Twins have been born at Marwell Zoo just in time for National Siblings Day.
The cotton-top tamarins are the third set of twins born to parents Gurt and Mico. They were born on April 3, bringing the troop of tamarins at the zoo to seven.
This will be welcome news for the zoo as the tamarins are critically endangered.
The siblings are yet to be named but will be named after characters from the Addams Family, like their older siblings.
Eleanor Done, primates and small mammals keeper at Marwell, said: "It’s a really nice coincidence that these two new arrivals have been born just ahead of National Siblings Day.
"Cotton-top tamarins are a callitrichid, a family of neo-tropical primates, and it’s quite common for callitrichids to give birth to twins rather than a single offspring, so it’s very appropriate timing.
"Unfortunately, this species is critically endangered mainly due to deforestation, habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade in their native Colombia, so the fact that Marwell has successfully bred the species for a third time is really important, helping to maintain genetic diversity in the European ex-situ population.
"The new pair are already making themselves at home, and can be found keeping warm in basking spots at the top of their habitat, foraging in the choisya bush, a type of Mexican orange blossom for insects and nectar.
"They often have little yellow noses from pollen because they're sticking their faces in the centre of the blossoms to drink nectar."
Keepers take a hands-off approach so it may be some time before the duo’s sexes are confirmed.
It is thought that fewer than 2,000 cotton-top tamarins are left in the wild, with numbers still falling.
The new twins can be spotted during the Easter holidays, as Marwell invites guests on an exciting journey around the world in 80 species for a vibrant celebration of wildlife and culture.
Running until Easter Monday (April 21), the event lets families travel the world without leaving Hampshire, discovering animals from across the continents, while enjoying engaging Adventure Storytelling experiences and live entertainment along the way.
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