dimensional nature of the habitat.\"
In a bid to promote genetic exchange, the reserve reintroduced 40 Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys to the wild this year. The group includes three families and one group of males, with the youngest being just three months old.
Known as the \"elves of the snow mountain,\" Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys inhabit the mountainous forests of Yunnan and the neighboring Xizang Autonomous Region. They are listed as a first-class state-protected species in China and are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
The concerted efforts of conservationists, bolstered by technological advancements, are proving instrumental in safeguarding the future of this rare species, contributing significantly to biodiversity conservation in the region.
Reference(s):
New gadgets help monitor endangered Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys
cgtn.com
