Rare Javan langur monkey born at Howletts Wild Animal Park

Malang, a one-month-old female Javan Langur, is cradled by its mother Untala, as she makes her public debut at Howletts Wild Animal Park (PA)

A vulnerable species of monkey has added a new member to its brood at a zoo.

An apricot-coloured Javan langur called Malang is settling into life at Howletts Wild Animal Park near Canterbury after being born last month.

Matt Ford, head primate keeper, said: "Malang is doing very well and it's great to see her out and about with the family group."

Javan langurs have different colour forms within their groups, and the primates may have a coat that is either black or an orange/brown shade, a zoo spokeswoman said.

She said: "At birth all infants will have a bright apricot-coloured coat which will gradually darken to one or the other colour form at around three to five months old."

Javan langurs are an endangered species and face the same threats as other primates in Asia, including loss of habitat and hunting, the spokeswoman said.

The brightly coloured primates are not often seen in wild animal parks but Howletts and Port Lympne, near Ashford, Kent, are collectively home to more than 50.

Animal director Neil Spooner said: "We have one of the largest collections of Javan langurs outside Indonesia and have had over 100 births since the early 1980s.

"Our Javan Primate Project just outside Malang, Indonesia, launched at the end of last year. The conservation project is rescuing primates from the illegal pet trade and rehabilitating them, so that they can be reintroduced to areas of the wild that we protect.

"Malang is a very fitting name for our latest langur birth."