Critically Endangered Pied Tamarin Twins Born, Now Visible to Guests Inside the Rare Animal Conservation Center
Philadelphia Zoo is excited to announce the birth of pied tamarin twins, a critically endangered primate native to a small area of Brazil.
The Zoo’s animal care team says the babies born on February 27 are healthy and growing appropriately. This is the first-time pied tamarin twins have been born at the Zoo since 2010. The babies are the first offspring of mom Whitney and dad Napoleon; both are keeping the babies close and are caring for them appropriately. The sex of the infants has not yet been determined and the Zoo has not chosen names. Their birth is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding program to ensure the survival of this species and maintain a genetically diverse population. Pied tamarins are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Studies suggest there will be an 80% decline in the wild population by 2033 due to habitat loss and fragmentation, anthropogenic threats, competition with other tamarin species, and disease.
“The primate team has had a true baby boom over the last year, and we’re overjoyed to have another successful birth and beautiful babies for guests to fall in love with,” said Vice President of Animal Well-Being Rachel Metz. “Pied tamarins are one of the most endangered primates in the world. In 2010, Philadelphia Zoo became the first zoo in the U.S. to breed this critically endangered species, and we’re proud to continue that legacy and contribute to their conservation.”
“Pied tamarins are very striking: their bald heads instantly catch anyone’s eye when visiting the Rare Animal Conservation Center,” said Director of Primates Amy Skokowski. “Whitney and Napoleon have done a perfect job as first-time parents. Our primate team has done an excellent job providing the right conditions for successful breeding and child rearing.”
Pied tamarins are born after a 6-month gestation. This species typically has twins that are born with fur covering their entire bodies. The babies weigh around 1.5 ounces on average. Dads generally carry the babies and give them back to mom every two hours for nursing. They can start eating solid, pre-chewed foods as early as a month old. The babies ride on their parents backs until they are about 8 weeks old.
Pied tamarins are found in an extremely small area just outside the capital city of Manaus, Brazil. Their hands and feet are long with pointed claws instead of finger nails, except for their big toes which have a broad flat nail used for grooming. They are omnivorous and play a dual role in the ecosystem, dispersing seeds and keeping small pests in balance. They also rapidly flick their tongues as a form of communication to signal recognition, anger or curiosity.
The Zoo is home to six pied tamarins: males Vedder and Napoleon, females Whitney and Whoopie Pie, and the two unnamed twins. You can visit all of them inside the Rare Animal Conservation Center.
