Endangered primate baby born at Leicestershire zoo

Keepers at Twycross Zoo said they were "incredibly excited" to welcome the Francois' langur, a species of monkey native to China and Vietnam.

Saturday 30 March 2024 17:38, UK

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An endangered species of primate has been born at a zoo in Leicestershire.

Keepers at a Twycross Zoo have welcomed the birth of a Francois' langur - a species native to China and Vietnam.

One of the first to see the little monkey was Kelly Salisbury, a primate keeper at the zoo, who said the team were "incredibly excited".

Ms Salisbury said: "With their bright orange fur, baby Francois' langurs are instantly recognisable and will be super easy for visitors to spot on their next visit.

"With the Easter holidays in full swing, there's no better time for guests to come and meet our new baby Francois' langur and learn more about this fascinating species."

The primate is listed as endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, which names the world's most endangered species.

Just 2,000 are believed to still be in the wild, with habitat deforestation one of the main issues threatening them.

Dr Rebecca Biddle, director of conservation at Twycross Zoo, said: "We're absolutely delighted to announce the birth of a Francois' langur at Twycross Zoo.

"It's always a special occasion when we welcome a new animal to the zoo but this birth is an especially important one because of how endangered the species is."

Dr Biddle added: "As a conservation charity, our primary purpose is to preserve and protect the species with whom we share our planet.

"The addition of a newborn Francois' langur is fantastic news.

"Unfortunately, wild populations of Francois' langurs continue to decline, so this new arrival is a welcome addition to the troop and is a sign of hope for ongoing efforts to preserve this species."

The baby is being looked after by its 17-year-old mother, the rest of the troop and the zoo's primate experts.

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