After the pandas, the golden monkeys: as part of a new agreement between Beauval and China, the ZooParc du Loir-et-Cher announced on November 27, 2024 that it would welcome three golden monkeys, true national treasures, in 2025, a first for a park located outside of Asia.
“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 arrival 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.
“This is a first which illustrates the key role of Beauval”
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 be able to […]
Read more on sciencesetavenir.fr
