A Global First: Qinling Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys Are Coming to Pairi Daiza
Pairi Daiza is preparing to welcome one of the most exceptional treasures of global wildlife: three Qinling golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana qinlingensis). Alongside the Hubei subspecies (R. r. hubeiensis), this is a rare subspecies of the golden snub-nosed monkey. Their presence in Belgium marks a true breakthrough in global wildlife conservation.
These primates, commonly referred to as golden Qinling monkeys, have never before been conserved outside China. Native to the sacred Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province—a region that shelters many of China’s iconic species—they are significantly rarer than their Sichuan cousins (R. r. roxellana), which can occasionally be seen in a few zoos worldwide.
With a total population estimated at fewer than 4,000 individuals, living in a fragmented, strictly protected and remote habitat, this subspecies remains virtually invisible to the outside world.
Never in history have these animals left their natural territory and related wild life conservation center.
Their upcoming arrival at Pairi Daiza is made possible through an unprecedented scientific partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA). This cooperation strengthens the long-standing bond between China and Pairi Daiza in the field of conservation, building on the successful collaboration for the giant pandas.
Through this initiative, Pairi Daiza becomes a unique showcase in Europe for China’s leading biodiversity protection efforts, and a major contributor to education and research on this extraordinarily rare species. The animals will soon join their specially designed new habitat.
Johan Vreys