Wildlife of China: The spiritual monkey

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The Tibetan macaque is native to China and can be found in large areas in southern China.

General information about Tibetan macaques. /CGTN Photo

The most famous group of Tibetan macaques live on the Emei Mountain in Sichuan Province in southwestern China. The Emei Mountain has had an extraordinary significance in Chinese Buddhism throughout history, therefore the macaques that live here are often referred to as "the spiritual monkey".

The Tibetan macaques have dense fur around the face. /VCG Photo

The Tibetan macaques are the largest macaque species and have extremely thick and long fur all over their body, which is particularly dense around the ears and on top of the head. This feature is very well-suited for cold environments.

A Tibetan macaque sitting on the fence at the Emei Mountain, /VCG Photo

The fur in adults is usually brown or yellowish-brown, and the infants have silver-and-black fur that changes to its adult color at the age of two. The males have a pale pinkish face while it is a reddish-pink in females as an indication of their fertility during the mating season.

The baby macaque looks curiously at its surroundings. /VCG Photo

A macaque sitting in a tree. /VCG Photo

A macaque family resting on the rock. /VCG Photo

The population of the Tibetan macaque is concentrated in Tibet and Sichuan, and many of its habitats are mountains popular with tourists. Living in close association with human means they are more easily exposed to human diseases and poisoning from herbicides and pesticides, which pose a considerable threat to the Tibetan macaques.

(Cover image designed by CGTN's Li Yueyun.)

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