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China to Build Park for White-Headed Leaf Monkeys
China plans to pump 30 million yuan (about 3.61 million U.S. dollars) into the construction of an ecological park for white-headed leaf monkeys in Chongzuo County of southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
White-headed leaf monkeys, or Presbytis Francoisi Leucocephalus Tan in Latin, is one of the rarest species in the world and can only be found in China like giant pandas.
This kind of monkey has a mild temper and a graceful physique, with white hair on the head and tail, but their bodies and limbs are covered by black hair.
Huang Wanhui, a professor from the Life Science Institute of Beijing University, said white-headed leaf monkeys have inherited more human hereditary genes in their evolution, so they are much closer to human beings than giant pandas.
Therefore, the research on this type of monkey is equally important as the research on giant pandas, said Huang.
Study shows these monkeys are living only in regions from 108 degrees to 108 degrees east longitude and 22 degrees to 23 degrees north latitude.
According to Huang, there are now about 700 of them living in the wild and their habitat has been shrinking along with economic development.
The projected park will cover 24 square kilometers. Construction of the project will begin later this year and will be completed in 2002. By then, the park will be home to the world's biggest group of white-headed leaf monkeys, more than 40 kinds of mammals, 150 kinds of birds, 50 kinds of amphibious animals and reptiles, as well as more than 100 kinds of medicinal herbage, said He Min, magistrate of Chongzuo County.
A group of experts, consisting of specialists from Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Municipal Works and Horticulture and from Guangxi Regional Society of Urban Planning, professors of Beijing University, carefully discussed the construction plan.
Pan Wenshi, head of the Research Center for Protection of Giant Pandas and Wildlife attached to the prestigious Beijing University, said the new park would not only be conducive to promoting research on white-headed leaf monkeys worldwide, but also be good to protect the environment and create a fine living habitat for rare and endangered animals and plants.
A number of other recreational facilities, a scientific research center and a conference center will also be built near the park, said He.
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