The Zoo’s quest to bolster the populations of threatened or endangered species around the world gained two new additions recently, with the birth of two silvered leaf langurs on December 1st (a girl) and January 11th (not yet determined).
“The other keepers and I were ecstatic when the babies were born,” said Laura McGlothlin, assistant curator of the Columbus Zoo’s Asia Quest region in a statement. “Baby monkeys add a fun dynamic to the troop, and this growth resembles what you would see with langur families in the wild.”
Langurs are born bright orange, believed to “encourage other female langurs to assist in raising the young, a practice called allomothering.” Their fur changes color after only six months, becoming black with silvered tips.
The Columbus Zoo follows the breeding recommendations outlined by the Species Survival Plan (SSP) and is one of three other zoos in the country to breed silvered leaf langurs.
The mothers and babies are in good health and the babies will be named at a later date. The Zoo reports the mothers are experienced caregivers and they and the babies will remain on view in their habitat, located in the Asia Quest area.
Enjoy these photos by Grahm S. Jones, courtesy Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. More news on Zoo Babies.
For more information, visit Columbuszoo.org.