Under the cooperation arrangement, golden monkeys bred in Belgium will return to China in the future.
BRUSSELS, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A naming ceremony for a pair of baby golden snub-nosed monkeys was held on Thursday at Pairi Daiza Zoo, Belgium. The monkeys, who are both females, were born 100 days ago, and have now been officially named Zhenzhen and Xi Le.
Pairi Daiza said the names were selected through a vote that attracted more than 8,600 netizens. Zhenzhen in Chinese means gentle, beautiful and precious as a pearl, while Xi Le expresses the wish for a life filled with joy and happiness.
Eric Domb, founder and chairman of Pairi Daiza, told Xinhua that he appreciates the Chinese tradition of celebrating 100 days after a baby's birth, as it reflects respect and care for life.
"I was happy to explain that behind these two names are thousands of years of civilization. Golden monkeys are a wonderful way for us to show the beauty of the Chinese culture," he said.
Domb applauded China's long-term approach to wildlife conservation, adding that he hoped the birth of the two baby monkeys would mark a new starting point for closer cooperation between the two countries.
Pairi Daiza continues to work as a partner to China in its golden monkey conservation efforts, with cooperation currently focused mainly on breeding and scientific exchanges. This includes sharing experience with Chinese experts on animal care, nutrition and behavioral observation.
In 2025, one male and two female golden monkeys arrived in Belgium from northwest China's Shaanxi Province, launching a 10-year conservation cooperation program between the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) and Pairi Daiza. Zhenzhen and Xi Le are the first two baby golden monkeys bred at the zoo.
Under the cooperation arrangement, golden monkeys bred in Belgium will return to China in the future. ■
