19 May 2026

2 weeks Sichuan with Royle Safaris, with extra primates, 2026

In march-february 2026, I joined Royle Safaris’ Sichuan mammal trip. This is my personal account of 2 very successful weeks in Sichuan, with a double primate extension.

A first China trip for me, and 30 mammal species seen.

Highlights were giant panda, red panda, Chinese mountain cat, mainland leopard cat, Sichuan takin, tufted deer, Francois’s langur and Yunnan snub-nosed monkey.

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2 weeks Sichuan with Royle Safaris, with extra primates, 2026

Post author

Wouter Pieters
Veterinarian, wildlife enthousiaste, avid traveler, antelope afficionado and primate lover. In 2022, after having been active in the zoo community as a vet and curator for almost 10 years, I decided to return to the private veterinary sector. It took me some time to adjust to this new life, but I eventually realized that I didn’t need wildlife medicine to be happy, just …  wildlife. From then on, my wildlife travelling took a sharp increase, with this website as a constant source of inspiration and information. I am interested in all creatures great and small, but my passion lies in hoofstock (antelopes more specifically) and primates. Subspecies sensitive from my past zoo career, and very much attracted to Africa and Asia, I have set my target on seeing and photographing all (read “as many as possible”) Afro-Asian ungulate and primate species and sub-species.
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3 Comments

  • 19 May 2026
    Samuel Marlin

    Very nice report and observations Wouter. This reminded me our own trip there with Martin Royle as well in 2019. You were luckier than us for the giant panda and I’m glad to see the panda place is as good as ever. Great observation of the leopard cat in Tangjiae as well ! I understand your frustration about the golden snub nose monkeys as the Chinese authorities also stopped the habituated group in Fopin the week before we arrived there like it was done recently in Pingwu. I never understood how the chinese authorities rule and manage those parks. For instance why have they stopped several times the golden monkey operations but then not the Yunnan one? Mistery… also I always wondered for how long they would keep open the giant panda place…

    • 20 May 2026
      Wouter Pieters

      Thx Samuel. I ask our guide about the Pingwu situation. Looks like visits to that habituated group was run by a non-government entity, either a private enterprise or something local, or maybe just the scientist. Anyway, if the government can’t control it, they can still shut it down. Another golden S-N monkey experience opened up in Sichuan somewhere in april. Pretty sure that one is run, or at least sanctioned, by the state.

  • 22 May 2026
    Jon Hall

    Great report Wouter! Thanks

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