Home / Environment / Endangered Monkey Couple Welcomes Vibrant Orange Infant in Oklahoma
Endangered Monkey Couple Welcomes Vibrant Orange Infant in Oklahoma
27 Sep, 2025
Summary
- Endangered François langur couple Pam and Ripley welcomed a male infant in Oklahoma City Zoo
- Newborn has orange fur that will gradually turn black within a year
- Zoo celebrates birth as important conservation effort for the endangered species
On September 8, 2025, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden celebrated the birth of an endangered François langur infant to the zoo's resident couple, Pam and Ripley. The newborn male, who has not yet been named, was born with a head and body covered in vibrant orange fur, which will gradually darken to jet black within a year.
This unique coloration serves an important purpose, as the zoo's assistant curator of primates, Pace Frank, explained that the orange fur helps the infant langur to be easily spotted by the members of their troop. The infant's parents, Pam and Ripley, came to the zoo in 2021 with the intention of breeding, and they previously welcomed a female infant, Fera, in 2024.
The birth of the latest langur infant is a significant event for the zoo and conservationists alike. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the François langurs as endangered, with only between 2,000 and 2,100 mature individuals remaining in the wild, after a 50% population decline in the past 37 years. As the zoo's executive director and CEO, Dwight Lawson, stated, "Every birth is a cause for celebration, but for conservationists, this one is special."
The zoo's primate curator, Shannon Charles-Ray, expressed the team's excitement over the newborn's arrival, noting that they were able to closely monitor Pam's pregnancy via ultrasound, which was a valuable experience for both the zoo's veterinary and primate teams. The family group, including Pam, Ripley, Fera, and the newborn, are all adjusting well and living in the zoo's Sanctuary Asia exhibit.
