Three golden snub-nosed monkeys from China made their public debut on Wednesday at the Beauval Zoo in France, marking the species' first journey outside Asia.
The golden snub-nosed monkey, or Sichuan snub-nosed monkey, is native to the mountainous forests of central and southwest China. Known for its striking golden fur and distinctive upturned nose, the golden snub-nosed monkey is a national treasure in China and is under its top-level state protection.
With their golden fur, striking blue faces, and playful antics, swinging from ropes and darting between trees, the monkeys quickly won over French visitors.
Sylvie Taccon, a visitor, expressed her enthusiasm fluently in Chinese.
"I love golden snub-nosed monkeys!" she said.
"I am really excited and emotional. There are a lot of emotional (moments). It is a beautiful place and monkeys are so amazing. So amazing to see them in reality. For me it is too much. It is really too much," said Catherine Langevin, an animal photography enthusiast.
The three primates, one male and two females, arrived in early April from the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, accompanied by a Chinese caretaker, and have since completed a month-long quarantine period.
Their arrival is part of a ten-year partnership between the Beauval Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in wildlife protection and conservation.
Their enclosure, named "The Heights of China" alongside the adjacent giant panda habitat, features traditional Chinese architecture, including glazed tiles, blue-and-white porcelain motifs, and winding corridors. The exhibit replicates the Qinling-Bashan mountain ecosystem, complete with climbing structures, hiding spots, and foliage from the monkeys' native habitat, including their favorite leaves.
At a welcoming ceremony on Wednesday, the zoo's director, Rodolphe Delord, unveiled the names of the new residents: Jindou (golden seed), Jinbao (golden treasure) and Jinhua (golden flower). These names were chosen through an online naming competition launched earlier this year.
The Beauval Zoo previously welcomed giant pandas Huan Huan and Yuan Zai from China in 2012, launching a Sino-French cooperation program on panda breeding. With the arrival of the golden snub-nosed monkeys, the zoo has become the first outside Asia to host this rare and endangered species.
"We are the only zoo outside China to exhibit both golden snub-nosed monkeys and giant pandas. This is a tremendous opportunity and honor. We at Beauval Zoo will continue to foster these exchange and collaboration projects between France and China," said Delord.
Golden snub-nosed monkeys from China make public debut at French zoo
