Your morning adorable: Francois’ langur monkey born at Australia’s Taronga Zoo

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Elke, a baby Francois’ langur monkey, is the first of her rare species to be born in an Australian zoo. Elke was born Thursday at Australia’s Taronga Zoo.

‘This is outstanding news for species, although the mother, Saigon, has not accepted the baby. Taronga is the only zoo in Australasia caring for Francois’ langurs,’ spokesman Mark Williams said. ‘Everyone had their fingers crossed and we were well-prepared.’

Williams said Saigon’s reaction to Elke is not uncommon for a first-time monkey mother, and zoo staff is hand-raising the baby in her stead. Keepers named Elke after a primate rescue center supervisor at Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam, where three of the zoo’s keepers have worked with langurs.

Elke’s parents are jet-black, but Francois’ langur infants typically have orange fur.

Francois’ langurs are native to southeast Asia, where they’re highly endangered. A recent census suggested there may be as few as 1,000 of the little leaf-eating monkeys left in the wild.

More photos of baby Elke after the jump!

-- Lindsay Barnett