As many as 120 wild golden monkeys were first photographed by forestry police officers from Baoxing County, Ya'an City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. [Photo/WCCDaily]

As many as 120 wild golden monkeys were first photographed by forestry police officers from Baoxing County, Ya'an City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. [Photo/WCCDaily]

As many as 120 wild golden monkeys were first photographed by forestry police officers from Baoxing County, Ya'an City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. [Photo/WCCDaily]

As many as 120 wild golden monkeys were first photographed by forestry police officers from Baoxing County, Ya'an City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. [Photo/WCCDaily]

As many as 120 wild golden monkeys were first photographed by forestry police officers from Baoxing County, Ya'an City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. [Photo/WCCDaily]

As many as 120 wild golden monkeys were first photographed by forestry police officers from Baoxing County, Ya'an City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. 

Baoxing County is homeland to the Sichuan golden monkeys. Though officers have seen them during their daily patrol in the past, they rarely had the opportunity to take photos.

The golden monkey is the No.2 "national treasure" of China. In 1869, Father Armand David, a French missionary, discovered the world’s first golden monkey in Baoxing County and introduced it to the world.

Nowadays, these pretty creatures are only found in parts of Sichuan Province, Gansu Province, Sha'anxi Province and Hubei Province. Sichuan has the most golden monkeys, with about 10 thousand scattered throughout the Min Mountains and the Qionglai Mountains. The Baihe Nature Conservation Zone in Jiuzhaigou has the highest concentration of wild golden monkeys.