The Life of Animals | Red Colobus | The diet of the red colobus monkeys Mainly consists of young leaves, flowers, and unripe fruit They are also known to eat charcoal to help combat the leaves may contain some cyanide. In Addition to sustenance, Evidence Suggests That chimpanzees prey on red colobus to reinforce the social status as well as to attract sexual partners When under attack, the red colobus males congregate to defend Their group while the females gather Their infants and try to escape.