Zoo database

Leaf monkeys/langurs

Trachypithecus/Colobinae

Natural diet Leaf monkeys/langurs

Fruits
Grain / seeds
Leaves

Leaf monkeys / langurs are herbivorous primates that mainly feed on (young) leaves. In addition to leaves, they also consume a variety of other plant material, such as bark, stems and flowers. When food is scarce, they may resort to eating more mature leaves and other parts of the plant that are harder to digest.

Feeding advice Leaf monkeys/langurs

Feed quantity per day

15-25% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 8 kg and eats 15% of its body weight, it will get

8 x 0.15 = 1.2 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

9% Concentrates
30% Leafy and cabbage vegetables
20% Other vegetables
40% Browse
1% Other

Proportions (fresh product)

0.09 x 1.2 kg = 108 g concentrates
0.3 x 1.2 kg = 360 g leafy and cabbage vegetables
0.2 x 1.2 kg = 240 g other vegetables
0.4 x 1.2 kg = 480 g browse
0.01 x 1.2 kg = 12 g other

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Nuts and seeds

Not recommended

Fruits

Starchy/ sweet vegetables

Products containing long-fibers

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
Supplement a diverse selection of vegetables (read more about differences between vegetables).
Feeding fruits might lead to gastro-intestinal disturbances because of the high sugar level and low fiber level in cultivated fruits compared to wild fruits (read more about nutritional values of (wild) fruits and vegetables).
Provide less palatable food in the morning, when hunger is greatest.
Feeding in bowls is not recommended.
In the winter months, either dried, frozen (thawed) leaves should be provided.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by hiding, stacking or hanging the feed. Examples can be feeding puzzles, tubes, hanging boxes and/ or scatter feeding (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

Obesity
Metabolic bone disease

Species within this group

Hanuman langur
Red-shanked douc langur
Black-shanked douc langur
Ebony langur
Gray langur
Silvered langur
Delavour’s langur
Francois’s langur
Golden langur
Nilgiri langur
Capped leaf monkey
Dusky leaf monkey
Banded leaf money
White fronted-leaf monkey
Hose’s leaf monkey
Mitered leaf monkey

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

DK Leaf-eater Basic

Walnut leaves - 10-20 kg bag

Primate Leaf eater (cold pressed)

Melvin de Boer

Purchasing & Logistics