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| (CNTV) |
Some of the world’s rarest monkeys Francois langurs, are about to be re-introduced to the wild after decades of hard work by scientists.
Due to hunting and the loss of their habitat, Francois langurs, named after a former French consul in southern China, are on the verge of dying out. They can only be found in south western China and north eastern Vietnam. Nobody knows how many are left in the wild, but people estimate there are only about 2,000 in China.
This Research Center in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is their only breeding center.
Tang Zhaohui, Director of Wuzhou Primate Breeding Center, said, "In the wild, Francois langurs can only live for 11 to 12 years. But here, there are Francois langurs over 20 years old."
What is even more encouraging, the monkeys born here are about to be re-introduced into the wild.
Tang Zhaohui said,"We have launched the program already. It will begin this year. The chosen destination is Daming Mountain in Guangxi. We plan to reintroduce three groups of ten monkeys first. "
There are not many successful precedents of sending primates back to nature. Experts think it will take ten years for the program to succeed. For Francois langurs, the way home will be a difficult journey.
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