François' Langur

The François’ Langur – named after French consul Auguste François (1857-1935) who was stationed in South China from 1899 to 1904 – is a primate with silky black fur and a distinctive feature, a white band of hair resembling long whiskers. It lives in the karst hills of this Asian region in groups averaging around twelve individuals. The groups are led by females who collectively care for the young.

To sleep safely from predators, these monkeys take refuge in the numerous caves carved by rain in the limestone cliffs. Below, thick forests stretch where François’ Langurs find their food: mainly leaves, buds, bark, and roots, processed through their complex stomach. This stomach consists of a chamber where colonies of bacteria break down plant material, which is crushed by teeth and mixed with saliva; a second chamber contains acidic gastric juices, similar to many other mammals.

Due to habitat destruction and hunting for traditional Chinese medicine, there are barely 2,000 François’ Langurs left in the wild.