TIRANA & SANA
Tirana (b.26/11/2002) is a male colobus monkey. He came to us from a zoo after he had been pushed out of his group by the other colobus monkeys. His keepers feared that Tirana was in danger of being harmed by them and so he had to leave. As you can see he is a very large and proud-looking male and all the female primates around him enjoy showing off when he is about.
Sana (b.20/08/2005) is a female colobus monkey who came to the Haven after she was attacked by other members of her group and so had to be immediately removed for her safety. She is prime example of how important the homes and care we provide at the Haven are.
These two colobus monkeys came to us in March 2010 and have settled in well. They are very inquisitive and like to explore every inch of their enclosure.
ABOUT COLOBUS MONKEYS
Colobus monkeys only have four digits on each hand as they have either very short thumbs or none at all. This is believed to be an evolutionary adaptation to aid quicker movement through the trees and to reduce injury whilst swinging.
The name 'colobus' is derived from the Greek word for 'mutilated' because their lack of thumbs makes them different from other monkeys.
Colobus monkeys are strict leaf-eaters and spend most of their time in the treetops because they prefer the tender young leaves found there. Their complex stomachs enable them to digest mature or toxic foliage that are inaccessible to other primates.
The body is mostly black with the white beard and mantle extending from the shoulder to the hip, connecting around the lower torso. The tail has a white tuft at its end which is variable in its extent along the length of the tail. They are born with white hair which turns mostly black during infancy.
Common Name
Black and White Colobus Monkey
Latin Name
Colobus guereza
Conservation status
Cities Appendix II - colobus monkeys are a threatened species in their native region of eastern Africa due to habitat encroachment by humans and a loss of habitat when forests are cut down
Distribution
Colobus monkeys are found in a band across the centre of Africa, from Nigeria and Cameroon in the east through the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and south
into northern Tanzania
Habitat
Colobus monkeys are usually tree-dwelling residents of deep forests
Height
Averaging at 61cm when fully grown
Weight
Males weigh usually weigh between 9.3kg and 13.5kg and females between 7.8kg and 9.2kg
Wild Diet
Flowers, fruit and leaves
Breeding
Males mature at 4 years old and females at 6 years old. After these ages they can start to breed
Behavior
Colobus monkeys usually live in a family with 1 male and 3 or 4 females. The male uses vocalization to establish their territory. The monkeys often climb very high in the trees. In the early morning and at dusk
they can often be found in the treetops facing the sun. This has given them the nickname 'messenger of the gods'
