Central China's monkey puzzle gets 5 mln solution

A nature reserve in Central China's Henan Province is to spend 5 million yuan (814,000 US dollars) on two cable bridges over a reservoir to allow macaques to migrate.

More than 3,000 macaques live in Jiyuan Macaque National Natural Reserve and at least 500 of them move between forests on both sides of the Qin River, a tributary of the Yellow River. The Hekou Reservoir, key to flood control on the Qin and the lower reaches of the Yellow River, has cut off their route.

There were four bridges for the monkeys over the Qin, but as the reservoir fills up, all four will be submerged, said Wang Xiangdong, deputy director of the forestry bureau of Jiyuan.

"If one population is split, and becomes two isolated groups, it will be harmful for the macaques' breeding and surviva," Wang said.

Each bridge will be more than 250 meters long and 10 meters above the water, allowing 150 macaques to pass at one time. Construction will be completed in October.

Regarding questions over the costs of the project, Wang said the bridges have no purpose other than ecological protection.

"We will also build monitoring bases and food stations," he said. "As for the costs, everything is above board and the project will be carried out under strict supervision."