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Langur appeal reaches halfway mark

Dusky langur born at Port Lympne. Picture Dave Rolfe.
Dusky langur born at Port Lympne. Picture Dave Rolfe.

This apricot-coloured langur must be wondering why it's a completely different colour from its mum!

The newborn, seen here at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park near Ashford, has just joined a family of dusky langurs.... all grey.

But the infant - now just a week old - was born this striking apricot colour.

Apparently all newborn dusky langurs enter the world such a vibrant colour, before gradually changing as they grow older.

The dusky langur is also sometimes known as the spectacled langur, due to the striking pale markings around their eyes, which make them look as though they are wearing glasses.

Visitors to Port Lympne Wild Animal Park will be able to watch the newborn baby as it grows and develops over the next few months.

Meanwhile, the Aspinall Foundation’s fundraising appeal, Back To The Wild, supported by the KM Group, has reached the halfway mark, raising more than £5,000.

Launched last month, it aims to raise £10,000 to help send captive-born Javan langurs and a gibbon housed at Port Lympne and Howletts Wild Animal Parks back to the wild - to boost indigenous populations threatened with extinction.

The appeal has raised the money using a text to donate scheme, daredevil fundraising attempts and other sponsorship.

It has so far raised a total of £5,761.

Sarah Tite, fundraising manager said: “We’re very nearly there and with just a little extra push we can make sure animals such as the group of eight Javan langurs and Regina, our Javan gibbon, can go home, where they belong.”

In an attempt to boost funds for the project, managing director of Howletts and Port Lympne wild animal parks, Bob O’Connor and members of his management team, took part in a charity abseil, organised by the KM Group, two weeks ago.

Back to the wild panel, on how to donate to Port Lympne's Javan Langur appeal.
Back to the wild panel, on how to donate to Port Lympne's Javan Langur appeal.

The team raised an impressive £2,342 through sponsorship.

To help send animals back to the wild please text BACK to 70300 and donate £3. The Aspinall Foundation will receive 100% of the £3 text donation.

Supporters of the appeal will be able to follow the animals’ stories on the website with regular updates, animal biographies and keeper blogs.

There will also be competitions to win prizes through the KM Group publications and online via the wild animal parks social media channels – www.facebook.com/theaspinallfoundation and @AspinallCharity

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