“It’s a huge honor. The Chinese government is entrusting us with an incredible species, a national treasure,” rejoiced Rodolphe Delord, the general director of the park located in Saint-Aignan (Loir-et-Cher), announcing this came to AFP. “After the arrival of the pandas in 2012, we are going to experience another historic moment in Beauval!”
The golden monkeys, with the scientific name of Roxellane rhinopithecines, are recognizable by their very long red coat and their bluish face with a small raised nose. They will be entrusted by China to the ZooParc as part of a conservation and research program around the species.
The signing of the agreement between the ZooParc de Beauval and the CWCA (China Wildlife Conservation Association) took place this Wednesday at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, where the animals come from.
Their arrival, planned before spring 2025, has been organized for several weeks: the stay of French caretakers in Shanghai for several weeks is notably planned, so that the monkeys get used to their future veterinarians.
Chinese keepers will also accompany the animals on their trip to France next year.
According to its management, the Beauval ZooParc will then become the first park in the world, outside of Asia, to welcome golden monkeys. The arrival of three individuals, two females and one male, was recorded.
“This is a first which illustrates the key role of Beauval in the preservation of threatened species,” added Mr. Delord.
Golden monkeys, animals whose species is classified as “endangered” on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list, are rare and their protection is one of the issues in which Beauval wants to participate.
“We hope to have babies quickly who can return to China for reintroduction into the natural environment. It is important that these endangered species can be raised outside the natural environment in order to conserve the species and then be able to reintroduce them into the natural environment” , assured Rodolphe Delord.
– New Chinatown –
The monkeys will be placed in a “brand new Chinatown”, located right next to the giant pandas, in “a very tall and air-conditioned structure”, notably decorated with Chinese decoration.
This new location should allow the golden monkeys to resist the heat, this species native to the Chinese mountains being used to harsh winters. “They are the only known primates, apart from humans, to move on their two hind legs when it snows,” the ZooParc also specified in a press release sent to the press.
According to Roldophe Delord, this future welcome “marks a decisive step in Franco-Chinese relations” for conservation and research. “Together we are acting to protect this unique species and raise awareness around the world of its incredible beauty and fragility.”
This signing, which comes as France and China celebrate this year the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, is not a first for Beauval.
The giant pandas Yuan Zi and Huan Huan, on loan since 2012 from the Chinese government, have become one of the main attractions of the zoo, the only place in France where it is possible to admire this species. Their stay was even recently extended until 2027.
The two pandas, who were able to give birth to three babies in France, have gradually become real diplomatic issues between the two countries, regular signs of true “panda diplomacy”.
Exchanges that contribute to the success of Beauval.
In 2023, the ZooParc and its 35,000 animals welcomed two million visitors and generated 113 million euros in turnover.
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