Endangered Francois' langur population grows in Guizhou province

Francois' langurs inhabit Guizhou province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The population of Francois' langurs, an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, continues to grow in Guizhou province.

With jet-black fur and distinctive crests of hair, the monkeys now number 683 across 79 groups in the Mayang River National Nature Reserve, accounting for about one-third of the global population. They are frequently spotted near villages and along roads, making them a familiar sight in the surrounding forests.

Xiao Zhijin, a 63-year-old forest ranger, has watched the langurs for decades. "I've spent 30 years with these little guys, and we understand each other by now," Xiao said. "It wasn't like this in the early days. The langurs would disappear into the dense forest as soon as they saw people, and villagers found them a real nuisance, too."

Francois' langurs inhabit Guizhou province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The reserve spans Yanhe and Wuchuan counties and is home to more than 20,000 people.

Before the reserve was established, forests were cleared for farmland, shrinking the langurs' habitat. During the lean months between harvests, the monkeys raided crops and sometimes dislodged roof tiles. Villagers drove them away to protect their homes, fueling repeated conflicts in settlements on both sides of the river.

To ease tensions between people and wildlife, authorities have introduced a compensation system for damage caused by wild animals. The provincial forestry bureau arranges insurance coverage, allowing residents to receive compensation when langurs damage crops or property.

Francois' langurs inhabit Guizhou province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Francois' langurs inhabit Guizhou province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]