Rare birth of endangered golden monkey in Belgium

Golden monkeys of Central Africa are endangered due to habitat loss and humans

Last updated: April 02, 2026 | 13:29

Devadasan K P, Chief Visual Editor

1 MIN READ

Dubai: A rare and endangered golden monkey has been born at Pairi Daiza, marking the first such birth in Belgium and a significant milestone for conservation efforts in Europe. The baby monkey, born on March 17, 2026, is reported to be in good health and is being closely cared for by its mother, delighting zookeepers and visitors alike.

Golden monkeys are native to the high-altitude forests of Central Africa and are classified as endangered due to habitat loss and human activity. Successful births in captivity are rare, making this event particularly noteworthy.

Just days earlier, another golden monkey was born at ZooParc de Beauval, marking a first for France and adding to Europe’s growing conservation achievements. Experts say these births highlight the importance of international breeding programmes aimed at protecting vulnerable species.

Video: AFP

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Devadasan K PChief Visual Editor

Devadasan K P is the Chief Visual Editor at Gulf News, bringing more than 26 years of experience in photojournalism to the role. He leads the Visual desk with precision, speed, and a strong editorial instinct. Whether he’s selecting images of royalty, chasing the biggest celebrity moments in Dubai, or covering live events himself, Devadasan is always a few steps ahead of the action. Over the years, he has covered a wide range of major assignments — including the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, feature reportage from Afghanistan, the IMF World Bank meetings, and wildlife series from Kenya. His work has been widely recognised with industry accolades, including the Minolta Photojournalist of the Year award in 2005, the Best Picture Award at the Dubai Shopping Festival in 2008, and a Silver Award from the Society for News Design in 2011. He handles the newsroom pressure with a calm attitude, a quick response time, and his signature brand of good-natured Malayali humour. There's no fuss — just someone who gets the job done very well, every single time.

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Rare birth of endangered golden monkey in Belgium

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