We visited Ang Thong National Park in Thailand in September 2017 and it was a spectacle to watch these Dusky leaf monkeys jumping on the trees, attracting the attention of the tourists on Ko Wua Talap island.
The dusky leaf monkeys have large white colored circles around their eyes which give an appearance of a spectacle and hence its name Spectacled Langur. There are 7 subspecies based on the pelage color.
Trachypithecus obscurus seimundi is the sub species that lives in Ko Wua Talap islands of Ang Thong National park, Thailand. It is always fun to watch these small creatures move around on high trees and spend their time relaxing, grooming and searching for food.
The length of the body falls in the range of 42-61cm. Male monkeys are heavier and larger than their female counterparts. The average lifespan of a female Spectacled Langur under captivity is measured to be around 15.3 years.
Dusky leaf monkeys are primarily herbivores, specialized in eating leaves and thrive on consumption of flowers, shoots, seedlings, leaves and fruits. They can also consume unripe fruits and plant leaves. They eat daily 2 kilograms of vegetable matter.
Infants start climbing and moving away from the mother once it turns one-year-old. At the same time, it starts also consuming solid food.
The dusky leaf monkey plays a major role in the ecology of the forest. They are important for the dispersion of seeds as they thrive primarily on foliage. They also have an impact on the food chain as they serve as prey for various other species of animals
