There's a bit of monkey business going on at Belfast Zoo these days.
The north Belfast animal enclosure is celebrating the birth of yet another rare Francois langur monkey.
The baby is the first of the threatened species to be born in Europe this year.
These mainly leaf-eating monkeys are highly endangered in the wild with fewer than 2,500 of them remaining.
Their habitat in northern Vietnam and southern China is under threat because of hunting, increased agriculture, logging and warfare.
Last year, the baby's mother, Chloe, rejected her first born, Neo, but appears to be rearing this year's baby herself after learning behaviour from other mothers in the group
Staff say female monkeys are often bad mothers first time round and they benefit from living in extended families.
Senior Keeper Andrew Hope said: "The arrival of a brother or sister for Neo, who had to be hand reared last year, represents the final link in our success with this wonderful monkey species."
The Francois Langur enclosure at Belfast Zoo
There are now 11 Francois langurs in the group at Belfast Zoo, with four born last year. They have proved a bit of an education for keepers.
Acting Zoo Manager, Mark Challiis, said: "Belfast Zoo is establishing an excellent reputation for the breeding of leaf-eating monkeys.
"This group is doing particularly well and we will expect to transfer some of the langurs bred at the zoo to other zoos around the UK.
"All the staff at the zoo feel a great sense of achievement and are very proud of the zoo's latest success."
The Francois langur is a glossy black medium-sized monkey with a long tail and white sideburns extending from the corner of the mouth to the top of the ears.
They have prominent brow ridges and a pointed crest of hair.
The young are bright orange in colour when born but gradually change to the black colouration of the adults.
Only one other Francois Langur was born in the UK in 2003.
Belfast Zoo currently participates in a global breeding programme to try to ensure the survival of this beautiful species.
The zoo is dedicated to the conservation of many endangered species and works within the guidelines set by the European Zoo Directive.
The Francois Langur enclosure at Belfast ZooRelated Links:
Belfast Zoo
Source: BBC News
