A macaque monkey hides in the woods in Yingchuan town. [Photo/WeChat account: jnbctv0578]

During the Spring Festival holiday from Jan 31 to Feb 6, wild macaque monkeys were seen coming down from the hills to seek food in Yingchuan town, Jingning She autonomous county – administered by Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province.

According to locals, with the strengthening of ecological protection in Baishanzu National Park, the number of wild macaque monkeys is increasing.

Macaque monkeys play in the valley in Yingchuan town. [Photo/WeChat account: jnbctv0578]

Locals said that macaques are second-class protected national animals. As food is scarce in the mountains during the winter, macaques would go down the mountains to forage. Since 2021, the population number has increased to roughly 100 individuals, playing and foraging in the valley during the day and returning to the dense forest to rest at night.

In order to ensure adequate food for the macaques during winter, Yingchuan town has set up fixed food delivery spots in valleys and fields, and by riversides. The food includes corn, melon seeds, peanuts and walnuts.