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Yunnan Golden Monkeys

Journey Deep into the Woods with Karen Mok

Karen Mok helps plant a tree in Liju, Laojun Mountain and the Yunnan Golden Monkeys protection site at Baima Snow Mountain. © Christo Jan

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Celebrity Ambassador and award-winning actress and singer-songwriter Karen Mok journeyed 1.500 kilometers by plane and up 2,500 in elevation.

The destination? TNC’s lush, green conservation sites in Yunnan—namely a community project at Liju, Laojun Mountain and the Yunnan Golden Monkeys protection site at Baima Snow Mountain.

Off the beaten track, these places are a world away from the grand stage and packed auditoriums where Karen has been performing for her global concert tour. Taking time off from her hectic schedule, she said: “This is amazing! I am thrown by the beauty (that I’ve seen here).”

Check out this slideshow featuring highlights from the trip where Karen shares some of her personal impressions.

Hey little monkeys guess who is your biggest fan? Superstar Karen that is! “They are so beautiful. We saw little new-born babies hanging on to their mummies,” Karen said. © Christo Jan
most endangered primates With only 3,000 left in the wild, it is one of the most endangered primates in the world with around 1,000 on Baima Snow Mountain in Weixi, Yunnan. © Christo Jan
Learning from experts Karen with retired TNC scientist and Yunnan Golden Monkey expert Dr. Long Yongcheng (left) and Head of Baima Snow Mountain National Park Weixi District Zhong Tai. © Christo Jan
Going High Karen easily hiked up to the steep forests—some as high as up to 4,000 meters above sea level—where the Yunnan Golden Monkeys live. © Christo Jan
PLANTING TREES Karen helps TNC staff in Laojun Mountain plant trees. To date, we have planted more than 3.2 million trees in Yunnan and 10 million across China. © Christo Jan
Alternative income Karen makes woolen blankets with Liju villagers in Laojun Mountain who make sustainable products instead of hunting monkeys for income. © Christo Jan
Forest guardians Former TNC Patrol Team Chief Zhang Zhiming shares pictures of his team’s work with Karen. Zhang, has been a guardian of Yunnan Golden Monkeys for almost 30 years. © Christo Jan
TNC in Lijiang In front the Lijiang Old Town Historical and Cultural Museum where TNC’s Lijiang office is located. © Christo Jan
Karen says “Hopefully, we can also tell the whole world how beautiful and precious this species is, and how to protect and love them.” © jan

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Farms and local communities populate the valleys along the watershed of the upper Yangtze River, Yunnan province, southwestern China. © Ami Vitale
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