The distinctive carroty-orange fluff of the tiny new Javan Brown Langur made it particularly eye-catching - and it has already gone on public display in the Monkey House.

The zoo said Javan Brown Langurs are particularly unusual as the species comes in two colour forms. However, all babies are born with bright orange fur and this either stays gingery brown or darkens to black as they mature.

And there's a practical purpose to the bright orange coloration - it alerts females to their presence and ensures that they are protected and looked after. This is vital as other females from the social group will babysit for the mother.

This rare species is found on the island of Java and the smaller islands of Bali and Lombok and is threatened by the destruction of its habitat for timber and cultivation.

In Indonesia, there have been cases of local people deliberately setting fire to forest to clear it for agriculture, which has had devastating consequences for the Javan Brown Langur. Hunting is also a major threat in Indonesia, and the increased availability of firearms has made the problem worse.

Currently the species is classified as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List 2004. They are found in three protected areas in Indonesia - Gunung Halimun National Park, Pangandaran National Park and Ujung Kulon National Park but remain under threat due to active trade in bush meats in this part of the world.

The international breeding programme operated by zoos is helping support the small numbers of Javan Brown Langurs.

Mark Challis, manager of Belfast Zoo, said: "The zoo is delighted to be able to support this species of langur. It is great news that once again Belfast Zoo is playing an active role in the conservation of such an endangered species."