China launches 'golden fur ambassador' following panda

Golden snub-nosed monkeys sent by China to France and Belgium mark the start of a new decade of cooperation in 'animal diplomacy'.

With its shiny orange fur, distinctive pale blue face and thick fur covering both limbs, the golden snub-nosed monkey, a rare primate of China, is hard to mistake for any other creature - Photo: LIU XIAO/XINHUA

Golden monkey "ambassadors" have just officially followed in the footsteps of pandas, becoming the next animals sent by China to European zoos in a 10-year cooperation program, coordinated by the "panda diplomacy " management team.

The 'golden fur ambassadors'

According to NBC NEWS, the first three golden monkeys arrived at Beauval Zoo (France) in April this year, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China. A month later, three more were also present at Pairi Daiza Zoo in Belgium.

On the day of the special guests, Pairi Daiza distributed Chinese and Belgian flags to visitors, symbolizing the friendship between the two countries. After the quarantine period, both groups of rhesus macaques were introduced to the public, well adapted to the European climate and still healthy, according to representatives of the two zoos.

The three "new citizens" Liu Yun, Lu Lu and Juan Juan's barns in Pairi Daiza are designed in Chinese style, with grey tiled roofs, red pillars and pavilions.

The energetic golden monkeys spend most of their time climbing between wooden beams, ropes and traditional roofs, reminiscent of the mountain villages of their homeland, Hubei.

"In a way, the cultural element has given the golden monkey an additional diplomatic significance," said Pairi Daiza spokesman Johan Vreys.

According to Anaïs Maury, Director of Communications at Beauval Zoo, this is not only a symbolic agreement but also opens up opportunities for sustainable scientific cooperation between European zoos and Chinese researchers.

The two sides are discussing joint research programs on biology, behavior and conservation, similar to projects already carried out with giant pandas.

Experts say that bringing the golden monkey, a symbol of the Shennongjia mountain range (Hubei province), to the world is not only to preserve a rare species, but also a new generation of China's soft diplomacy strategy, inheriting the legacy of "panda diplomacy" that has been very successful for many decades.

From ecological icons, these "ambassadors" can help increase scientific understanding, research cooperation and cultural exchange, contributing to connecting people through a common love for wild nature.

Pandas have become a soft symbol of modern China, not only because of their adorable appearance but also because of the way Beijing cleverly uses them in "animal diplomacy" - Photo: onthegotours

China's soft bridge

According to environmental historian Elena Songster (St. Mary's University, California), both the giant panda and the golden snub-nosed monkey are rare animals found only in China, and their export requires central government approval.

If the panda is considered a globally famous "national treasure", the golden monkey is more deeply associated with Chinese art and culture.

Over the decades since pandas first "stepped out into the world," rolling, crawling, and playing in front of cameras, they quickly became soft icons of modern China, not only because of their adorable appearance but also because of the way Beijing skillfully used them in "animal diplomacy."

The first pair of pandas, Ping Ping and Qi Qi, were given to the Soviet Union by China in 1957 to mark the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution. In 1972, after US President Richard Nixon's historic visit to Beijing, two more pandas were given to the US.

Since 1984, the "donation" form has been replaced by long-term loans, each contract lasting about 10 years, through the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

A portion of the annual fees paid by foreign zoos go toward habitat conservation projects or scientific research on the species. However, animal ethicists like Jeff Sebo of New York University warn that long-distance travel and the forced return of calves to China can be extremely stressful for the animals, no matter how noble the goal.

Today, the golden snub-nosed monkey lives in the cold mountains of central and southwestern China, including Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Hubei. Thanks to conservation efforts in Shennongjia National Park since the 1980s, the population has tripled to about 1,600.

Experts say that in a volatile world, "furry messengers" like pandas and golden monkeys are still soft bridges that help China maintain a friendly image.

"Pandas have become a window for the world to think positively about China; they are cute, harmless, and symbolic," said historian James Carter (Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia). "Golden monkeys are not as well known, but they could be the next symbol in the future."

MINH HAI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/trung-quoc-tung-dai-su-long-vang-noi-got-gau-truc-20251026110523439.htm