One of the world's rarest monkeys has been born at an Australian zoo.

A newborn male Francois' Langur, one of the world's rarest monkeys, with only about 3,000 estimated to be left in the wild
A newborn male Francois' Langur, one of the world's rarest monkeys, with only about 3,000 estimated to be left in the wild TARONGA ZOO / Rick Stevens

The male Francois' Langur with its distinctive orange fur was born at Sydney's Taronga zoo last week and has not yet been named.

A newly-born male Francois' Langur, one of the world's rarest monkeys, staying close to his mother Noel at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney
A newly-born male Francois' Langur, one of the world's rarest monkeys, staying close to his mother Noel at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney TARONGA ZOO / Rick Stevens

Critically-endangered, the animal is only found in China and Vietnam where it is threatened by poachers and loss of habitat from encroaching development.

Taronga Zoo Sydney /

"Seeing Francois' Langurs in the wild is incredibly rare, but seeing a baby is even more so," said Senior Zoo Keeper Jane Marshall.

The baby's bright orange hair lasts just a few weeks before it begins to darken to the colour of its mother Noel's fur.

The zoo estimates there are only about 3,000 of the species left in the wild.