Shennongjia's monkeys make golden return

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

Attracted by the caretaker's closed fist, a 65-centimeter-tall golden snub-nosed monkey swings gracefully through the branches of Shennongjia in Central China's Hubei province.

When the fist reveals nothing, the monkey — a 25-kilogram male named Beike (meaning "conch") — taps the caretaker and tugs at his sleeve. He eventually finds two peanuts in the other hand, swiftly seizing and cracking the rare treat.

"This monkey recently won a battle to become the new head of his family," said Yang Jingyuan, director of the scientific research institute at the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve. He looks on as dozens of monkeys dart through the canopy, grooming one another and occasionally tussling in the dappled sunlight.

After four decades of conservation, the Shennongjia golden snub-nosed monkey, the rarest subspecies of the golden snub-nosed monkey, has bounced back from near invisibility.

Its population has tripled to 1,618 individuals across 11 groups, roaming a habitat of 401 square kilometers- a resurgence made possible by policy support, scientific management and technological empowerment.