Have you ever seen a golden snub-nosed monkey? If you haven’t, they’re an endangered species that can only be found in China.
They look unlike any other monkey.
They are a “species of ‘old world monkey’ (those native to Africa and Asia) endemic to western-central China.”
Years ago, they were hunted for “medicinal purposes.”
“It was thought that the fur of the species had medicinal properties and it was widely hunted – Chinese aristocracy used to wear their pelts to ward off rheumatism. Today, that practice has more or less ceased, although some illegal hunting for their meat does still occur,” Extinction wrote on their website.
Now, they are being wiped out because of the loss of their natural habitat.
Because of agriculture and commercial logging, their preferred food, lichen, which grows in the bark of dead trees, is no longer accessible.
That’s why the Golden snub-nosed monkeys need to be protected.
And these Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys are actually very friendly and they love to eat.
They’re herbivores.
So, they will eat anything from fruits to berries and even vines. Gone is our perception that all monkeys only eat bananas.
This particular monkey, named DaBao (it means ‘Big Treasure’ in Chinese), eats an entire orange, from the rind to the pith to the fruit itself, including the pulp and seeds!
No food gets wasted with these golden snub-nosed monkeys.
And they really know their way around their food. They don’t need any help peeling or cutting them in half.
During winter time though, even though fruits may be scarce, they can still survive with lichens, twigs, and insects.
People fell in love with the video.
“Thank you for sharing this and educating us about this beautiful creature. The first one seemed to be raising his arms for a hug,” Nameera Ahmed commented.
“What a beautiful, healthy looking monkey. Keep up the great work looking after these precious animals,” vonRuffy added.
“Truly fascinating. I didn’t even know these animals existed,” Viktor Yanokovich replied.
Are you wondering why the monkeys in the video look different from each other though?
Their fur changes, depending on the season.
During the winter seasons, to keep themselves warm, their fur turns thicker and darker. And in the summer, their fur is thinner and lighter.
Catch this cutie mowing down on some tasty treats in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
