Rare pied tamarin twins born at Shaldon Wildlife Trust
Shaldon Wildlife Trust is celebrating the successful birth of critically endangered pied tamarin twins, marking a major achievement for the small South Devon zoo’s conservation and breeding programme.
The twins were born on 29 September to parents Bobby and Pedra, following a successful breeding effort involving one of the most challenging small primate species to care for in captivity.
Pied tamarins are particularly delicate animals, requiring specialist care and a calm, stress-free environment. Despite being one of the UK’s smallest accredited zoos, Shaldon Wildlife Trust has become one of only two European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) institutions to successfully breed the species this year.
Keepers initially kept the news private to allow the family several weeks of peace and quiet during the infants’ most vulnerable early stages. Now past that critical period, the youngsters are thriving and beginning to hitch rides on their parents’ backs as they explore their habitat. Both Bobby and Pedra share responsibility for carrying the twins.
The births add to an exceptionally successful year for the charity, which works to protect endangered species through captive breeding and conservation projects.
Pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor) are among the most endangered primates in South America. Their remaining wild population is restricted to a shrinking area of rainforest around Manaus in Brazil.
Shaldon Wildlife Trust's conservation work extends beyond its own enclosures. The charity actively funds frontline conservationist Diogo Lagroteria and the Brazilian project Projeto Sauim-de-Coleira, supporting efforts to protect the species in its natural habitat.
Money raised by visitors to the zoo is also helping fund educational outreach materials in Brazil for the official Pied Tamarin Day this year.
Zak Showell, Director at Shaldon Wildlife Trust, said: "Pied tamarins are exceptionally delicate animals, and breeding them successfully is a challenge. For a zoo of our size to achieve this and to be one of just two European zoos to manage it this year is an unbelievably proud moment for our small team.
"It has been an incredible year for births here at Shaldon, but these twins are extra special. Not only are we safeguarding a vital captive safety-net population, but our visitors are directly helping us fund Diogo Lagroteria and Projeto Sauim-de-Coleira on the ground in Brazil.”
Visitors to the zoo on the Ness can now see the young tamarins as they travel around their habitat with their parents, offering a glimpse of a significant conservation success for the South Devon charity.