Bright orange endangered ‘ray of hope’ born at Whipsnade Zoo
A bright burst of orange was born at Whipsnade Zoo this month marking a major step in the survival of the endangered species.
The little François’ langur boy was welcomed by 10-year-old mum Nguyen and nine-year-old dad Wang on the morning of February 1, as part of an international conservation breeding programme to boost numbers of the species threatened in the wild.
Unlike their parents’ all black coats, infant François’ langurs are born with shocking orange hair – an evolutionary detail thought to make it easier for parents to spot their youngsters.
Whipsnade Zoo’s section manager of primates, Amanda Robinson, said the team were “delighted to have a baby François’ langur in our troop at Whipsnade”.
She explained: “We knew Nguyen was expecting, but when we completed our morning rounds on Sunday, she hadn't given birth yet. Only an hour later, when a visitor began asking us questions about an ‘orange monkey’, we knew that could only mean one thing!
“Sadly, it’s estimated that only 2000 of these primates remain in the wild, so every birth is a ray of hope for the species.”
They are native to China and northern Vietnam and faces threats from illegal hunting for their meat and traditional medicines. François’ langurs live in matriarchal groups, with the females leading the troop and all females troop members lend a hand in caring for the infants.
Amanda added: “Nguyen is an experienced mum, having given birth to male Bao in 2024, and we’ve seen her developing a really strong bond with her new baby already by keeping them close and encouraging them to suckle.”