Text by Zhai Xingbo,Zhang Shanshan,Zhao Bei & Xiang Pingyang

Shennong Valley 神農(nóng)谷

Snub nose,blue face,yellow robe...the golden snub-nosed monkeys,one of China’s national treasures,are the flagship species for the biodiversity conservation in Shennongjia,and praised as the “Elves from the Roof of Central China.”

However,their presence in Shennongjia was not discovered until 1978.This discovery extended the distribution range of the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey population from 101° to 105° E to Shennongjia,Hubei Province from 110° 03’ to 110° 33’ E.Shennongjia has thus become the easternmost “border town” of the world’s golden snub-nosed monkeys.

For more than 40 years,the number of golden snub-nosed monkeys in Shennongjia has been a topic of public concern,for which the census is one of the basic means to keep track.From April to September,2019,a team of more than 50 members headed deep into the mountains of Shennongjia,launching the third survey to take inventory of the latest “national treasure”:1,471 golden snub-nosed monkeys—nearly three times as many as those in the first census.

Easternmost Border Town

“Farther east,there are no golden snub-nosed monkeys left on earth,” said Liao Mingyao,former director of Shennongjia National Nature Reserve Administration,who had twice conducted the field surveys of golden snubnosed monkeys in Shennongjia.“Shennongjia is the first and last frontier at the easternmost end of the golden snub-nosed monkeys of the world.By protecting the ecology of Shennongjia,its population of golden snub-nosed monkeys is well preserved.”

According to Liao Mingyao,there are currently only five populations of golden snubnosed monkeys in the world—Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys,Yunnan golden snubnosed monkeys,Guizhou golden snub-nosed monkeys,Vietnamese golden snub-nosed monkeys,and Myanmar golden snub-nosed monkeys.Except for the Myanmar golden snub-nosed monkeys and the Vietnamese golden snubnosed monkeys,the remaining three are endangered species living in China.The snub-nosed monkeys in Shennongjia are an independent subspecies of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys,as well as the latest species found in China.Shennongjia is the only habitat for the Hubei subspecies of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys.

A baby golden snub-nosed monkey frolicking in the treetops Photo by Guo Yuming出生不久的金絲猴在樹梢嬉戲 圖/ 郭裕銘

仰天鼻、藍(lán)面孔、一身黃袍……“國寶”金絲猴是神農(nóng)架生物多樣性保護(hù)的旗艦物種，被譽(yù)為“華中屋脊精靈”。

然而，它們在神農(nóng)架的身影直到1978年才被發(fā)現(xiàn)。這將川金絲猴種群分布區(qū)間從東經(jīng)101°至105°延伸到東經(jīng)110°03′至110°33′的湖北省神農(nóng)架境內(nèi)。神農(nóng)架也因此成為世界金絲猴最東部“邊城”。

40 多年來，神農(nóng)架到底有多少只金絲猴，一直是大眾關(guān)心的話題，種群調(diào)查是基本手段之一。2019年4月至9月，一支50 余人的調(diào)查隊(duì)伍向神農(nóng)架深山進(jìn)發(fā)，啟動了第三次調(diào)查，摸清了“國寶”的最新“家底”：1471 只，是第一次普查數(shù)量的近3 倍。

發(fā)現(xiàn)最東部“邊城”

“再往東，地球上就沒有金絲猴了?！痹鴥纱沃鞒稚褶r(nóng)架金絲猴野外調(diào)查的原神農(nóng)架國家級自然保護(hù)區(qū)管理局局長廖明堯說，“神農(nóng)架既是全球金絲猴最東端的第一道屏障，也是最后一道，保護(hù)好了神農(nóng)架的生態(tài)就保住了神農(nóng)架金絲猴這一種群。”

廖明堯介紹，目前全球金絲猴僅存5 個種群——川金絲猴、滇金絲猴、黔金絲猴、越南金絲猴和緬甸金絲猴。除緬甸金絲猴和越南金絲猴外，其余3 種均為我國特有瀕危物種。神農(nóng)架金絲猴是川金絲猴的一個獨(dú)立亞種和發(fā)現(xiàn)最晚的一個種群，神農(nóng)架是川金絲猴湖北亞種唯一棲息地。

1978年，科考人員首次在神農(nóng)架發(fā)現(xiàn)金絲猴；20世紀(jì)90年代初期，神農(nóng)架進(jìn)行了第一次普查，初步判斷有500 多只；2005年，第二次普查獲得準(zhǔn)確數(shù)據(jù)——1282只。

14年過去了，家族壯大了嗎？棲息地變了嗎？這些是此次調(diào)查想要弄清的問題。

“開展全面系統(tǒng)的新一輪調(diào)查，不僅可準(zhǔn)確掌握神農(nóng)架金絲猴種群數(shù)量、分布、活動規(guī)律等，也是評估保護(hù)成效，為神農(nóng)架今后的生態(tài)保護(hù)和管理決策提供支撐。”神農(nóng)架國家公園管理局科學(xué)研究院院長楊敬元說。

腳步丈量“流動”家

“調(diào)查相當(dāng)于金絲猴的‘人口普查’，但猴子身手敏捷、四處活動，調(diào)查起來很難?！鄙褶r(nóng)架國家公園管理局科學(xué)研究院副院長姚輝說，“調(diào)查工作組預(yù)先制定實(shí)施方案，對金絲猴集中分布區(qū)，設(shè)置17 個調(diào)查小區(qū)，3-4 人為一組，采用網(wǎng)格化、拉網(wǎng)式線路調(diào)查法、社群大小調(diào)查法、實(shí)體觀察法等，全覆蓋跟蹤調(diào)查金絲猴種群及棲息地?！?/p>

A monkey couple snuggling up to each other in the snow Photo by Shu Renqing 雪中情 圖/舒仁慶

In 1978,scientific researchers discovered golden snub-nosed monkeys in Shennongjia for the first time.In the early 1990s,the first census of these monkeys in Shennongjia was conducted,the preliminary estimate being more than 500 in the area; and in 2005,the second census obtained an accurate figure—1282.

Fourteen years have passed.Has the family grown? Has the habitat changed? These are the questions that this survey wants to clarify.

“A new round of comprehensive and systematic investigation can not only accurately grasp the population size,distribution and activity rules of golden snubnosed monkeys in Shennongjia,but also evaluate the protection effect,and provide support for the future ecological protection and management decision-making here,” said Yang Jingyuan,chairman of the Scientific Research Institute of Shennongjia National Park Administration.

Measuring the “Mobile” Homes

“The survey is equivalent to a ‘census’ of the golden snubnosed monkeys,but the monkeys are agile and mobile,and thus difficult to trace and investigate,” said Yao Hui,deputy chairman of the Scientific Research Institute of Shennongjia National Park Administration.“The investigation working group has for mulated an implementation plan in advance.For the core distribution area of the golden snub-nosed monkeys,17 investigation communities are set up,with three to four members in a group.Various methods including grid survey,route survey,community size survey,and entity observation are used to fully cover and track the population and habitat of the golden snub-nosed monkeys.”

Three monkeys sitting in a row Photo by Fang Jianli 三猴開泰 圖/方建麗

“每組配備紅外相機(jī)、高倍望遠(yuǎn)鏡、攝影攝像機(jī)、手持PDA。猴叫聲、糞便、毛發(fā)……調(diào)查中，關(guān)于金絲猴的一切蛛絲馬跡，都能被錄制、拍攝實(shí)時上傳，供所有隊(duì)員精準(zhǔn)掌握猴群行蹤?！币x說，相比2005年調(diào)查，本輪調(diào)查多了高科技設(shè)備支撐，更便捷。

精準(zhǔn)掌握金絲猴的生活習(xí)性和種群特征也是調(diào)查員的必備技能?！? 時至11 時左右活動，11 時以后到14 時期間午休，午睡后接著活動，18 時以后就不再遷徙了，夜宿到第二天早上7 時左右；金絲猴以家庭為單位，一個家庭由一位雄猴家長、若干只成年雌猴和一群嬰猴組成，家庭成員數(shù)量從幾只到幾十只不等。”調(diào)查員陳華介紹。

金絲猴是大山“精靈”，多棲息于神農(nóng)架原始森林腹地。猴子遷徙1 個小時路程，人類或許要走1天，為了防止跟丟猴群，調(diào)查組規(guī)定，17 時以后發(fā)現(xiàn)猴群的小組，當(dāng)晚就在猴子棲息地周圍安營扎寨，按兵不動，待天亮接著跟蹤。

“天不亮就出發(fā)，夜晚伴著星辰返回，遇峭壁山澗攔路，還得另辟蹊徑、繞路前行，下雨天山滑難行、密林里螞蟥侵襲，餓了啃面包饅頭、渴了喝口山泉水……”調(diào)查員楊利成在調(diào)查日記中寫道。

50 余人，100 多天，累計(jì)步行43200 余公里，足跡踏遍神農(nóng)架及毗鄰的興山和巴東三個保護(hù)區(qū)的高山密林，終于完成本輪調(diào)查。

保護(hù)與研究并重

調(diào)查結(jié)果顯示：神農(nóng)架現(xiàn)有川金絲猴種群10 個，分布面積約為354 平方公里，10 個川金絲猴種群直接計(jì)數(shù)統(tǒng)計(jì)數(shù)量為1471 只。金絲猴種群數(shù)、總數(shù)量、棲息地面積較2005年的調(diào)查數(shù)據(jù)分別增長25%、14.7%、 68.6%。

結(jié)果可喜，回望金絲猴保護(hù)之路，也并非波瀾不驚。

1958年到1981年，神農(nóng)架處于大開發(fā)時期，持續(xù)砍伐原始森林，此間雖極少發(fā)現(xiàn)，但在食物匱乏的冬季，卻能看到餓死雪中的金絲猴。

“Each group is equipped with an infrared camera,a high-power telescope,a video camera,a hand-held PDA,etc.With their help,monkey calls,excrement,hair,and any other trace of golden snub-nosed monkeys could be recorded,photographed,and uploaded in real time,so that all the team members can accurately grasp the whereabouts of the monkeys,” Yao Hui said,and that compared to the 2005 survey,this round of surveys had more hightech equipment support and was easier to conduct.

Accurately keeping track of golden snub-nosed monkeys’ living habits and population characteristics is also an essential skill for investigators.“Moving about from 7 am to 11 am or so,taking a nap from 11 am to 2 pm,and going on with their activities after siesta,they no longer migrate after 6 pm; they stay overnight until around 7 o’clock the next morning.Golden snub-nosed monkeys live in families which consists of a male parent,several adult female monkeys,and a group of baby monkeys.The number of family members ranges from several to a few dozens,” said Investigator Chen Hua.

The golden snub-nosed monkeys are the “elves” of the mountains,and most of them inhabit the hinterland of the Shennongjia virgin forest.The distance that monkeys travel for an hour may take humans a whole day to cover.In order to prevent the monkeys from being lost,the investigation team stipulated that the team which found the monkeys after 5 pm should set up a camp around the monkey habitat that night and stay still until they continue their tracking at dawn.

“We start before daybreak and return at night.When we encounter cliffs and streams,we have to find another way and make a detour.On rainy days,the mountains are slippery and difficult to walk.In dense forests,leeches attack.When we’re hungry,we have no choice but to eat bread or a bun; we have to drink mountain spring water when we’re thirsty...” investigator Yang Licheng wrote in his survey diary.

More than 50 investigators finally completed this round of investigation in over 100 days,covering a total of 43,200 kilometers on foot through the dense alpine forests in the nature reserves of Shennongjia,Xingshan and Badong (two adjacent counties).

Both Protection and Research Work Are Equally Important

The survey indicates that there are 10 Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey communities in Shennongjia with a distribution area of about 354 square kilometers,and the number of Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys directly counted is 1471.Compared with the 2005 survey data,the number of golden snub-nosed monkey communities,the total population,and the habitat area have increased by 25%,14.7%,and 68.6% respectively.

A group of monkeys lining up down the mountain to get fed Photo by Guo Yuming金絲猴雪天排隊(duì)下山接受人工補(bǔ)食 圖/ 郭裕銘

2000年，神農(nóng)架林區(qū)全面禁伐。2005年冬季，金絲猴接受了人工投食。同年，神農(nóng)架搭建了中國首個野外金絲猴研究平臺——大龍?zhí)督鸾z猴野外研究基地。2016年，神農(nóng)架國家公園體制試點(diǎn)運(yùn)行，隨之出臺史上最嚴(yán)保護(hù)立法——《神農(nóng)架國家公園保護(hù)條例》。2018年，神農(nóng)架國家公園建成3 類共25 處野生動物通道，為野生金絲猴遷徙提供便利，促進(jìn)神農(nóng)架金絲猴種群交流。

2019年4月26日，為呵護(hù)“國寶”棲息，神農(nóng)架金絲猴保護(hù)基金會揭牌，當(dāng)日即收到首批愛心企業(yè)和個人捐贈400 萬元，善款主要用于開展金絲猴科普科教和志愿者活動，完善保護(hù)設(shè)施、提升保護(hù)能力等。

保護(hù)力度空前，研究進(jìn)度不減。

“金絲猴的早期妊娠診斷技術(shù)”“關(guān)鍵營養(yǎng)因子調(diào)控神農(nóng)架金絲猴繁殖力技術(shù)研究”“金絲猴疾病流行病學(xué)研究”……依托大龍?zhí)督鸾z猴科研基地，自2005年開始，全國近20 家科研單位、高校參與金絲猴項(xiàng)目研究，先后培養(yǎng)70 名碩士、17 名博士。

“以前，提到神農(nóng)架，很多人首先會想到‘野人’。如今，再提神農(nóng)架，人們還會想到金絲猴?！鄙褶r(nóng)架國家公園管理局副局長柳健雄說，金絲猴成了神農(nóng)架生態(tài)保護(hù)成果的“檢驗(yàn)者”，成為神農(nóng)架新的形象“代言人”。

The results are encouraging.However,when looking back on the protection of the golden snubnosed monkeys,it is full of ups and downs.

From 1958 to 1981,Shennongjia went through a period of rapid development,with the virgin forests continuing to be cut down.As a result,when food was scarce in winter,the golden snub-nosed monkeys could be seen starving to death in the snow,which is rarely found today.

In 2000,the Shennongjia forest area was wholly banned from logging.In the winter of 2005,the golden snub-nosed monkeys received artificial feeding.In the same year,China’s first wild golden snub-nosed monkey research platform—Dalongtan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Wild Research Base—was established in Shennongjia.In 2016,the pilot program of Shennongjia National Park System was launched,the most stringent protection laws in history were subsequently introduced,called the Shennongjia National Park Protection Regulations.In 2018,Shennongjia National Park established a total of 25 wildlife passages in three categories,which have facilitated the migration and promoted the population exchange of the snubnosed monkeys in Shennongjia.

Dajiu Lake veiled in mist 霧蕩九湖

On April 26,2019,Shennongjia Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Conservation Foundation was unveiled for the purpose of protecting the habitat of the “national treasure.” On the same day,it received a first wave of donations of 4 million yuan from concerned enterprises and individuals.The donations are mainly committed to the scientific,educational,and volunteer activities circled around the golden snub-nosed monkeys,thus improving protection facilities and capacities.

The protection is unprecedented,and the research progress is unabated.

Many research projects,such as “Diagnostic Technology of Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys’ Early Pregnancy,” “Research on Key Nutrient Factors Regulating the Fertility of Shennongjia Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys,” and the “Epidemic Research of Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Disease” have been sponsored by national authorities.Since 2005,relying on the research base of golden snub-nosed monkeys in Dalongtan,nearly 20 scientific research institutions and universities in China have participated in research projects on golden snub-nosed monkeys,which have cultivated 70 masters and 17 doctors in this field successively.

“In the past,when mentioning Shennongjia,many people first thought of ‘savages.’ At present,when referring to Shennongjia,people will think of golden snub-nosed monkeys,” said Liu Jianxiong,deputy director of the Shennongjia National Park Administration.The golden monkeys have become the “eye-witness” of Shennongjia’s ecological protection achievements and the “spokesman” of Shennongjia’s new image.(Translation:Qing Run)