Francois’ Langur or leaf monkeys are one of the world’s rarest monkeys and one has been born at Taronga Zoo. He has been named Nangua, the Mandarin word for pumpkin due to his bright orange fur. Although by the time he’s an adult it will have darkened to the same black fur as his mother Meili.
Senior primate keeper Jane Marshall spoke of the newborn “He’s still quite wobbly on his legs, but his head control is very strong and he’s gripping and climbing well.”
Taronga Zoo have developed a breeding program for the leaf monkeys as they are endangered with as few as 800 thought to be left. Nangua is the fourth langur birth Taronga Zoo have welcomed and their efforts aim to help save them from extinction.
