Golden monkey cubs receive names in Belgium, highlighting China-Belgium conservation cooperation

Two female golden snub-nosed monkey cubs at Belgium's Pairi Daiza zoo were officially given the names Zhenzhen and Xi Le on Wednesday, their 100th day, a milestone in Chinese tradition that marks a newborn's transition from a particularly vulnerable stage to one of greater strength, security, and independence.

The cubs are the offspring of three Qinling golden snub-nosed monkeys that arrived at Pairi Daiza in May 2025 under a conservation cooperation program between the China Wildlife Conservation Association, or CWCA, and the Belgian zoo, which also marks the first long-term international conservation program involving the Qinling subspecies of the endangered golden snub-nosed monkey.

Speaking to China Daily, Pairi Daiza founder and chairman Eric Domb said he particularly appreciated the Chinese tradition of giving names with symbolic meanings.

"I love the Chinese idea that when you give a name to your baby, you also give a meaning to the name," Domb said. "It means you wish your baby will have the qualities represented by the name."

According to Pairi Daiza, Zhenzhen evokes "a young girl as sweet and radiant as a pearl," while Xi Le represents "joy and simple happiness." The names were selected through an online public vote organized by the zoo, which attracted more than 8,600 votes from visitors and supporters.

Domb said the zoo's mission is to help these animals reproduce and eventually send the offspring back to China, while they also hope visitors can appreciate the beauty of the rare animals while gaining a deeper understanding of wildlife conservation.

Pairi Daiza previously welcomed the birth of three panda cubs that were later returned to China. Now, less than a year after receiving the three Qinling golden snub-nosed monkeys, the zoo has celebrated the birth of two cubs.

"I really look forward to improving these achievements in the coming years so that we can contribute even more effectively to China's conservation efforts," added Domb.

Fei Shengchao, China's Ambassador to Belgium, said the births came in a significant year as China begins implementing its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), adding that the arrival of the two cubs has brought joy to everyone involved.

Reflecting on China's international wildlife conservation partnerships, Fei noted that while giant panda conservation programs have been carried out with many countries, international cooperation involving golden snub-nosed monkeys remains relatively rare.

Using the Chinese legend of the treasure bowl as a metaphor, Fei said Pairi Daiza resembles the magical vessel that multiplies whatever good is placed inside it.

"Last year, three Qinling golden snub-nosed monkeys came from Shaanxi Province. In less than one year, three became five," he said.

Fei said the cooperation also illustrates a broader lesson about coexistence.

"We don't need complicated theories to understand the relationship between humans and nature," he said. "By walking into nature and visiting places like Pairi Daiza, we can better appreciate that relationship."

Although people speak different languages, come from different cultures and live in different countries, "we are all human," he said, adding that humanity's common ground far outweighs its differences. He called for joint efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind and to protect both cultural diversity and biodiversity for future generations, while emphasizing that the development of artificial intelligence should remain people-centered and serve the common good.

Two zoo visitors, Peter and Mona, said they had learned about golden snub-nosed monkeys for the first time during their visit. They said they were delighted to discover the rare species, adding that Chinese animals at the zoo, including the giant pandas and golden snub-nosed monkeys, have brought great enjoyment to Belgian visitors.

The names were announced during a ceremony also attended by Chinese wildlife conservation experts, Pairi Daiza staff, as well as representatives from the government and various agencies, celebrating another milestone in the growing conservation partnership between China and Belgium.