Pig-tailed Langur

This stocky Old World monkey is easily identified by its unusual tail, which is only 15 cm long and mostly hairless. Adult males are the largest members of the species, reaching a weight of 7 kg and a length of 50 cm. Their black-brown fur contrasts with a hairless black face and a short nose that points upward. Using their long arms for climbing, these arboreal primates spend the majority of their lives in the rainforest canopy.

The Pig-tailed Langur is found only on the Mentawai Islands off the coast of Sumatra. One subspecies, known locally as the simakobou, lives on the northern island of Siberut, while another, the simasepsep, resides on the southern islands of Sipora and the Pagais. They are active during the day, living in groups that typically consist of one male and several females. While they occasionally come to the ground, they prefer resting and feeding high in the trees. Their omnivorous diet consists primarily of leaves, supplemented by flowers, fruit, and the occasional insect.

Humans are the primary threat to this species, as they are often hunted for their meat, which is considered a local delicacy. This pressure, combined with the illegal pet trade, has caused populations to decline. Habitat loss is also a major factor; commercial logging and the expansion of palm oil plantations have devastated the southern islands. While much of Siberut is protected within a national park, the reduction of primary forest cover elsewhere continues to facilitate human settlement and hunting.