Chinese researchers have published the first evidence that a population
of the recently discovered snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus Strykeri,
live in China. Until now researchers have been unable to photograph the
monkey, whose upturned nostrils are said to make it sneeze in the rain.
The paper is published in the American
Journal of Primatology.
The species was first discovered by a team led by Ngwe Lwin from the
Myanmar Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association and described
by Dr Thomas Geissman in the American Journal of Primatology in
October 2010. It was believed that the species was isolated to the
Kachin State of north eastern Myanmar. However, this new discovery
reveals the international range of this critically endangered species.
The new expedition, led by Yongcheng Long from the Nature Conservancy
China Program, travelled to the Yunnan province of China after a forest
guard, Liu Pu, took photos of a group of snub-nosed monkeys in a forest
in near Pianma, in Yunann’s Lushui County.
“The population of this species is hard to estimate, but based on our
contacts with the monkey group both in October 2011 and in March 2012 we
estimate the population to be less than 100 individuals,” said Long.
“However, while we now know the home range to be far greater than
previously believed, we still do not yet know the true population number
or the extent of their home range as the monkeys are shy and very hard
to access.”
In local dialects the species is called mey nwoah, ‘monkey with
an upturned face’, although it was officially named ‘Rhinopithecus
Strykeri’ in honour of Jon Stryker, President and Founder of the
Arcus Foundation, which supported the initial project.
Local hunters claim the monkey is easy to find when it is raining
because they often get rainwater in their upturned noses causing them to
sneeze. However, long term observations did not show that they spend
rainy days sitting with their heads tucked between their knees as the
hunters also claim.
Thomas Geissmann, who led the taxonomic description, described the
monkey as having almost entirely blackish fur with white fur only on ear
tufts, chin beard and perineal area. It also has a relatively long tail,
approximately 140% of its body size. The new photos confirm this
description.
"After the discovery of the new species of Snub-nosed Monkey in Myanmar
we conducted hunter interview surveys along the Chinese-Myanmar border
which suggest at least one group in contiguous forest across the border
in Yunnan. I contacted Long Yongchen my friend and colleague from the
IUCN primate specialist group who followed and organised the first
surveys that document the presence of the Myanmar 'snubby' in China,”
said Frank Momberg, Fauna & Flora International, Myanmar Program
Director. “The discovery of Rhinepithecus strykeri in China gives
a bit more hope for the species survival, however the population is
still considered critically endangered, due to the high level of threats
and very small population.”
With a range crossing national borders efforts to conserve this
endangered species will no longer by isolated to Myanmar. The country is
currently experiencing political reform, which is expected to lead to
economic and industrial development, which may impact natural areas. The
researchers are calling for action from China, Myanmar and the
international conservation community to protect the area’s rich
biodiversity.
“This monkey group was actually found in an area designated as a nature
reserve 30 years ago and while local people have been hunting the
species for ages, local managers knew nothing about it,” concluded Long.
“This highlights the need to improve wildlife management in China, as it
is likely quite a few new species of plants and animals may be
discovered in the border areas between China and Myanmar.”
