Plants

The unique geographical location has provided the reserve with opportunities to preserve precious plants and animals. There are 2,062 species of pteridophyte and seed plants. Among them, 32 species, including dove trees, Katsura trees, and ginkgoes, which are under the state protection; 33 species are indigenous Shennongjia plants. There are more than a 1,000 medicinal plants including Magnolia officinalis, Gastrodia elata and Coptis chinensis，so the reserve is called a natural medicinal park. In addition, it is rich in domesticated wild plants and their close relatives.

From 1986-1990, as many as 163 crop species were collected, including the yangtao, Chinese gooseberry and Hubei Hawthorn, all of great value for breeding new varieties or improving species, botanists say.

Animals

Living in the area are 336 species of terrestrial vertebrates, 200 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and 27 orders of insects. They account for 81.8 percent the total life. Forty species of animals such as golden monkeys, South China tigers, golden eagles and giant salamanders are under top State protection. White bears, white monkeys and white toads are found now and then.

 Two Secrets in Shennongjia

 Wild Man

Wild man is one of the many big riddles in the world. Legends about wild man in Shennongjia date back as far as 3,000 years ago with citations mentioned in about 30 ancient books.

According to witnesses, the wild, ape-like creatures have red, brown or even white hair.Although none of them has been caught, the legend has been carried down from one generation to the next at home and abroad.

Many scientists have been to Shennongjia National Nature Reserve. Starting in 1976, the Chinese Academy of Science and other related departments of Hubei Province have carried out several inspections in the Shennongjia area with preliminary results showing the discovery of large-sized wild man footprints that measure in length from 21 centimeters to 48 centimeters. They have also collected thousands of hairs and discovered nests made of bamboo. The finds occurred at 2,500 meters in elevation.

Scientists conducted experiments on the hair and found they are different from those of primate, but close to human. In addition, studies of plaster models taken from the footprints, which are backward to human but quite different from other animals, has caused the researchers to conclude the hairs and footprints must be from some unknown high-level primate who is close in form to human.

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