Red-shanked douc langur

Qui Tu: Male, born May 29, 2001 at the Philadelphia Zoo. His name (pronounced "we tul") means "special son."

Toi:  Female, born June 20, 1997 at San Diego Zoo. She arrived May 13, 2009.

Viewing Hints

The douc langurs are sensitive, so there is a shade over half of one of their exhibits to give them a bit of privacy. If you don't see them, they may be taking a break behind the shade.

Where to find me in the Zoo

Rare Animal Conservation Center

Fun Facts

• Found in the rainforests of Vietnam and Laos, the Douc is one of the most colorful of all primate species.
• Douc langurs have a pot belly because their leafy diet requires lots of room to digest.
• Their primary way of enforcing social bonds is by grooming each other.

Ask an Expert

The douc langur is one of the most colorful of all primate species. Their body is largely gray agouti (each individual hair is gray, black and white). Their thighs are black, but the lower part of their legs from the knees down are reddish orange. They have black hands, feet and shoulders, with a striking white tail, throat and cheeks.

Longevity

Red-shanked douc langurs can reach 24 years of age in zoos, although a typical lifespan is around 10 years. Very little is known about their lifespan in the wild.

Behavior

Douc langurs are arboreal and diurnal – which means that they live in the trees and are active during the day. Due to their diet – which consists mainly of leaves – they spend a great deal of their time foraging for food, as well as sitting around digesting their latest meal. They move through the trees on all fours using established pathways. They also jump from place to place by pushing off with their hind legs and landing on their feet. Both males and females may be found in social groups of up to 50, although the species has been so reduced in number that such large groups are uncommon. Being a social primate, they have many ways to communicate with each other using sight, touch and sound. The primary way to reinforce social bonds is by grooming, but they also enjoy playing with each other.

Reproduction

Douc langurs typically have one offspring per year, which are usually born in the spring. Their average gestation period is 177 days, and they sometimes give birth to twins. The baby clings to the mother as soon as it’s born, and is typically carried on her belly. They reach maturity at 4-5 years of age, and both males and females may emigrate from their family group to find mates of their own.
 

Size

Head and body length is 23 in (58 cm); tail is the same length as the body, and sometimes longer.

Weight

Males weigh around 24 lbs (11 kg) while females weigh a few pounds less.

Diet

Red-shanked douc langurs are vegetarians. In the wild these animals primarily consume the foliage of a variety of rain forest trees preferring young leaf shoots. At the Zoo, the langurs are offered a base diet of primate biscuit designed specifically for leaf eating primates. The enrichment portion of the diet includes a variety of leafy greens, vegetables and herbs. During the summer, the langurs receive as part of the enrichment portion of the diet a variety of leaves harvested from the Zoo’s browse farm. The leaves are analyzed for nutrient composition and formulated into the diet.

Geographic Range

Red-shanked douc langurs are found in the rain forests of Vietnam and Laos.