Halloween Treat: Endangered Leaf Monkey Born in Saint Louis Zoo has Pumpkin Hair

The Saint Louis Zoo recently announced the birth of an endangered leaf monkey with pumpkin-colored hair, which is a real Halloween treat.

This fur baby with "pumpkin hair" was born just in time for Halloween.

An endangered species, the Francois' langur, was born for the first time on September 30th, according to the Saint Louis Zoo.

At the Saint Louis Zoo, Rhubarb is the very first Francois' langur to be born.

According to the zoo, due to postpartum health issues, both Rhubarb and her mother required ongoing care and occasionally additional feedings.

Rhubarb was looked after by the primate keepers at the zoo until her mother recovered enough to do so once more.

Ethan Riepl, the primate keeper at the zoo, said that Dolly has been an excellent mother and has been extraordinarily accommodating towards the supportive care that both she and Rhubarb required to get back on track. This is thanks to the fact that she has a strong relationship with the zoo staff.

Riepl serves as the vice coordinator for the Francois' Langur species survival plan. She added that the success of rhubarb is entirely it is own doing.

Efforts for Rhubarb

According to New York Post, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, which functions to keep a healthy population of Francois' langurs in North American zoos, includes Rhubarb's birth.

The zoo reintroduced the two to the other Francois' langurs, who have been taking care of Rhubarb, according to Riepl.

Breeding plans were postponed until after the new outdoor habitat, Primate Canopy Trails, opened in 2021, although the three other langurs were already present at the zoo since 2014.

In addition to a primate care center with purpose-built indoor housing, it featured eight sizable new habitats.

Riepl said that the ability to provide adequate maternal care is crucial for females to practice and learn in any species that allomothers, such as langurs. Rhubarb is a valuable addition to the zoo's langur troop and has given both Dolly and Sydney a great opportunity to hone those skills, as this is the first-ever langur birth at the Saint Louis Zoo, KMOV 4 reports.

Francois' Langur

Up to 12 monkeys can be found in a langur social group, and many of them help to look after the group's young. Mothers can now forage, and the group's social ties are strengthened.

Adult leaf monkeys can better keep track of newborn langurs thanks to their bright orange and red fur, which is present at birth. They start to develop less obvious adult coloring after a few months. Plant matter, such as leaves, is hard to digest and low in nutrients.

According to the Saint Louis Zoo, leaf-eating monkeys like langurs frequently spend the majority of the day sleeping thus their bodies keep going to digest their food.

Interesting Facts

• Logging, hunting, agriculture, and the illegal animal trade are threats to Francois' langurs.
• Alloparenting, also known as "aunting," is the practice of female langurs helping to raise the young of other langurs.
• Males use squeaky vocalizations to outline and defend their territory.