Three golden snub-nosed monkeys, a rare species native to China, debuted at France's Beauval Zoo on Wednesday, marking the first time the endangered primates have been exhibited outside Asia. The milestone follows their arrival in April from Shanghai Wild Animal Park, accompanied by a dedicated Chinese caretaker, and a month-long quarantine.
The male and two females are central to a decade-long partnership between Beauval Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA), designed to strengthen cross-border collaboration in endangered species protection. The initiative highlights China's growing role in global biodiversity efforts while fostering cultural diplomacy through wildlife exchange.
"This project symbolizes shared commitments to conservation," a Beauval representative stated. Golden snub-nosed monkeys, known for their striking blue-faced appearances and tight-knit social groups, number fewer than 20,000 in the wild due to habitat loss.
The collaboration also opens doors for joint research on primate behavior and habitat restoration, with potential implications for global conservation strategies. Visitors to the zoo can now observe the monkeys in a specially designed habitat mimicking their mountainous forest ecosystems.
