Zanzibar: Jozani Forest NP – Red Colobus Monkeys

Jozani Forest is best known for its population of rare Zanzibar red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus kirkii), an endangered species found only on Zanzibar and nowhere else in earth. These monkeys are distinct for their reddish-brown coats and unafraid of humans and can be seen leaping through the trees. Their digestive system is unique in that it can handle the tough, tannin-rich leaves they feed on. They have a specially adapted stomach—a chambered one, like a cow’s—that ferments and breaks down their leafy diet, allowing them to gain nutrients that other primates could never extract from this tough diet. They even avoid eating ripe fruits because those would be unpalatable for them as being to easy. The Zanzibar red colobus is classified as Endangered due to habitat loss and human encroachment. It’s estimated that there are around 5,000 of them remaining, with the largest population found in Jozani.