A Preliminary Study on Breeding Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti)

Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys were trapped in their natural habitat,and transported by alleviating stress by drug.We successfully kept these animals in captivity for 14 months for 3 females (2 adults and one 2.5-year-old juvenile),6 months for 2 males (1 subadult and one 2-year-old juvenile),and 80 months for a yearling female.All animals were in good health condition.The body weights of adults were somewhat increased or stable,and somatic growth for the young seemed to be normal.Tuberculin tests gave a negative result,and no pathogenetic bacteria were found in their digestive and respiratory tracts.The animals were experimentally fed by the leave,flower,or fruit of different plants,and vegetables available in Kunming,and 56 species-parts were chosen.Some of the species-parts were later used as their diet.The number of food items chosen is much larger than that reported for the monkey population in the wild where the structure of vegetation is relatively simple.