Lake Superior Zoo announces birth of critically endangered cotton-top tamarin

DULUTH, Minn.– It’s been all monkey business at the Lake Superior Zoo when it comes to raising their newest little primate.

The not yet named cotton-top tamarin was born 36 days ago and is thriving alongside mom “Mira” and dad Dino”.

The species itself originates in Colombia and is critically endangered. Zoo staff said there’s less than 2,000 in the wild.

This opportunity was made possible by the zoo’s involvement in the species survival plan, to help repopulate.

The tamarins take turns raise the baby in a communal setting, making it interesting for zookeepers.

“As keepers, we try to keep an eye on them and keep record of how things are going, but it is ultimately down to them to raise their babies. Babies being raised by like their parents and by their siblings is really important for their like, social development, and so we don’t step in really heavily, so that we don’t interrupt with that process,” explained Anna Schopf, animal care specialist, Lake Superior Zoo.

For the past four years, the zoo has slowly grown the tamarin troop, with one baby being born each year.

They’re doing their part to preserve the species, and zoo staff told FOX 21 it’s been very rewarding.

“It’s really important for zoos to maintain, like captive populations of endangered species, because we really never know when the species is going to like, suddenly take an even steeper decline, and if there are no species left out in the wild or not enough to like, maintain good genetics out in the wild, it’s important to have like, A backup population,” said Schopf.

The best time to check out the baby tamarin is from noon to 2 pm.

Zoo staff said to avoid flash photography, when observing them.