The two golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) babies born at Pairi Daiza earlier this year have officially received their names.
During the traditional Chinese 100-day ceremony, the Belgian zoo announced that the two females will be called Zhenzhen and Xi Le, following an online public vote that attracted more than 8,600 participants.
The centuries-old Chinese tradition symbolically marks the end of the most vulnerable period of a newborn’s life and celebrates the beginning of a stronger, more independent stage.
Visitors helped choose the names
The two females were born on 17 March and 20 April.
Zhenzhen (珍珍) evokes the image of a young girl who is as precious and radiant as a pearl, while Xi Le (喜乐) means “joy” and “simple happiness.”
The names were revealed in the presence of Fei Shengchao, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Belgium, Chinese conservation experts, Pairi Daiza’s animal care teams and the park’s founder and chairman, Eric Domb.
A milestone for conservation
The golden snub-nosed monkey is one of the world’s rarest and most protected primates.
Pairi Daiza is the only zoo in Belgium to care for the species and one of only a handful of European institutions participating in its international breeding programme in partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
The births of Zhenzhen and Xi Le represent a significant achievement for the conservation programme, reflecting the close cooperation between Chinese and Belgian institutions as well as the expertise of Pairi Daiza’s veterinary and animal care teams.
The two young females continue to develop within their family group and are expected to become important ambassadors for the conservation of one of the world’s most endangered primate species.
