Guizhou establishes research center to protect Francois's leaf monkeys

Mayang River National Nature Reserve and Tongren University agree to establish Guizhou's first research center for the protection of Francois's leaf monkeys. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Mayang River National Nature Reserve and Tongren University in Southwest China's Guizhou province co-established a research center for the protection of Francois's leaf monkeys on Oct 28.

The research center, which is the first of its kind in the province, will establish a research team focusing on the conservation and utilization of the biological diversity of Francois's leaf monkeys.

It will also cooperate with domestic and international institutions and universities to become a platform for international scientific research cooperation.

"The establishment of the research center is an important measure to protect the habitat of Francois's leaf monkeys, accelerate cooperation with universities and institutes, and cultivate management and scientific research talent," said Wu Ankang, head of the administration of Mayang River National Nature Reserve.

At the signing ceremony, experts discussed the current situation of the research center, future cooperation, threats to Francois's leaf monkeys, population genetics, behavioral ecology, epidemic prevention and control, population rejuvenation, monitoring and protection of species in the same region, community economic development, and scientific protection, and put forward future plans.

Tongren University has a sound environment for biological protection and community economy development. With Mayang River National Nature Reserve's rich ecological resources and community environment, cooperation between the two sides is expected to promote the protection, research and development of Francois's leaf monkeys.