Reserve acts to protect monkeys

A nature reserve in Guizhou province has allocated more than 24 million yuan ($3.8 million) over the past eight years to relocate residents to improve the habitat of endangered Francois’ langur monkeys. About 554 of the monkeys inhabit the Mayanghe National Nature Reserve in Guizhou. More than 30,000 people also live in the reserve. Houses, roads and electrical facilities have impacted the migration and growth of the species, and the monkeys often compete with livestock for food, said Wu Ankang, director of the reserve. In 2009, the reserve began to relocate residents. It also spent more than 1 million yuan to help them develop local ecological industries in an effort to improve the monkeys’ habitat.