Emperor tamarind

Monkeys and lemurs

South American animals

The Imperial Tamarins were named because they were thought to resemble the German Emperor Wilhelm II. The name was initially a joke but later became the official name. Imperial tamarins live in family groups of between two and ten individuals. They belong to a group of monkeys called clawed monkeys, which have claws instead of nails on all fingers and toes except the big toe. Usually only one female in the family has babies but they all help to look after the young. These little monkeys like to gnaw holes in the bark of trees to lick the sap from the trees but they also eat fruit and insects as well as flowers and other things they find in the trees. They are reluctant to go down to the ground because of their vulnerability to predators.

Today, the emperor tamarins are threatened by rainforest clearance and Parken Zoo participates in the European Breeding Programme (EEP) to conserve the species.

CITES B