From a Hunter to a Golden Monkey Breeder

Tian Sigen and his godlden monkey friends

Tian Sigen, now aged 61, has retired from his work and left the Great Dragon Pool Golden Monkey Conservation Base in Shennongjia where he worked for 8 years.

Yang Jingyuan, director of the Science Research Institute at Administrative Bureau of Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, was reluctant to see Mr. Tian off. From a hunting master to a golden monkey guardian, Tian has witnessed the vicissitude of the forest.

Tian became a hunter in his early 20s, and his hunting career lasted for 20 years. At that time, dwarf musk deer, wild goats, and wild boars could be seen everywhere in the mountains, and he never returned empty-handed when he went hunting. “I could hunt more than 30 musk deer every year, which sold at 50 yuan each, while the price of an egg was only 0.02 yuan.” Said Tian. It was the high income that attracted more and more people to become hunters.

With the sound of gunshots becoming more frequent and intense, animals living in the mountain were dwindling away.

After the launch of the Natural Forest Protection Program, Tian handed in his shotgun, burnt the animal heads hanging all over his door frame, and quit hunting.

However, he had only 3 mu (equal to 0.2 hectare) of land, and, by planting corn and potatoes, he could barely support his family. In order to make up the gap of his income, Tian had to take many part-time jobs.

Later, Tian joined the Great Dragon Pool Golden Monkey Conservation Base, and shouldered the responsibility of feeding golden monkeys. "Feeding them is just like looking after your own children. Punctuality is very important for the three meals every day." After accompanying the golden monkeys for years, Tian now regards them as his family. At his last day of work, Tian stayed at the conversation base for a long while, feeling upset. "I just want to take a few more looks at them," Tian bemoaned.