A rare monkey with shocking orange hair has been born at the Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, England. The birth of the endangered François' langur offered renewed hope for the long-term survival of the species. Zoo officials say the orange hair is an evolutionary quirk, thought to allow parents to easily spot their youngsters when they’re being cared for by other members of the troop. “It’s estimated that only 2,000 of these primates remain in the wild, so every birth is a ray of hope for the species,” said zookeeper Amanda Robinson. The infant was born to 10-year-old mother Nguyen and 9-year-old father Wang. The baby boy is part of the international conservation breeding program for François’ langurs, which aims to boost the numbers of species that are threatened in the wild. Native to China and northern Vietnam, the species faces threats from illegal hunting for their meat and traditional medicine. Whipsnade Zoo said that caring for a back-up population in zoos is vital to protecting their future. "Over time, the newborn's hair will fade to black, so I'd definitely recommend coming to see him in his home at Monkey Forest while he's still tangerine,” said Robinson.
