The largest group of white-headed langurs in the world has been found to contain 250 animals, scattered in 25 subgroups across 24 square kilometers in Chongzuo County, in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

After six years in Chongzuo studying the rare species of Asian long-tailed monkey, Pan Wenshi, a professor from Beijing University's life sciences institute, and his research team revealed their findings. "A stable biological environment has been established for white-headed langurs with a natural stone-field border separating them from residential areas," said Pan.

Thanks to nearby residents' efforts in environmental protection, white-headed langur numbers have increased from 90 to 230 in the past six years in the eight-square-kilometer area studied.

White-headed langurs live on at least 75 kinds of plants. Pan predicted that their population would increase to 800 within 15 years if their habitat was well protected and poaching strictly banned.

White-headed langurs are on the top priority list for protection in China and are the only primate species discovered and named by China. They number only 700 in the world, even fewer than pandas, China's "national treasure." White-headed langurs can now be found in just four counties in Guangxi.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2002)