Meet our new silver-leaf langurs! Aden, our resident male, is brave, outgoing, and adventurous. He lives with four females: Tevy, LiLi, Adamena, and Zoe. Tevy and LiLi are mature and attentive to the younger langurs; Adamena learns a lot from Tevy and LiLi; Zoe is our youngest and smallest, timid yet curious.
We are very proud and excited to have these langurs. This group adds increased genetic variability to the North American population. They are from the Singapore Zoo, and their genetic make-up is highly valued. Langurs are very sensitive primates. Found in the rain forest canopy of Southeast Asia, they are difficult to study in the wild, so little is known about their natural behavior. They can be challenging to care for in zoos, and our priority has been to make them feel as comfortable and secure as possible.
The silver-leaf langur troop arrived in the San Diego Zoo’s Sun Bear Forest in August 2008. In an attempt to mimic their natural habitat, we filled their bedroom area with large pieces of ficus browse. This gave them places where they could “hide” while I cleaned their bedroom, keeping my head averted so as not to gaze directly in their eyes and making sure my movements were slow and smooth.
To help them adjust to the exhibit, we connected all of the branches and other perches into winding trails so the langurs would not have to jump. This helped them navigate around their new home comfortably; as they got more familiar with the layout, we gradually removed the connections!
I hoped that by “making friends” with the male, Aden, the rest of the troop would see that it was okay to have me around. Over the first few weeks, I spent time with Aden, talking to him and offering a favorite treat: peanuts! This helped build a bond with him that has spilled over to the rest of the family, and they seem to have adjusted very nicely to life in San Diego.
Be sure to stop by Sun Bear Forest and look for the striking silver monkeys with a long tail and wild Mohawk!
Beth McDonald is a keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
Read Beth’s previous blog, A Gibbon Birthday Party.
Hi Beth. Thanks so much for the information about our new residents. Please, can you tell us about the new arrival–a tiny yellow-orange baby? Its color is quite striking against the gray-black of its mother. Do you know at what age the infants take on the darker colors of the troop? I hope you’ll keep us all informed as you learn more about these beautiful animals. See you soon down by the lion-tailed macaques!
Moderator’s note: Beth promises to write a new blog about the baby silver-leaf langur, and we promise to get some photos to share with our readers!
Someday I will make it out to the zoo. Can’t wait to see you this summer.
Beth,
I wish I could meet the silver-leaf langurs! They sound like they are so fun. Looking forward to seeing you soon!!
Hi Beth
I work with your mom and we love hearing all of the stories about the zoo. Keep them coming our way.
Angela
Beth
Enjoy your articles on animals that are in your care. “A Gibbon Birthday Party” and “Silver – leaf Langurs”were well written and very entertaining. You treat the animals with great affection. Looking forward to more stories about the animals.
Sam
Are the silver leaf langurs in the enclosure that held gibbons last year? Are the gibbons gone? Are there any capuchins at the zoo?
Thanks.
Hi Shirley, I will post a blog about the new baby soon.
Hi Dr. Hinkes, The silver-leaf langurs are in the exhibit that housed the gibbons. The family of gibbons moved to the Niabi Zoo in Illinois. There are still gibbons at San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, and there is a good possibility that there will be gibbons at the Zoo in the near future. There is one capuchin on the Zoo’s Kiwi Trail.
silver langurs look cool!!!!!!!
I love those little guys! They look very cool!
Hello, my name is Asher, I am an 8th grade student currently attending Kentucky country day school in Louisville Ky. I am doing a project on the silver-leaf Langur and i have need of an expert. I was wondering if you would be able to help me answer a few questions or give some important information on the silver Langur.
Moderator’s note: You can read more about the langurs in this posts: Langurs: Bright Orange Babies and Langurs: From Orange to Silver.
Thank you so much for the helpful links! Do you know if i can speak to Beth McDonald, or another employee that knows about silver leaf langurs, it a requisite for my endangered species project.
Moderator’s note: You can contact our Education Department at education@sandiegozoo.org
Thank you so much, you have a huge help!