World's smallest monkey species welcomes first twins in 11 years at Shaldon Wildlife Trust
A South Devon wildlife charity is celebrating a major conservation milestone following the birth of two Eastern Pygmy Marmosets – the world's smallest monkey species.
The finger-sized twins were born at Shaldon Wildlife Trust on July 9, marking the first successful breeding of the species at the zoo in 11 years.
The arrivals are the first offspring for parents Pablo and Tumble, who were introduced earlier this year after arriving from separate collections as part of the European breeding programme.
Pablo arrived from Shepreth Wildlife Park in June 2025, while Tumble joined the trust from Dudley Zoo in January 2026. Keepers say the pair formed an immediate bond, with the twins arriving just six months after they were introduced.
At birth, Eastern Pygmy Marmosets weigh around 15 grams – about the same as a ping-pong ball – making them among the smallest primates in the world.
Unlike many mammals, it is the father who takes on most of the childcare. Pablo has been carrying both infants on his back around the enclosure, handing them to Tumble only when it is time to feed.
Zak Showell, Director at Shaldon Wildlife Trust, said: "We are absolutely over the moon. To have our first Eastern Pygmy Marmoset births since 2015 is a huge milestone for our team, but to see how quickly Pablo and Tumble bonded makes it even more special.
"At 19 days old, the twins are doing fantastically well. Dads do most of the heavy lifting in marmoset families, and Pablo is an experienced dad, having had several babies at his previous zoo. Visitors this summer will need a keen eye, but if you look closely at Pablo’s back, you’ll see two tiny furry faces peeking out over his shoulders!"
Native to the rainforests of the western Amazon Basin, Eastern Pygmy Marmosets (Cebuella niveiventris) grow to just 12 to 15 centimetres in length as adults and typically weigh between 100 and 140 grams.
The species is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with populations threatened by habitat loss caused by deforestation and by the illegal wildlife trade.
Founded in 1982, Shaldon Wildlife Trust specialises in the conservation of rare and endangered species from around the world, combining captive breeding programmes with education and international conservation projects. Over the years, the charity has achieved breeding successes with several threatened species and supports field conservation work in countries including Madagascar, Tanzania and Ecuador.
The new marmoset family is now on show in both the indoor and outdoor habitats at the South Devon zoo, where staff hope the tiny twins will help inspire visitors to learn more about rainforest conservation and the threats facing some of the world's smallest primates.