Beijing, Sept 16: With a view to increase the number of golden monkeys, a rare native species in China, the government has embarked on a $ 3.6-million project to artificially breed them and has designated over 400 acres of natural reserve land for this purpose. About 10-15 golden monkeys will be put into captivity for scientific study, which serves the purpose of increasing the number of the rare animal species, deputy director of Shennongjia nature reserve in central China's Hubei province, Zhong Ran said. The nature reserve administration has designated a 410 acre area in the reserve for artificial breeding, a senior official with the reserve said. Initial investigations show that Shennongjia is now home to more than 900 golden monkeys belonging to eight groups. More than 20 technicians in the nature reserve and scientists and researchers from the Chinese academy of sciences, Beijing University and Wuhan University would take part in the research programme which is expected to begin next year.

Bureau Report