Snub-Nosed Monkey (Wild Safari Wildlife by Safari Ltd.)

Snub-nosed monkeys are comprised of 5 species that make up the Rhinopithecus genus in the Colobinae subfamily. They live in southern China as well as parts of Myanmar and Vietnam. Snub-nosed monkeys get their name from their flattened noses which are thought to be an adaptation to their cold, high elevation environment. Today we’re looking at the 2019 Safari snub-nosed monkey, a figure that I was immediately taken with upon viewing and my first primate review for the blog.

The Safari snub-nosed monkey specifically represents the golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana), the most well-known and visually distinct of the snub-nosed monkeys and a species that features prominently in Disney’s recent Born in China documentary. Golden snub-nosed monkeys are the most cold-tolerant species of primate, aside from humans. They live at elevations in excess of 13,000’ (4,000 meters) and can withstand prolonged winter temperatures of 32-48 degrees Fahrenheit (0-9 degrees Celsius) and a record low of -22 F (-30 C). This species is only found in a small area of central and southwest China, its range overlapping that of the giant panda.

The Safari snub-nosed monkey measures about 2.5” (6.35 cm) tall and is presented in a sitting posture with its arms resting over its knees and its hands and feet crossed. The back is hunched over, and the tail curled around its body. The toy has the overall appearance of a mature male but lacks the long golden guard hairs coming off the back and cape that actual mature males have, it also doesn’t have any sculpted genitals.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys have a head and body length of 26.8-29.9” (68-75 cm) with mature males being larger than females. Determining the exact scale of this toy is tough but measured along the curved back from rump to head it measures 3” (7.6 cm) which should put it at about 1/9 in scale. Three sub-species of this species have been described, and they differ from each other in subtle differences that make determining which one this toy represents impossible.

The Safari snub-nosed monkey is painted with the species’ distinct pale-blue face and golden-brown coloration. A brown crest is painted on the top of the head and brown and orange coloration is present down the back and on the arms and sides of the legs. The fur around the face is painted orange while the ears, chest, hands, and legs are pale orange.

The detail work on this figure is nicely executed with shorter hairs etched in around the face and longer hairs sculpted down the back. Five fingers and toes are present on the hands and feet. The eyes, nostrils, and downturned mouth are painted black and have a lifelike, wet appearance. Overall, the paint application is good although there are a couple misplaced paint marks, this sort of thing is typical with Safari toys.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys are currently listed as endangered by the IUCN. The species has a unique diet that consists largely of lichens that grow on dead trees. Because these trees are targeted by loggers the species is now at risk of extinction due to habitat loss.

Golden snub-nosed monkey figures have been produced before in Japan but this one by Safari is the most accessible option currently available. This is a well sculpted, nicely posed, and visually striking toy of a rather unique and beautiful species. It is still in production and well worth seeking out.