Status and threat factors of non-human primates at Mt.Huanglian Nature Reserve,Yunnan,China

XIANG Zuofu 1,2 ,HUO Sheng 1,2 ,MA Xiaofeng,MA Shilai 1 ( 1Kunming Institute of Zoology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Kunming 650223, China; 2 Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100031, China).

Primates status,Mt.Huanglian,conservation suggestion,threat factors.

Mt.Huanglian area (22°33′34″～22°59′20″N,102°05′26″～102°25′07″E) in South of Yunnan was surveyed through field observation and interview with local people for a general view of the status of eight primate species,the existence of which is recorded by the Nature Reserve staff.In this 18 day survey from March 28 to April 14,2002,only Nycticebus coucang,Macaca mulatta,M.arctoides,M.assamensis,Trachypithicus phayrei were confirmed.Calls of gibbons ( Hylobates concolor,H.leucogenys ) were not heard.In fact,it was questionable for the existence of H.concolor as its calls had not been heard by local people for three years. H.leucogenys was seen by someone last year.The population of Nycticebus intermedius was not observed either.A correlation analysis of human population (HP),paddy field area (PA),grain yield,area and yield of different economic plants (Tsao ko ( Amomum tsao ko ),tea,rubber tree,etc.),and income of persons (IP) showed that positive correlations existed between HP and PA,rubber tree area and IP,and yield of Tsao ko and IP.This means that forest would reduce with the increase of HP;great benefit of rubber tree planting would accelerate deforestation and Tsao ko planting would drive people into deep forest.All these changes would result in wildlife habitat degradation,including that of primates.Conservation strategies should include introduction of high yield techniques for rice plantation,more rigorous family planning,and control of Tsao ko and rubber production in the habitat of primates.In addition to the above threats,poaching may be a potential threat to primates,which should be firmly restricted through legiistation.