Rare Chinese golden monkeys in Belgium on conservation loan

BRUSSELS - Three rare Chinese golden snub-nosed monkeys arrived at the Pairi Daiza zoo in Belgium's Hainaut province on Wednesday under a 10-year lease agreement.

The trio of Qinling golden monkeys were airlifted from Northwest China's Shaanxi province as part of a scientific cooperation pact between China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) and the zoo. The male of them, called Liu Yun, was born in April 2019, and his female companions, Lu Lu and Juan Juan, were born in May 2018 and April 2021, according to Pairi Daiza's website.

Crowds lined the road leading to the zoo entrance for several hundred meters to welcome the rare monkeys, hurraying and clapping their hands over the passage of the special convoy.

Eric Domb, founder and chairman of Pairi Daiza, told Xinhua the monkeys were "absolutely fabulous" and among the most beautiful, noting their graceful movements and "joie de vivre".

Praising China's conservation efforts as genuine, he said that China's related efforts help reconcile local communities with wildlife rather than pit them against each other. "We are honored to contribute to this cooperation and support the species' survival," he said.

Upon arrival, the Chinese golden monkeys were put under a 30-day quarantine in enclosure in a structure distinctive with the traditional style of Chinese house before being allowed into the animal park's open-air habitat. Keepers will closely monitor their health and adaptation.

The Qinling golden snub-nosed monkey is distinguished by its copper-red fur, blue-tinged face and upturned nose. It is a national treasure in China and is under top-level state protection.

The three golden monkeys on conservation loan are not the only privileged Chinese guests at the Pairi Daiza animal park, which also hosts a couple of Chinese giant pandas. The pair of pandas has given birth to three cubs who were all returned to China in December 2024 under the framework of the zoological garden's scientific cooperation agreement with the CWCA.