Golden snub-nosed monkeys from China make European debut at French zoo

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 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.

At a welcoming ceremony, 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.

"Like the giant pandas, the arrival of these primates strengthens the ties between France and China in the field of animal conservation," Delord said during the event. "We hope to see the birth of babies soon, which can then be returned to China for reintroduction into their natural environment."

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.

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.

(Cover: Visitors take photographs of golden snub-nosed monkeys through their enclosure during the first day of presentation at the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, May 7, 2025. /VCG)