Disney has welcomed the birth of rare Cotton-Top Tamarin twins to Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and here’s what we know about them.
The New Additions
The birth of these new baby animals has doubled the number of Tamarin monkeys who call Disney’s Animal Kingdom home.
As first-time parents, both mom and dad are doing great, and sharing the parenting duties. Guests can expect to see the twins cozied up to both mom and dad over the next several months in their habitat on Discovery Island.
It’s too soon to know if they’re male or female, so the Disney Animal Care team hasn’t chosen names yet for the little ones.
“These bundles of joy have our animal care team jumping for joy, as the pair marks the first cotton-top tamarin births at Walt Disney World since 2001,” says Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President, Disney’s Animals, Science & Environment division.
About Cotton-Top Tamarins
Cotton-top tamarins are considered a rare species with less than 7,500 remaining in the wild. They are critically endangered because of the illegal pet trade, as well as extensive deforestation and loss of habitat.
The species is native to Colombia, and typically found in the tropical forests of the northwest region of the country.
These primates live high in the treetops and forage through the canopy for the fruits and insects that make up most of their diet.
Infants are completely dependent on their families for survival and are carried around on the backs of their family members for up to 14 weeks.
Fully grown, adult cotton-top tamarins weigh less than a pound and are about the size of a squirrel. The babies are currently about four inches long and the weight of a small chicken egg.
Cotton-top tamarins are known for the wild manes of bright-white hair atop their heads, and they’re highly intelligent, using at least 38 distinct calls in their vocal repertoire to communicate with each other.