Yunnan snub-nosed monkey conservation needs to rely on three core systems: technical support, collaborative network, and scientific management process, to systematically address new challenges such as habitat fragmentation, human interference, and insufficient conservation capacity, with specific components as follows:
I. Technical Support: Innovation in Instrumentation and Scientific Methods
1. Upgrading monitoring equipment
High-precision observation tools: equipped with monoculars, GPS locators, infrared cameras (e.g. 1km×1km grid deployment) and Patrol Assistant App, realizing real-time recording and trajectory analysis of monkey activity sites, replacing the traditional paper records, and improving the data accuracy (e.g. 40% reduction in the error of monitoring the daily distance of movement of the Longmashan population).
image and data analysis equipment: high-definition cameras and night-vision equipment are used to record the behavior of monkeys, and QGIS software analyzes the intensity of habitat utilization, solving the problem of habitat fragmentation and dynamic monitoring (e.g., identifying the core utilization areas such as tripods and waist hutches).
2. Standardized monitoring methods
Population and Behavioral Monitoring: Using direct observation (e.g., counting more than 190 individuals in the Longma Mountain population in 2024), instantaneous scanning sampling (recording feeding/movement/resting/socializing behaviors at 15-minute intervals), and combining with one-way ANOVA to test the differences in behavioral rhythms, we will be able to accurately grasp the structure of the population (the ratio of adult females to infants of 2.10: 1) and activity patterns (e.g., the ratio of two females to two infants). 1) and activity patterns (e.g. bimodal feeding peaks: 8:00-11:00 and 15:00-18:00).
Feeding and Threat Factors Survey: Record the feeding behavior of 26 species of plants from 12 families (e.g., 67.4% of pineapple), and establish a food resource database; record 96 anthropogenic activities such as grazing and mushroom picking through the disturbance intensity grading (level 1-3), and make clear the peak of disturbance in the summer (intensity of 4.23), so as to provide a basis for targeted prevention and control.
II. Collaboration network: synergistic mechanism of multiple subjects
1. Cross-sectoral scientific research cooperation
Government-Scientific Research Institutions Linkage: Yunnan Yunlong Tianchi Protected Area has joined hands with the East Himalayan Research Institute of Dali University to form a team of experts with Wang Haohan as the core to carry out long-term monitoring (e.g., 49% population growth of Longmashan from 2013-2024) and to address the shortcomings of the grassroots protection team's technology.
Integration of international experience: Referring to the IUCN primate conservation standards, introduce fecal DNA analysis, satellite tracking and other technologies to enhance the genetic diversity research capacity of small populations (e.g., the Tianchi population of about 20 individuals).
2. Community co-management and ecological compensation
Alternative Livelihoods and Participatory Conservation: Reduce disturbances such as grazing and fuel wood cutting through ecological compensation (e.g., subsidizing the forest economy) and community patrols (training villagers to participate in monitoring the monkeys), and reduce the frequency of anthropogenic disturbances in Longmashan by 15% year-on-year in 2024.
Conservation publicity and education: community lectures for the peak summer mushroom picking season to enhance residents' knowledge of the Dian snub-nosed monkey's dietary habits (e.g., pineapple dependence) and reduce the risk of food resource destruction.
III. Management process: whole chain protection strategy
1. Data standardization and long-term monitoring
standardized data collection: unified record templates (e.g., monkey activity sites, plant species fed on) to ensure that valid data are available for 42 of the 88 days of monitoring; established a three-level database of "individual-population-habitat", integrating 26 food specimens and habitat altitude distribution (3000-3200 m core zone). The three-level database of "individuals and populations and habitats" has been established.)
dynamic assessment mechanism: using the population growth model (1.13:1 ratio between adult and juvenile individuals) to judge the habitat capacity, and adjusting the focus of protection according to the intensity of seasonal disturbance (e.g., strengthening the patrolling in the Waipangzi area in summer).
2. Habitat restoration and risk prevention and control
Habitat corridor construction: In response to the problem of isolation of Tianchi population (only 0.7km away from the village), plan corridors between forest patches (e.g. connecting 1.24km² and 1.58km² core area) to alleviate the blockage of gene exchange caused by roads and villages.
Emergency Response System: establish a mechanism to help individuals with injuries and illnesses (e.g., the case of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys in Shangxiao Village in 2015), and equip with first-aid equipment and expert consultation process to reduce the risk of accidental death.
3. Policy and financial support
Legal and planning support: Relying on the Wildlife Protection Law, the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey is listed as a national-level protected species and included in the ecological protection red line; the local government allocates special funds for infrared camera deployment (e.g., 5 cameras in the Tianchi area) and the training of monitoring personnel.
long-term funding mechanism: integrating donations from public welfare organizations (e.g. Tencent Public Welfare's "Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey Conservation Program") and funds from international cooperation projects to ensure the sustainability of the food resource database construction and community compensation.
Summary
Dian snub-nosed monkey conservation has formed a closed loop of "monitoring-research-intervention-feedback" through technology-enabled monitoring accuracy, collaboration to resolve human conflicts, and process-guaranteed management effectiveness. In the future, it is necessary to further strengthen the tracking technology of the southern populations (e.g., Tianchi population) and expand the coverage of community co-management, in order to cope with the new challenges of climate change and habitat retreat, and to promote the transition from "stable recovery" to "high-quality growth" of the population.
I. Conservation experience
1. Effective protected area system and population recovery
Protected area network construction: Through the establishment of national nature reserves such as Yunlong Tianchi, core habitat protection barriers have been formed. The population size of Longmashan has increased from more than 50 in 1988 to more than 190 in 2024, with a continuous rise in the last 30 years, and an increase of 49% from 2011 to 2024. The ratio of adult females to infant monkeys has been stabilized at 2.10:1, and the population structure is healthy.
New Population Discovery and Distribution Expansion: In 2024, a new "Tianchi population" of about 20 monkeys was discovered in the southwest of Tianchi Reserve, pushing the southern boundary of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey's distribution southward by 40 kilometers and making it the southernmost population, which confirms the effectiveness of the conservation measures in expanding the distribution of the species.
2. Scientific monitoring and research support
technology application: Infrared cameras (1km×1km grid deployment), GPS tracking, QGIS habitat analysis and other technologies are used to realize accurate monitoring of population dynamics and habitat utilization. The Longmashan population recorded behavioral data by instantaneous scanning sampling method (15-minute intervals) to clarify the feeding peaks (8:00-11:00 and 15:00-18:00) and core activity zones (3000-3200 m elevation band).
Food habits and habitat study: establish a food habits database containing 26 species of plants, confirm that Pinus sylvestris accounts for 67.4% of the food composition, and target the protection of key vegetation such as Yunnan hemlock forests to safeguard the food supply in winter.
3. Community Participation and Disturbance Prevention and Control
Community co-management model: form villagers' patrols to participate in monitoring, and reduce disturbances such as grazing and mushroom harvesting through ecological compensation (e.g., subsidies for the underforest economy). 2024 anthropogenic disturbances in the Longmashan population will decrease 15% year-on-year, and the intensity of disturbances in the summer will decrease by 23% compared with that in 2015.
Conservation Awareness Enhancement: community publicity combined with infrared camera images will be conducted to promote residents to set up a fire line inspection system on their own initiative to reduce the impact of anthropogenic activities on the monkeys.
4. Cross-regional collaboration and policy guarantee
Linkage of scientific research institutions: Yunlong Tianchi Reserve has joined hands with Dali University and other universities to form a team of experts to carry out long-term population genetics research and confirm the genetic diversity of the Tianchi population through fecal DNA analysis in 2024.
Legal and planning support: Relying on the Wildlife Protection Law, the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey was listed as a national-level protected species and included in the ecological protection red line, and the local government made special allocations for the upgrading of monitoring equipment (e.g., five infrared cameras were installed in the Tianchi area).
II. Key Lessons
1. Habitat fragmentation and isolation threats
Geographic isolation has intensified: existing populations are severely isolated by roads and villages. Longmashan and Tianchi populations are only 40 kilometers apart, but genetic exchange is impossible due to habitat isolation; the habitat area of Tianchi population is only 3.23km², divided by pastures and firebreaks, with a perimeter-area ratio of 14.57, which exacerbates the risk of decline for small populations.
Bottleneck of environmental capacity: The ratio of adult to juvenile individuals of Longmashan population reaches 1.13:1, close to the upper limit of environmental capacity, and the average annual growth rate of 2012-2024 is 42% lower than that of pre-2011, so it is necessary to strengthen the expansion of habitats and the construction of corridors.
2. Insufficient monitoring capacity and data standardization
Data quality problems: unstandardized monitoring records resulted in only 42 days of valid data out of 88 days of field work, and the completeness rate of monkey activity site records was less than 60%, affecting the accuracy of population dynamics analysis.
Lagging technical equipment: lack of high-definition cameras and night-vision equipment to record key behaviors of monkeys crossing open areas; only 5 infrared cameras were installed in the Tianchi population, and only 2 fecal samples were obtained in 2024, which is not enough data to assess the population size.
3. Human disturbance and conservation conflicts
Seasonal disturbances are prominent: anthropogenic disturbances result in 18% shorter feeding times and a 27% increase in daily distance traveled by monkeys.
Limited coverage of alternative livelihoods: some communities still rely on traditional animal husbandry, and the ecological compensation rate (annual per capita subsidy of about 1,200 RMB) is insufficient to offset the economic losses.
4. Insufficient articulation between scientific research and conservation
Lack of expert guidance: the agreement requires 60 days of expert guidance per year, but in practice only the Longmashan population is covered, and the Tianchi population has missed opportunities to track monkeys due to a lack of technical training and insufficient ability of rangers to recognize traces.
Long-term monitoring mechanisms are weak: no inter-annual population database has been established, and there is a lack of early warning models for the long-term trend of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey's "retreat to higher altitudes" (300 m/decade of elevation gain in its southern range), making it difficult to respond to potential threats from climate change.
The Yunnan snub-nosed monkey conservation has achieved population recovery through policy protection, scientific and technological support, and community participation, but the problems of habitat fragmentation, insufficient monitoring capacity, and human interference still need to be broken through. In the future, we need to strengthen the construction of habitat corridors, standardized data collection, cross-regional scientific research collaboration and community support for sustainable livelihoods in order to cope with the compounding challenges of small population decline and environmental change.
