Rare Francois's langurs thrive in Guizhou's Yanhe county

With a steady stream of newborns in recent years, the Francois's langur community in Yanhe maintains a stable structure and a thriving reproduction rate. [Photo/ddcpc website]

A troop of Francois's langurs was recently spotted foraging and lounging in Yanhe Tujia autonomous county, Southwest China's Guizhou province. Showing no fear of passing villagers, the monkeys coexisted in perfect harmony with the local residents.

The Francois's langur is an endangered and rare primate known for being highly selective about its habitat. It primarily resides in lush, well-watered karst canyons and forested areas. Due to its vulnerability, the species receives China's highest level of wildlife protection and is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, spanning Yanhe and Wuchuan counties in Guizhou, features a pristine karst forest ecosystem, abundant food sources, and a stable environment, making it the most densely populated habitat for Francois's langurs in China.

Currently, the reserve is home to 79 troops totaling 685 Francois's langurs, accounting for nearly a quarter of the global population. This number has doubled compared to 30 years ago.

This ecological success story reflects Yanhe's commitment to biodiversity conservation. With the Mayanghe Reserve, local authorities have implemented comprehensive measures to safeguard the langurs' habitat. These include perfecting grid-based patrol systems, deploying smart ecological monitoring networks, cultivating dedicated food sources for the wildlife, and running regular public awareness campaigns.