Photo: Courtesy Chester Zoo
The Chester Zoo just welcomed the newest member of its family.
In a news release, the Chester Zoo announced a critically endangered cotton-top tamarin monkey was recently born to parents Treat and Leo at the English park, bringing hope for the rare species' future. Both the sex and name of the newborn have yet to be disclosed.
“The mini monkeys are native to a small area in northern Colombia but, sadly, only 5% of their original habitat now remains intact due to mass deforestation, while the illegal wildlife trade is another significant threat to their survival,” the statement added.
Courtesy Chester Zoo
Nick Davis, the deputy curator of mammals at the zoo, highlighted the plight of the threatened species in the release.
“The cotton-top tamarin is an exquisite animal, but sadly it’s one of the most endangered primate species on the planet,” Davis shared.
The Chester Zoo is part of an ongoing effort involving zoos worldwide that aims to prevent the species from becoming extinct.
“In order to help save the species, we only recently started caring for them at the zoo again, and so this is the first cotton-top tamarin to be born at Chester Zoo in 22 years, and we’re completely overjoyed,” Siobhan Ward, a primate keeper at the Chester Zoo, said in the release.
“It’s incredibly special to be able to see the little one so soon after its birth and after opening its eyes for the first time to take in the world.”
source: people.com
