AssetID: 55596690
Headline: Adorable scenes as Belgium celebrates first ever birth of one of the world's rarest and most beautiful monkeys
Caption: BY MARK WORGAN One of the world’s rarest and most striking monkeys has given birth at a Belgian zoological park, a first for the country. The birth of a golden snub-nosed monkey took place last month at Pairi Daiza in Brugelette, and is the result of close scientific cooperation between Chinese and Belgian breeding institutions, aimed at helping to preserve the species. The happy news is being described as a historic moment for the primate, which is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Three monkeys - females Juan Juan and Lu Lu, and a male, Liuyun - arrived at the park in May 2025. Their transfer, quarantine and adaptation were overseen by European and Chinese teams, with facilities designed to replicate their natural habitat. The birth followed weeks of careful monitoring, according to veterinary surgeon Yang Liu. “On March 5, we observed sudden changes in Lu Lu’s behavior and appearance, so we immediately arranged round-the-clock monitoring in two shifts,” he said. “At around 6 a.m. on March 17, video observation reassured us that Lu Lu was calm and moving comfortably. At 7 a.m., she successfully gave birth to a cub in a small indoor wooden shelter. Lu Lu is taking very good care of her newborn and is being highly protective, which has not yet allowed us to determine its sex. At 10:30 a.m., the newborn was successfully nursed. At 11:00 a.m., Lu Lu replenished her energy. Lu Lu is doing very well, her appetite is good, and her overall condition is excellent. The other members of the group, Liuyun and Juan Juan, are very attentive: they are helping to groom and protect the newborn. The small family is cooperating harmoniously.” The Chinese-Belgian breeding programme aims both to increase the species’ population and to raise public awareness about its conservation. Only a small number of institutions worldwide are involved in such initiatives, with Pairi Daiza among a select group working to protect endangered species through international collaboration. The golden snub-nosed monkey is native to the mountainous forests of Southwestern China, though as few as 8,000 may remain in the wild. In the first days after the birth, the mother and baby are being kept largely out of public view to allow for calm conditions and bonding.
Keywords: feature,photo,monkeys,golden snubbed nose monkey animal,video,nature
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