François' Lutung (Trachypithecus francoisi) lives in tropical rainforest across Southeast Asia. It feeds on leaves and fruits. Its conservation status is Endangered.
Fascinating facts about the François' Lutung
- Only about 1,400-1,650 François' langurs remain in China, while fewer than 500 survive in Vietnam, meaning the wild population is likely under 2,200 individuals. The species' range is limited to karst limestone cliffs where they sleep in caves, a habit that cuts predation risk but also ties them to fragile habitats. When farmers burn lower slopes to grow crops, fires destroy both the cliffs and the leaf food the monkeys need, tightening the link between habitat loss and their rapid decline.
- Over half of the langur's diet is leaves, but during the dry season (April-September) they focus on young leaves, switching to seeds, petioles and stems from October to March. In a fragmented habitat they spent 61.6% of feeding time on just four plant species.
- Hunting has slashed the langur's numbers: from an estimated 4,000-5,000 in 1983 to fewer than 2,500 today. In the 1970s over 1,400 individuals were killed, and more than 1,500 were killed in the 1980s alone. Local belief that the bones can cure fatigue fuels this trade.
- François' langurs spend roughly a third of each day resting (35.41%) and another third foraging (31.67%), leaving only about 14% for traveling. In winter they travel more (20.12% of the day) while in spring they huddle together (14.62%).
- Males of François' langur measure 55-64 cm in head-body length and weigh 6.5-7.2 kg, while females are 47-59 cm long and weigh 5.5-5.9 kg. This size gap supports a matriarchal group where females lead, while males leave before sexual maturity.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asia
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietLeaves and fruits
About the François' Lutung
In the lush, emerald canopies of the Guangxi hills, the François' Lutung navigates its arboreal realm with elegance, its agile form weaving through the dense foliage with a quiet purpose. As it moves, the dappled light filtering through the leaves casts an ethereal glow on its dark, shaggy coat, imbuing this endangered creature with an air of mystique. With each deliberate leap, the lutung embodies a deep connection to its vanishing habitat, a poignant reminder of the beauty and fragility that hangs in the balance.
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