Gongshan Nature Conservation 2017-10-23
DulongJiang, an ancient and mysterious river...
The emerald-clear water of the Dulong River flows quietly between Gaoligong Mountain and Renlika Mountain.
In the broad-leaved forest on both sides of the river valley is a very rare gray spirit, which is called "Dangzhu" by the local Dulong compatriots, which means the embodiment of the gods.
Hat-wearing langur Photo: Peng Jiansheng
This grey spirit called "Dangzhu" by the Dulong clan is the hooded langur trachypithecus shortridgei, belonging to the subfamily Colobus monkey, the genus of the langur, is a primate with a narrow distribution range, and is only distributed in the Dulongjiang River basin of Gongshan in China, which has become a unique biological business card of Gongshan.
“
Adult hooded langurs are 53–71 cm long, their tails longer than their bodies up to 60–95 cm long, and weigh 9–14 kg. The face is black, the body is silver gray except for the limbs and the end of the tail, the rest is silver gray, the top hair is fluffy, no spiral hair, and the crown is dark, as if a "small hat" is worn on the head.
”
Photography: Peng Jiansheng
The hooded langur is listed as a national level i key protected wild animal in China, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) lists it as an endangered species, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (cites) lists it as an Appendix I species, and its ecological protection status is no less than that of giant pandas.
Hat-wearing langurs are particularly good at jumping Photo: Peng Jiansheng
The hooded langur lives mainly in evergreen, semi-evergreen broad-leaved forests and is a typical arboreal primate, agile, jumping, and prefers to move among the rocks of the cliffs.
Hat-wearing langurs feed mainly on a variety of fresh leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits, and have observed about 66 species of feeding plants, including trees, shrubs, bamboo, vines, herbs, ferns and mosses.
Feeding Photo: Peng Jiansheng
Each monkey herd is between 8 and 10, generally consisting of 1 adult male, 2 or more adult females, and their offspring, forming a polygamous family.
Hat-wearing langur population
Hat-wearing langur cubs
The mating period of hat-wearing langurs is from September to January of the following year, and the calving period is from February to April of the following year, the gestation period is 200 days, the lactation period is about 4 months, and each litter is one litter. The newborn pups are orange-yellow and contrast greatly with the adult body color to attract the attention and protection of other members of the community.
Survey studies have shown that the hat-wearing langur is mainly concentrated in the bukava to Chin Lang Dang line in the middle and lower reaches of the Dulong River, with a rough distribution of 19 groups, and the various groups are distributed in relatively isolated habitat patches, with a population of about 250-370.
Hat-wearing langur primitive habitat
The Dulongjiang River Valley of Gongshan Mountain is the only distribution area of the hat-wearing langur in China, and it is an irreplaceable and important habitat for its survival and reproduction. Due to its narrow distribution range, habitat loss and degradation, poaching pressures, etc., the species is small in number and the population is declining rapidly, with the number of species declining by at least 50 per cent since 1972.
Deforestation of understory vegetation caused by grass and fruit cultivation
In recent years, with the increase of protection and publicity efforts, poaching has been effectively controlled, but habitat loss and degradation caused by human activities, infrastructure construction and grass and fruit cultivation have replaced poaching, especially grass and fruit cultivation has become a major threat to the survival of hated langurs.
The survival status of the hooded langur has attracted great attention from the government level and various experts, and the Forestry Department of Yunnan Province has included the hooded langur into the "Outline of the Plan for the Rescue and Protection of Species of Extremely Small Populations in Yunnan Province (2010-2020)" and the "Emergency Action Plan for the Rescue and Protection of Species of Extremely Small Populations in Yunnan Province" to give priority to their protection.
Staff conduct field monitoring
In order to carry out the rescue and protection of the hooded langur, the Gongshan Management and Conservation Branch of Gaoligong mountain national nature reserve cooperated with Southwest Forestry University and the Eastern Himalayan Research Institute of Dali University to carry out four research projects, including the distribution and population survey, food habit, habitat utilization, population status and habitat change survey of the hatted langur, which provided a scientific decision-making basis for formulating the action plan for the protection of the hooded langur.
Conducted a habitat survey of hated langurs
Protection recommendations
1. Controlling the disorderly expansion of grass and fruit cultivation in the middle and lower reaches of the Dulongjiang River and changing the extensive management model are the keys to the rescue and protection action of the hat-wearing langur.
2. According to local conditions, guide and support local villagers to develop the development and planting of local characteristic cash crops with good prospects, such as Chonglou, yam, huangjing, dendrobium and other local characteristics, so as to diversify the planting structure of cash crops and reduce the dependence on grass and fruit planting.
3. It is necessary to strengthen and enhance the public's awareness of the importance and necessity of the protection of the hated langur, especially the local residents of Dulongjiang, so that the local people can fully understand the importance and significance of protecting this species and its habitat habitat.
4. The Dulongjiang area plays a vital role in the protection of the hat-wearing langur in China, and the contradiction between the regional protection of the hat-wearing langur habitat and the industrial development and the survival and development of the masses in the Dulongjiang area is more prominent. In order to achieve the organic coordination and unification of conservation and development, it is recommended that the government take the lead and directly participate in the demarcation of the hat-wearing langur protection community, establish a long-term ecological compensation mechanism, and actively strive to obtain funds from higher levels and social forces in this area.
Text: Sun Jun
Photo: Peng Jiansheng, Sun Jun, Li Jigang, He Zhengjun, Li Yingchun