In April of 2006 we journeyed to Zhangjajie National Forest Park in Hunan Province, China. There are a multitude of plant, animal and insect (also animals) species that are partially protected here. I say partially due to the fact that there is limited plant collection for food purposes by the local Tujia people and it is widely known that poaching of the giant salamander, known as the Wa Wa Ee (this is as close as I can come to how the name of this salamander is said), which is protected, is on going.

The Macaca mulatta, family Cercopithecidae, rhesus monkey, also called the rhesus macaque, was common throughout the area of the park at one time but is now confined to a few riparian areas. Some are very tame and some are wild and cautious and all are free to roam. The rhesus monkeys that I photographed kept their distance except for a few that had become very acclimated to people and in my opinion, get too close but feeding of the animals will always bring about this conundrum. While watching these animals I was struck by their social activities and relationship to each other. I hope you enjoy these images.