Critically endangered cotton-top tamarin born

This Cotton-top Tamarin Day, we’re thrilled to announce the birth of a critically endangered baby tamarin.

The tiny infant, born on 16^th June, is constantly being cared for collectively by the group, who take turns carrying it on their backs to ease the pressure on the mother. This constant close contact makes it impossible to identify its gender at the moment.

The Day of the cotton-top tamarin is celebrated on August 15^th each year and we have a successful history of breeding and caring for the striking species, which develops a wild crest of white hair as it grows.

There are approximately 6,000 individuals remaining in the wild, just 2,000 of which are mature adults. With only two remaining fragments of cotton-top tamarin habitat left in Colombia, they are in real danger of extinction.

This latest birth is another significant milestone for our cotton-top tamarin population, which has seven individuals across two social groups.

Parents Rosa and Rico are experienced in rearing young after having successfully raised twins last year and our keepers are delighted to once again contribute to the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).

“We’re absolutely thrilled with this new arrival,” said Emma Swindells, Senior Keeper at Blackpool Zoo. “Every single successful birth helps secure the future of this precious species.

“Rosa and Rico are doing a great job and this species share the raising of young with their entire group.

“Cotton-top tamarins are tiny, even as adults, they don’t weigh more than 1lb and are just 8 to 10 inches long. As you can imagine, the babies are super small and extremely cute, so it is always lovely to see the reaction of visitors when they spot one.”

The new baby, which will be named once its gender has been determined, can be seen in the cotton-top tamarin house across from Active Oceans and next to Flamingo Lake.