Out of Brazil comes a first for Tasmania Zoo - Local News - News - Human Interest - The Examiner Newspaper
TASMANIA Zoo welcomed two marmoset monkeys into the world yesterday. They are the first set of marmoset twins born at the zoo.
Dad Ziggy now takes care of the twins and mum Zulu feeds them.
Although the second smallest primate, marmosets can do some damage if provoked.
"They are very protective of the newborns. If you try to touch them or their young they will attack your face," operations manager Robert Warren said.
Marmosets come from rainforests in the south-east of Brazil.
The monkeys are very easy to breed once in the right humidity and fed the right diet.
The zoo has built a nesting box that can be heated to 33deg, which is essential for the monkeys in winter.
The monkeys have a diet of tropical fruits such as mangoes and pawpaws, and vitamin- enriched foods such as meal worms.
"Once you've got all that right you've got happy primates," Mr Warren said.
Marmoset monkeys are pack animals and the zoo plans to continue breeding until they have a colony similar to that in the wild.
"We will build a bigger enclosure to house them and hopefully pretty soon we'll have eight or nine in the colony," Mr Warren said.
Ziggy and Zulu are also parents of seven-month-old Zander.