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Golden Snub-nosed Monkey
Rhinopithecus roxellana
33.8514, 108.784
Spotting Video
Field Notes
Description:
The adult and subadult golden snub-nosed monkey is sexually dimorphic. Adult males (estimated at over 7 years of age) have large bodies covered with very long, golden guard hairs on their backs and cape area. The crest is medium brown while the back, crown to nape, arms and outer thighs are deep brown.
Habitat:
endemic to the mountains of central and southwest China
Notes:
Locals in this park, Da Ping Yu, have habituated a troupe of about 40 Golden Snub-nosed monkeys. The park is part of 30 reserves in the Qinling mountains, also home to Giant Panda and Takin. It's taken a few years but the monkeys are comfortable around humans but not aggressive at all. They are still totally wild and free to go as they please. The park closes down in winter and they are left on their own again. They hang around a bit for the food they provide, like apples and corn but still eat their natural food. Many of the trees are striped of bark, which they have eaten. It was absolutely amazing to see these animals so close.
The video is a compilation of 2 short clips. The first a small group of monkeys are feeding and the alpha male walks onto the scene. The second is a really short clip of a pair grooming themselves and then they go back to their resting position, hiding their heads in each other to keep warm from the cold.
I wanted to add the link to my other National Geographic Spotting of the Week - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/5764133.
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