François' Leaf Monkey - Trachypithecus francoisi

François' Leaf Monkey - Trachypithecus francoisi (Pousargues, 1898).

IUCN STATUS CATEGORY

HABITAT Moist forests and well-sheltered rocky areas in the limestone hills and caves of undisturbed China and Vietnam.

GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD South China (Guangxi, Guizhou), north Vietnam and Laos east of the Mekong River. Never found west of the Mekong River.

CURRENT POPULATION Less than 25,000 individuals remain (Eudey, 1987).

SIZE Head and body 48 to 67cm. Tail 82 to 89cm.

WEIGHT 7.6 to 9.0kg.

AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY One captive Leaf Monkey lived for 28 years and 3 months.

NORMAL DIET Mainly leaves and some flowers and fruits.

NORMAL LIFESTYLE Harem society. One adult male oversees a family group of 3 to 12 individuals, 4 to 6 females and several youngsters. The troop sleeps outside in mild weather and in caves for shelter in cold winters. Appears to be associated with outcrops of rocks.

PREVIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD North-east Vietnam: Bac Thai, Ha Tuyen, Cao Bang and Lang Son Provinces, through the Tonkin-Chinese rain forest which encompasses the island of Hainan on the coast of north Vietnam and the south-eastern portion of China (Pate, 1991).

REASONS FOR DECLINE Major habitat alteration, including increased agriculture, fuelwood harvesting, logging, warfare and severe hunting for food and medicinal purposes. Part of the range of François' Leaf Monkey is in the area that suffered heavy bombing during the Vietnam war (Wolfheim, 1983).

CURRENT THREATS Same as the reasons for decline.

CONSERVATION PROJECTS The IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group recommended in the Action Plan for Asian Primate Conservation 1987 to 1991 the following conservation actions within the range of François' Leaf Monkey: surveys to determine the diversity, distribution, habitat requirements and status of primate species throughout Laos and Vietnam and to make recommendations for appropriate conservation action. Support needs to be given to the development and maintenance of reserves. There were 55 individuals in 11 collections in 1992, most were presumed to be bred in captivity.

SPECIAL FEATURES There are six or seven subspecies within the francoisi group, all may be distinct species.

REFERENCES

Eudey, A.A. (ed). 1987. IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group Action Plan for Asian Primate Conservation: 1987-91. IUCN, Gland. 65pp.

Pate, D.E. 1991. Francois' Languar Studbook Presbytis francoisi francoisi North American Region. Metro Washington Park Zoo, Oregon. 34pp.

Yingxiang Wang, S.M. & Poirier, F.E. 1989. Taxonomy and Distribution of the François' Langur (Presbytis francoisi). Primates. 30(2): 233-240.

Nowak, R.M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. 5th ed. Vol.1. John Hopkins University Press, London. pp.484-485.

Olney, P.J.S. & Ellis, P. 1993. 1992 International Zoo Yearbook volume 32. Zoological Society of London. 546pp.

Wolfheim, J.H. 1983. Primates of the World, Distribution, Abundance, and Conservation. University of Washington Press: London. pp. 597-598.

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