Taronga Zoo is celebrating the newest addition to its family with the birth of an orange Francois’ Langur – one of the rarest monkeys in the world. Experts believe that babies are born with brightly coloured fur so that parents can keep an eye on them more easily, as primates have a highly developed sense of colour. It’s a colour distinction that is thought to make it easier for adults to identify and look after infants.
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He was discovered in his mother Meili’s arms on November 7, with zookeepers saying in a statement Nangua is already receiving plenty of attention from his mother and the other females, Noel and Elke. “This gives Mum a break to eat and rest, but as soon as the baby whimpers she races straight back over to him”, Marshall told The Guardian.
Francois’ Langurs are considered endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
The current population of the Francois’ langur stands at around 2,000 globally, with concentrations in northern Vietnam and south-west China, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the U.S.
The zoo said the tiny Francois’ langur is carried by its mother about 50 per cent of the time.
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“Meili has shown her calmness and experience since the birth, cradling and protecting the baby, but also allowing Noel and Elke to get close to him”, said Jane.
