Progress in macaque conservation in SW China

This photo taken on May 31, 2026 shows wild macaques at the Little Three Gorges scenic area in Wushan County, southwest China's Chongqing. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

Macaques are national second-class protected animals in China. Around the year 2000, their population in the Little Three Gorges area dropped to fewer than 100, as deforestation and land clearing reduced their natural habitats.

Local authorities relocated residents from key wildlife habitats, removed docks located at macaques' regular gathering spots, and launched large-scale reforestation efforts. Today, several thousand wild macaques inhabit the region.

As the macaque population grew, food supplies in the mountains became insufficient. To ease conflicts between the macaques and nearby communities, local authorities have set up four feeding sites, where staff regularly provide corn for the primates.

Gong Qingbing has been engaged in macaque feeding for 22 years. The whistles he blows have become a familiar call signal between him and the macaques. "I hope the mountains will grow greener and the waters clearer, and that both the macaques and local residents can live a better life," Gong said.