Baby 'pumpkin' monkey born at Taronga zoo

A very cute, very orange and very rare leaf monkey has emerged from his mother's protective arms at Taronga Zoo.

The baby Francois' Langur - one of the world's rarest monkeys - was spotted by zoo keepers in the first week of November.

He's been named Nangua, the Mandarin word for pumpkin, and is already wobbling his way through the zoo's Rainforest Trail exhibition.

"He's still quite wobbly on his legs, but his head control is very strong and he's gripping and climbing well," zoo keeper Jane Marshall said on Thursday.

"The adults are starting to let him climb off them briefly, which shows they're happy with his progress."

Langurs are born with bright orange hair, because it's believed in the wild it's easier for their parents to identify them.

They then turn black as they grow up.

Nangua is baby number two for Meili, who gave birth to baby boy Tam Dao in 2011.

Ms Marshall said first-time father Bobo, who arrived from Beijing Zoo in 2010 as part of an international breeding program, is protective of his new family.

"Bobo is a little bit overwhelmed, but he's doing really well... he's protective of Meili," Ms Marshall said.

"I saw the baby climb up over his head the other day and he wasn't worried at all."

The monkeys have become one of the rarest breeds worldwide, with Taronga the only Australian zoo to care for the species.