China News Service, Tianjin, March 16th: Tianjin Zoo "relocated" to Sichuan golden monkeys and succeeded in their first "blind date"
Author Zhou Yaqiang Xu Xindi
The reporter learned from the Tianjin Zoo on the 15th that the male Sichuan golden monkey "George" from Dalian was caged with the female Sichuan golden monkey for the first time today.
"George" "moved" to Tianjin Zoo on December 26, 2023. After three months of adaptation, he has reached the marriageable age and successfully went on a blind date with his "neighbor" "Xiaomei" today.
George and Mei are caged together for the first time.
Photo courtesy of Tianjin Zoo
"George" has a lively personality and strong adaptability.
On the way to "relocation", it is full of curiosity about strangers and will happily eat in a transparent cage.
However, "George" during the "blind date" was uncharacteristically shy and seemed a little shy.
As long as "Xiao Mei" comes close, it will swoop away like a frightened rabbit.
Love seems to be slowly sprouting in the silent gaze.
I saw "Xiao Mei" and "George" staying quietly at both ends of a stone, their eyes meeting from time to time, as if they were having a silent communication.
Gradually, "Xiao Mei" slowly approached "George" and gently groomed him.
"George" was a little uncomfortable at first, but soon enjoyed this special "service".
Pang Yuntong, the keeper of Tianjin Zoo's Monkey House, said with a smile, "Sichuan golden monkeys express closeness and care by grooming. This is their way to enhance friendship and love." The temperature gradually heats up during the grooming sessions.
"This time we tried to match the two monkeys after observing each other for three months. We felt that the two monkeys had a good impression of each other. In the next few days, we still need to observe how the two monkeys get along, and they may separate again because they can't get along. ." Pang Yuntong told reporters that the estrus period of Sichuan golden monkeys is generally from July to October, and their breeding and mating are not always smooth sailing. The two monkeys after closing the cage may "not see eye-to-eye" or even attack each other, resulting in "Both sides suffer".
"The main purpose of re-caging this time is to cultivate their affection and hope that they can mate and reproduce smoothly during the estrus period."
"Xiao Mei" grooms "George".
Photo courtesy of Tianjin Zoo
The Sichuan golden monkey is a unique species in China. It is only distributed in the four provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi and Hubei. It is a national first-level protected animal.
Sichuan golden monkeys practice polygyny. The age of sexual maturity is generally 4-5 years old, and females are earlier than males.
The gestation period is 6-7 months, usually one calf is born per litter, and the lactation period is 5-6 months.
Tianjin Zoo currently has eight Sichuan golden monkeys, including two cubs, three males and three females.
The main purpose of introducing "George" is to exchange bloodlines and avoid inbreeding to ensure the healthy development of the Sichuan golden monkey group in Tianjin Zoo.
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