The 'Circle of Life' Continues with Baby Tamarins Born at Disney World's Animal Kingdom
There are two new residents at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom, but they're so tiny you just might miss them! The newborn twin cotton-top tamarins are only four inches long and a few ounces heavy, and you'll most likely spot them hitching a ride on one of their parents' backs in the coming weeks.
According to the Disney Parks blog, this is the first tamarin birth in Animal Kingdom since 2001. The birth is also great news for the critically endangered species... and for the guests, too!
OMG--the babies are so tiny! The baby monkeys look so sweet snuggled into their parent's fur, but we're sure they'll be equally as adorable (and even more entertaining) when they're old enough to walk, climb, and swing from the trees for themselves.
Dr. Mark Penning is the Vice President of Animals, Science, and Environment at Disney Parks and Resorts, and he had the pleasure of announcing the baby animals on the Disney Parks blog. He explained that it's too soon to know the sexes of the newborns, so naming them will have to wait for now.
For now, the zookeepers and biologists at Animal Kingdom are elated with the birth--especially a twin birth! Twins are rather rare for this primate species, so they got one more tamarin than they were planning for.
That's right--this partnership and mating was planned through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan. Disney's Animal Kingdom works with the Survival Plan "to help ensure the responsible breeding of threatened species in managed care and help create healthy and genetically diverse populations of animals for years to come."
With responsible and mindful animal care, Animal Kingdom can do a lot more than just provide experiences for guests. While they're working on saving endangered species, though, tons of people will be enjoying visits with the zoo monkeys on Discovery Island. It's a win-win!
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.
Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
