A François Langur Population Increase at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo

By Steph Husman

Omaha, NE - Omaha’s Zoo welcomes a new female François langur born on September 19, 2009. She is on display in the Lied Jungle® on the Malayan tapir island with its mother, father and “aunt”.

Female offspring are an important addition to the North American Associations of Zoos and Aquariums population of 68 animals. The infant, named GinLu, was found on September 19 on the ground not being cared for by its mother, Cuoi. Lied Jungle keepers worked for several weeks to teach the mother to feed and care for her properly. It was important to have a special holding area for mother and infant for safety, ensuring the family was within sight and smell at all times. Mother and infant needed to be strongly bonded before placing the group together. By October 13, 2009, the entire group was reunited into one holding area. The aunt, Lynn, will exhibit allomothering or “Aunting” behaviors by holding the infant when it is not nursing.

Francois langur’s are leaf-eating monkeys found in tropical Asia and live most often in multi-female groups. They are born with orange pelage which changes to black as they age. They are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009.2 as Endangered with a decreasing population trend.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is located at Nebraska’s I-80, Exit 454 and is open year-round from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. Admission prices for 2009 are $11.50 for adults, $7.75 for children (ages 3 – 11) and $10 for seniors. Household memberships are available for $83. Additional information can be found on the website, www.omahazoo.com.

To view Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-3112-Omaha's_Henry_Doorly_Zoo