Mesker Park Zoo Welcomes New François Langur Monkey

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Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Indiana has welcomed a new addition to their François langur monkey troop. The baby, named Fern, was born to first-time mom Ta-Shi. The zoo's Discovery Center was temporarily closed to allow the animal care team to help Ta-Shi get comfortable in her new role as a mom, in order to save Fern's life. After successful observations of nursing and maternal care, Fern and Ta-Shi were slowly reintegrated with the rest of the troop, and the full group is now back together.

Why it matters

François langurs are an endangered species native to the rainforests of Vietnam and China, so the birth of a new baby at Mesker Park Zoo is an important conservation milestone. The zoo's successful intervention to support the new mother and ensure the calf's survival is also noteworthy, as it demonstrates the zoo's commitment to the well-being of its endangered animal residents.

The details

Fern was born to first-time mom Ta-Shi at Mesker Park Zoo. The Discovery Center was temporarily closed to allow the zoo's animal care team to help Ta-Shi get comfortable in her new role as a mom, in hopes of saving Fern's life. After continued successful observations of nursing and maternal care, Fern and Ta-Shi were slowly reintroduced to the rest of the langur troop, and the full group is now back together.

• Fern was born in early February 2026.
• The Discovery Center was temporarily closed to support Ta-Shi and Fern.
• Fern and Ta-Shi were slowly reintroduced to the troop on Wednesday.