The golden snub monkeysoriginating from the cold mountains of central Chinawere sent on October 24 for the first time to European zoos as part of a country initiative that seeks to promote conservation and the cultural approach through these charismatic primates.
These animals, recognized for their golden fur and distinctive snub noses, currently face a risk of extinction, so their presence in European zoos represents a significant step towards their protection.
Although many conservationists value the new opportunities for collaboration and protection that these international exchanges promote, there are also concerns regarding the well-being of monkeys during transfers and their adaptation in environments far from their home. natural habitat.
In the context of these international exchanges, it is worth mentioning the well-known “panda diplomacy”, which consists of the loan of giant pandas by the Chinese government to other countries as a symbol of friendship and cooperation in conservation.
In line with this tradition, the loan of these primates to Europe represents a new stage in the efforts to conserve the biodiversity of the species that live within the Asian country.
Three golden monkeys arrived at the zoo in April Beauvalin Saint-Aignanas part of an agreement to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and France.
Three other specimens of the species arrived at the conservation park in May Pairi Daiza in Hainaut, Belgiumwhere Belgian and Chinese flags were distributed to visitors to celebrate their arrival.
After completing a month of quarantine, the two packs made their public debut. According to both centers, the animals are in good health and are adapting for the first time to different climates outside of Asia.
In Pairi Daiza, Liu Yun, Lu Lu and Juan Juan’s habitat recreates traditional Chinese gazebos with red columns and gray tile roofs, where the monkeys spend much of their time jumping between logs, climbing rope ladders and moving across rooftops.
Anais Maurydirector of communications Beauval Zooexplained that the objective is to promote lasting scientific exchanges between the parks and Chinese authorities: “Currently, we are in communication with China to launch joint research and conservation programs similar to those that already exist for emblematic species such as pandas,” he commented for AP.
Elena Songsterenvironmental historian of the St. Mary’s College of Californiaindicated for AP that both “giant pandas and golden snub-nosed monkeys are endangered species exclusive to China, and can only be moved out of the country with the approval of the central government.”
Although both species are considered national treasures, only primates have deep roots in Chinese art and culture, appearing in numerous classic paintings and literary works, such as the 16th-century novel’s ingenious Monkey King.
“When pandas emerged on the international stage in recent decades, they quickly became symbols of modern China thanks to their cute appearance and the effectiveness of their diplomatic use,” explained Susan Brownell, a historian at the University of Missouri, St.Louis.
The first display of postwar Chinese “soft power” was the delivery of a pair of giant pandas, Ping Ping and Qi Qi, to the Soviet Union in 1957 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution, which marked the birth of the world’s first communist state.
In 1972, after President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to Beijing, China sent a couple of pandas to USA for the first time. However, in 1984, the policy changed from gifting to lending pandas.
Under pressure from animal rights activists, China abandoned short-term loans and began offering longer leases, typically around a decade.
Through the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Associationpart of the annual payments made by foreign zoos go towards habitat conservation and scientific research to benefit the species.
Jeff Seboenvironmental researcher and bioethicist of the New York Universitywarned that the movement of animals over long distances, together with the return of their offspring to China, as required by the agreements, can cause extreme stress in the creatures.”
Golden snub-nosed monkeys currently inhabit a range spanning central and southwestern China, including parts of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu and Hubei provinces. In Shennongjia National Park, located in Hubei, conservation efforts begun in the 1980s have tripled the local population, reaching approximately 1,600 individuals, according to Yang Jingyuanpresident of the park’s Academy of Sciences.
Regarding the panda population in the region, James Carter, a historian of China at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, noted that “they offer an opportunity for people to have a positive perception of China, since they are adorable and pose no threat.”
The golden snub-nosed monkeys that currently live in zoos in France and Belgium are, so far, the only specimens outside of Asia. Its presence in these places marks an important step in the international visibility of this endangered species.
“China’s golden snub-nosed monkeys are not yet a global icon,” said Susan Brownell, a historian specializing in China. However, he added to AP that “there is great potential for them to become globally recognized symbols in the future.”
