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Simian Twins Surprise World

On April 12, an endangered golden monkey at Beijing Safari Park bore twins, the first reported case of such a simian double birth ever in the world.

The Chuan golden monkey is considered "the second national treasure of China" and is one of China's first-grade protected animal, like the panda. There are now only about 10,000 of this kind of monkey in China.

Before the historic birth, it was thought the monkeys were not able to have twin babies.

"Both of the babies are males," said Liu Xinchen, deputy director of Beijing Safari Park. He said it was difficult for park veterinarians to determine their gender at first because their mother held them tightly all the time.

Liu said that the two little brothers had passed through the dangerous period right after birth and were in good condition. "They will not appear in public until they have grown big enough that it would not endanger their health," he said.