The 10th anniversary of the scientific description of the black snub‐nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri): It is time to initiate a set of new management strategies to save this critically endangered primate from extinction

Abstract

Traditionally, the genus Rhinopithecus (Milne-Edwards, 1872, Primates, Colobinae) included four allopatric species, restricted in their distributions to China and Vietnam. In 2010, a fifth species, the black snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri) was discovered in the Gaoligong Mountains located on the border between China and Myanmar.Despite the remoteness, complex mountainous terrain, dense fog, and armed conflict that characterizes this region, over this past decade Chinese and Myanmar scientists have begun to collect quantitative data on the ecology, behavior and conservation requirements of R. strykeri. In this article, we review the existing data and present new information on the life history, ecology, and population size of R. strykeri. We discuss these data in the context of past and current conservation challenges faced by R. strykeri, and propose a series of both short-term and long-term management actions to ensure the survival of this Critically Endangered primate species. Specifically, we recommend that the governments and stakeholders in China and Myanmar formulate a transboundary conservation agreement that includes a consensus on bilateral exchange mechanisms, scientific research and monitoring goals, local community development, cooperation to prevent the hunting of endangered species and cross-border forest fires. These actions

Effects of provisioning on the activity budget and foraging strategies of black‐and‐white snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) in the Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China

“…Mean food retention time in captive R. bieti is estimated to be 47 h (Kirkpatrick et al, 2001). Previous studies have hypothesized that increased time devoted to resting in snub-nosed monkeys may represent a behavioral strategy designed to minimize energy expenditure required for thermoregulation during the long cold winter and/or to increase time available to digest polysacchariderich and cellulose-rich foods such as lichen, mature leaves, and tree bark (Bissell, 2014;Ding & Zhao, 2004;Hou et al, 2018Hou et al, , 2020Olafsdottir & Ingólfsdottir, 2001;Yang et al, 2022). Fruticose lichens, principally Usnea longissimi and Bryoria spp.…”

Ontogenetic Development of Sexual Dimorphism in Body Mass of Wild Black-and-White Snub-Nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti)

“…While all colobine species were studied simultaneously with correlation analysis to figure out their characteristics, R. bieti is singled out from the others due to its altitude and social group size, which, as discussed above, led to its unique body mass and SDBM pattern. Within the Rhinopithecus genus, R. bieti has the most significant SDBM (1.90); R. brelichi has 1.88 [51,89], 1.81 for R. roxellana [75], 1.75 in R. avunculus [51], and 1.65 in R. strykeri [76]. Although R. bieti's distribution latitude is not as extensive as that of R. roxellana, it is still found in the highest altitude areas, and also has the largest social group size, making a significant contribution to body mass and SDBM.…”

“…The high ratio of body volume to body surface area ensures maximum metabolic heat retention. Such a mechanism helps the species survive on low quality foods during long freezing periods in winter [33,75,98,99].…”

“…This result is also in accordance with the fact that colobine species have greater body mass, and larger social group sizes (Figure 7F-1). In other words, larger groups of animals usually face more substantial pressure for food resources, especially during cold and dry winters where food is scarce [6,21,36,75,119].…”

Recent Advances in Genetics and Genomics of Snub-Nosed Monkeys (Rhinopithecus) and Their Implications for Phylogeny, Conservation, and Adaptation

“…The wild population of R. roxellana, numbering ~22,500 individuals, is fragmented into three local populations in the Minshan and Qionglai Mountains (Sichuan/Gansu provinces; SG), the Qinling Mountains (Shanxi province; QL), and the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve (Hubei province; SNJ) [32] (Figure 1). Population sizes of the other species are much smaller (R. bieti ~3000 individuals [33] and R. strykeri ~950 individuals [34]). The species with the smallest population size and the highest risk of extinction are R. avunculus with less than 200 individuals [31] and R. brelichi with ~400 individuals [35].…”