There are faces only a mother can love, and then there's this little guy.
Featuring big eyes, even bigger ears, and bright orange fur, this newborn monkey has been garnering plenty of attention as he begins to explore his exhibit.
Born at Sydney's Taronga Zoo on November 7, the baby Francois Langur (or leaf monkey) is one of the rarest monkeys in the world. His name is Nangua, the Mandarin word for pumpkin.
Nangua was born with orange fur despite both parents having black fur.
The zoo believes this helps the parents identify and take care of their little ones.
His mother Meili has been doting on him, and when out of her arms he has found loving refuge with the harem group's other females, Noel and Elke.
Francois leaf monkeys practise shared parenting among female relatives allowing time for the mother to eat and rest.
For the first-time father Bobo, the experience has been "overwhelming", the zoo said.
"But he's doing really well. He's protective of Meili and he'll even let the baby climb on to him," Jane Marshall, senior primate keeper at the zoo, said.
"Meili has shown her calmness and experience since the birth, cradling and protecting the baby, but also allowing Noel and Elke to get close to him," she said.
So far Nangua is acing his development tests.
"He's still quite wobbly on his legs, but his head control is very strong and he's gripping and climbing well.
"The adults are starting to let him climb off them briefly, which shows they're happy with his progress," she said.
Once widespread in China and Vietnam, Francois langurs have become one of the world's rarest monkeys due to habitat loss and poaching for traditional medicines.
Taronga is the only zoo in Australia to care for these primates, but is working with other zoos globally to help ensure a future for the species.
Fairfax Media
