ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The first ever baby Francois’ langur was born at the Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri at the end of September, the zoo says.
According to a news release from the Saint Louis Zoo, the zoo welcomed a new addition on Sept. 30, just in time for Halloween. They announced the birth of their first ever Francois’ langur, their “pumpkin-haired baby” named Rhubarb.
According to KMOV, Rhubarb is the first Francois’ langur born at the zoo. The Francois’ langur is actually an endangered species.
The zoo said that Rhubarb was born to mother, Dolly, and father, Deshi, at the Michael and Quirsis Riney Primate Canopy Trails at the zoo.
Rhubarb is also the first baby for Dolly. The zoo said she developed health issues following the birth. Both Rhubarb and Dolly have required round-the-clock medical care and feedings at times. She is currently fully taking care of Rhubarb and feeding her on her own.
“Dolly has been a phenomenal mother and, through the benefit of her having a great relationship with the keeper staff, has been incredibly accommodating to the supportive care that she and Rhubarb needed to get back on track,” said Ethan Riepl, Primate Keeper and Francois’ Langur Species Survival Plan Vice Coordinator in the news release, “She deserves all the credit in the world for our success.”
The zoo said that baby Francois’ langurs are born with pumpkin-orange hair, and the color helps them stand out to the adult females of the group, who all help care for the babies. This behavior is known as “allomothering.” Once she is about six months old, her hair will become mostly black.
According to KMOV, the other three langurs have been at the zoo since 2014, but breeding plans were put on hold until the new Primate Canopy Trails habitat was opened in 2021. It has eight large new habitats and a Primate Care Center with special indoor housing.
“For any species like langurs that practice allomothering, proper maternal care is an important skill for females to learn and to gain experience in,” Riepl stated in the news release. “With this being our first-ever langur birth here at the Saint Louis Zoo, Rhubarb has been a valuable addition to our langur troop and has provided both Dolly and Sydney with a great opportunity to develop those skills.”
In a Facebook post, the zoo said Rhubarb’s birth is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Francois’ Langur Species Survival Plan. This is a program that cares for a “genetically healthy population of Francois’ langurs,” in zoos in North America.
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