A critically endangered cotton-top tamarin monkey has been born at Longleat Safari Park, Eeighing only around 40g.
The birth was captured on camera showing the six-year-old mother, Maxi, giving birth with the five-year-old farther, Rico, by her side. The mother is responsible for feeding and the father for carrying the newborn.
Abbi Wheeler, a keeper at Longleat, said: “We weigh Maxi and Rico weekly as part of our usual checks, and we saw her weight gradually increasing.
“Maxi was awake for an hour one night which sent an alert via the camera system as it was unusual.
Maxi gave birth to to her baby at Longleat Safari Park
PA
“When we watched we saw her make a jumping movement and we saw a baby climbing around her side and cling straight onto her fur.
“It is really exciting as Maxi and Rico are the first breeding pair at Longleat, and they are critically endangered as there are only around 6,000 in the wild.”
People visiting Longleat Safari Park will be able to go see the new baby in their enclosure in the Animal Adventure area.
The baby is expected to be separated from its parents at 15 weeks.
Cotton-top tamarin monkeys originated in Colombia, South America, are critically endangered.
Their diet consisting of insects, fruits and plant exudates such as gum and sap.
