Male infant called Nangua, Mandarin for pumpkin, is fourth langur to be born at the zoo, the only one in the region to breed the endangered species

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Sydney’s Taronga zoo has announced the birth of a bright orange François’ langur, one of the world’s rarest monkeys.

The male infant, named Nangua – the Mandarin word for pumpkin – was discovered in his mother Meili’s arms by keepers on 7 November.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The François’ Langur monkey, born with bright orange fur that gradually darkens with age, is one of the world’s rarest monkeys. Photograph: Taronga zoo

François’ langurs are born with bright orange fur that gradually darkens as they age. The species is endangered, with about 800 thought to remain in the wild.

The monkey is found in pockets of dense forest, limestone cliffs and tropical and subtropical caves in south-west China and northern Vietnam. It is named after Auguste François, a 19th century French consul in Lungchow, in China’s Guangxi province, who was one of the first westerners to make notes about the species.

Nangua is the fourth langur to be born at the zoo, the only one in the region to breed the species.

François’ langurs practise allomothering, in which a group of females participate in raising the infant, passing it around and nurturing it in turns.

Senior primate keeper Jane Marshall said the harem group had been functioning harmoniously since the baby’s birth.

“Meili has shown her calmness and experience since the birth, cradling and protecting the baby, but also allowing [other monkeys in the group] Noel and Elke to get close to him,” she said.

“Noel has taken on the role of allomother, carrying the baby about 50% of the time. This gives Mum a break to eat and rest, but as soon as the baby whimpers she races straight back over to him.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest François’ langurs practise allomothering, in which a group of females participate in raising the infant. Photograph: Taronga zoo

She said Nangua was doing well.

“He’s still quite wobbly on his legs, but his head control is very strong and he’s gripping and climbing well,” Marshall said. “The adults are starting to let him climb off them briefly, which shows they’re happy with his progress.”

Marshall said first-time father Bobo, who arrived from Beijing Zoo in 2010 as part of an international breeding program, was protective of his new family.

“Bobo is a little bit overwhelmed, but he’s doing really well ... he’s protective of Meili,” Marshall said. “I saw the baby climb up over his head the other day and he wasn’t worried at all.”