Black-and-white Colobus
- Status
- Critically Endangered
- Endangered
- Extinct in the Wild
- Least Concern
- Near Threatened
- This animal is currently Vulnerable
Black-and-white Colobus
Colobus guereza
Black-and-white colobus are classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); their population is decreasing. Habitat loss is a threat for these monkeys through timber extraction, removal of natural forest for exotic tree plantations, and agriculture and human infrastructure. Bushmeat hunting is also damaging populations in the western part of their range. They are also killed for their skins, which are used in traditional ceremonies and as ornaments worn by various African tribes.
Here at the Philadelphia Zoo, one of the conservation organizations we support is the New Nature Foundation (NNF). New Nature Foundation works with people living in and around Kibale National Park, an area where colobus monkeys can be found, helping to get people to live more harmoniously with wildlife and to find more sustainable ways of living.
What are they like?
Physical Description: These black and white monkeys have a mantle of long white hair coming down their shoulders, going around their back in the form of a “U” and ending with a very long black and white tail. Their faces are black but covered with white hair and the point of their noses nearly touches the mouth. The black-and-white colobus’ average weight is 20–30 pounds.
Life Span: In the wild, black-and-white colobus monkeys can live up to 20 years. In zoos, they can live up to 29 years.
Diet: In the wild, black-and-white colobus are strictly leaf eaters; they tender young leaves found in the canopy. Their complex digestive system allows them the ability to consume vegetation that other monkeys cannot. At the Zoo, our black-and-white colobus are provided leaf eater biscuits, with leafy greens and vegetables, including browse, for enrichment.
Social Structure: The colobus monkeys live in groups of up to 10 individuals, usually composed of one male and a group of related and unrelated males.
Habitat: Black-and-white colobus monkeys are native to Africa and can be found in the dense forest foliage. They thrive in a habitat with towering trees and rich vegetation.
Where do they live?
Black-and-white colobus monkeys are native to much of west, central, and east Africa, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Chad.
Did you know?
- Black-and-white colobus monkeys play an important role in the ecosystem for seed dispersal via their wasteful eating style and digestive system.
- Early in the morning, these monkeys will usually sunbathe high up in the trees and later move to lower levels of the trees to feed.
- The name “colobus” is derived from the Greek word for “mutilated,” because unlike other monkeys, colobus monkeys do not have thumbs.
- They communicate with a low-pitched, roaring chorus, usually around nighttime or at dawn. These calls seem to be made in order to mark a group’s territory. They show threat by opening their mouths and smacking their lips.
