Abandoned Baby Langur Now Safe at WFFT

Estimated to be less than a month old, the infant was found all alone in a rubber plantation in the Prachuap Khiri Khan province. He was abandoned after his family had been scared away, but fortunately, a quick-thinking farmer discovered the animal and called a nearby wildlife rescue centre for help.

The vet team at Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) quickly jumped into action and took the baby langur into their care, where the animal was given a medical check-up at the foundation’s onsite wildlife hospital.

Named Plango, after the tropical orange fruit that bears a similar colour to his bright fur, he was found to be in generally good health, but at such a young age, required specialist medical care. This included work from our vet nurse Git, who woke up every two hours throughout the night to feed Plango.

Baby Plango is expected to make a full recovery. Sadly, his very young age means that he has learnt no essential skills from his parents, and therefore would not survive if returned to the wild where he would be left to fend for himself. However, Plango will have a safe forever home at WFFT’s wildlife sanctuary, where he eventually will be introduced to other rescued langurs.

Pictures of Plango highlight his bright orange fur, which will gradually darken with age. Wildlife experts have various reasons as to why an infant Dusky langur’s fur is so bright. Some suggest that the colouring helps mothers easily locate their young, while others argue that it’s a form of camouflage. Another theory proposes that it helps to identify the infant within the group which encourages alloparenting – a form of parental care that sees different members of the group look after the young.

In the wild, dusky langurs are listed as Endangered and are found in parts of Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar. In captivity, baby langurs are one of the many victims of the illegal wildlife trade in Thailand, as their ‘cute’ appearance results in them being kept as pets. Langurs are completely unsuitable as pets, as these intelligent and social animals require a diverse diet, a natural habitat, and social interaction to thrive.

As Plango cannot be returned to the wild, he will live at the WFFT sanctuary forever. As a non-profit organization, we rely solely on the generosity of donors to care for animals like Plango. This is where you come in. Will you help fund Plango’s new home and ongoing care? From providing nutritious meals to creating a natural habitat for him to thrive in, your contribution can ensure that Plango has the happy and healthy life he deserves. To support WFFT, please donate here.