A golden snub-nosed monkey and her infants (FILE)  

As of May 15, 49 newborn golden snub-nosed monkeys have been recorded at the Yuhuangmiao golden monkey monitoring base within the Shaanxi Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. The local population remains stable, with 22 family groups comprising over 360 individuals, according to the monitoring base. Staff began their observations on March 18 this year. The peak breeding season for the species typically runs from March to May.   

The golden snub-nosed monkey is a typical arboreal forest-dwelling species, inhabiting forests at elevations between 1,500 and 3,300 meters year-round. They live in complex social groups, with each large troop composed of smaller family units that serve as the primary activity groups. Each family unit is led by a dominant adult male and includes three to five females, along with juveniles under three years of age, including infants. Females generally give birth between March and April, though occasional births may occur from February to May. 

Spanning both sides of the main ridge of the Qinling Mountains, the Shaanxi Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve covers 69,004 hectares (ha), with a forest coverage rate of 96.6 percent. Situated between the north temperate zone and the northern subtropics, the reserve features diverse microclimates, abundant natural resources, and an intact ecosystem, which altogether support a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Across the reserve, the suitable habitat for golden snub-nosed monkeys spans 60,990 ha. The monkey population has grown from 11 groups totaling 1,230 individuals when the reserve was established in the 1980s to approximately 2,000 individuals across 24 groups today. 

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