7 July 2016
The two-coloured tamarind (Saguinus bicolor) belonging to the monkey family, they differ from other monkeys in that they have claws on all fingers and toes except the big toe.
They live in a small area of Brazil near the city of Manaus, the habitat is lowland rainforest. Unfortunately, Manaus is one of the fastest growing cities in the Amazon, which means that forests are being cleared to make way for housing and farmland, which in turn leads to the monkeys being displaced. Every year, hundreds of individuals die because of this, and the bicoloured tamarins are now considered one of the most endangered mammals in the Amazon. It is therefore particularly important that breeding programmes are carried out for the species, otherwise it risks becoming extinct.
Parken Zoo is part of the EAZA conservation breeding programme for the species and we are proud to announce that we have had two cubs this year. They live together with their 6 siblings and parents in the monkey house. When the cubs reach sexual maturity and are ready to leave their parents, they move to other parks to find a mate. There, they will hopefully raise their own young, thus ensuring the survival of the species.