Two New Rare Species Arrive at Zoo

The Los Angeles Zoo is excited to announce the arrival of two Francois’s langurs, a type of primate, and a duo of giant otters, the largest species of otter!

Francois’s langurs hail from southern China, northeastern Vietnam and west central Laos. Their preferred habitat is rain forests with limestone terrain. The cave formations and overhangs in these areas are used for refuge and shelter from weather.

It is believed that over the past 35 years, the number of Francois’s langurs have declined by at least 50 percent. Much of this decline is a result of habitat loss and hunting.

Active and noisy, langurs are medium sized monkeys. This male and female pair came to the L.A. Zoo from the San Diego Zoo and are part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program. The L.A. Zoo is one of 14 zoos in the United States to house these primates so make sure to check them out in their new habitat, located near the tigers!

Taking up residence in the former maned wolf exhibit are a pair of giant otters. Giant otters are the largest of the mustelid family, which consist of fur-bearing carnivores such as weasels, ferrets and badgers. Full grown, giant otters can reach a length of six feet and adult males can weigh as much as 70 pounds!

Found in the tropical rain forests and wetlands of north and central South America, giant otters live in family groups. These family groups consist of an alpha pair and their offspring who will stay with their parents for two or three years. When the alpha pair breeds, the older cubs share babysitting responsibilities for their younger siblings.

Giant otters are endangered, with an estimated 1,000 to 5,000 of these creatures left. They’re hunted for their pelts and face threats of habitat degradation, over fishing, mercury poisoning and pollution. The L.A. Zoo is one of only five zoos in the U.S. to exhibit this rare species!

The Zoo’s maned wolf has moved next door to the otters in a newly replanted exhibit. Sometimes referred to as “a fox on stilts,” the maned wolf is named for the long, mane-like strip of dark fur running from the back of the head to the shoulders.

Native to South America, these wolves are solitary creatures. Maned wolves weigh in around 50 pounds and stand three feet tall at the shoulder, making them the largest canid in South America.