What’s tiny, golden, fluffy, and totally adorable? The newest addition to the Adelaide Zoo family, a baby Golden Lion-tamarin!
Born to proud parents Rio and Aurora on Thursday, 13 October, the yet to be named baby’s routine consists of sleeping and cuddling mum and dad.
The tiny baby is about 10cm in length and weighs about 100g.
Adelaide Zoo Primate Keeper Sophie Miller said the baby is thriving and bonding well with seasoned mum Aurora.
“We won’t know the sex for a couple of months because it’s clinging tight to mum, a positive sign it’s strong and healthy” Sophie said.
“It’s quite a unique looking little tamarin, with a much lighter yellow colouring compared to its siblings.
“Tamarins are family-orientated and very social animals, so the entire family will help care for the infant.”
Since the 1980s, Adelaide Zoo has celebrated the birth of more than 70 Golden Lion-tamarin infants, an important contribution to saving this endangered species from extinction.
Golden Lion-tamarins are found along the coast of Brazil and are endangered due to deforestation, fragmentation as well as the illegal wildlife trade. Having lost between 95-98% of their natural habitat, it’s estimated there are less than 3,000 individuals left in the wild.
Adelaide Zoo plays a crucial role in the long-term survival of this species as a fellow partner of the international breeding program working to safeguard this species and many more from extinction.
Make sure you come and see the new arrival in our Tamarin House soon!
