With the arrival of the year of the monkey, China will conduct a comprehensive survey on three endangered monkey species for the first time. 

The three endangered monkey species are the black leaf monkey, the Guizhou golden monkey or snub-nosed monkey and the Yunnan golden monkey. The survey team will carry out its work in the major habitats of these monkeys, namely in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Experts say these monkeys are now almost as rare as the giant panda. Take the black leaf monkey for example. There are only 4000 of them left in the world. As they are timid by nature, and their ability to resist disease or to adapt to environment is limited. They also have trouble surviving in captivity. So this species has been put on China's list of nationally protected wildlife. A member of the survey team, Ding Wei, who is also a Chinese expert with the International Primatological Society, explains the gravity of the situation faced by these monkeys.

"We should not assume that the 4000 black leaf monkeys live together. In fact they are quite scattered. Their habitats are separated into isolated islands, making it difficult for them to communicate with one another. So their living situation is very harsh."

The loss or segmentation of habitats poses a serious threat to the existence of black leaf monkeys. Only by strengthening protection can people ensure the species' survival.

Since the black leaf monkey, the Guizhou golden monkey, and the Yunnan golden monkey are primates, just like the human being, experts say the survey not only helps protect the endangered species, but also is significant for humankind itself.

"Primates are the close relatives of the human being. Through conducting research on its activities, we can disclose the real biosphere connotation of human behavior. So the research on monkeys provides important material for human behavioral study."

The survey team will focus their study on the population and the habitat environment of the three endangered monkey species. They will also gather the hair and excrement samples from the monkeys and conduct DNA analysis to study the genetic structure and the relations between monkeys and their closest relatives.

(CRI January 24, 2004)