PREVIEW

Keepers at Exotic Zoo in Telford are celebrating after one of the world’s smallest monkeys gave birth to twins, the first time that the species have been successfully bred at the zoo.
Pygmy marmosets are native to South America and when fully grown only reach a height of 10 centimeters, making them one of the smallest mammal species on the planet.
Exotic Zoo Director, Scott Adams said: ‘’The arrival of the baby marmosets was a huge surprise for everybody at the zoo and we’re delighted to be able to play a role in the European captive breeding programme for the species. We have a hands-off policy with our Pygmy Marmosets and couldn’t be sure whether the female was pregnant, our keepers were jumping for joy when they spotted the twins riding on the back of mum and dad.’’
New parents, Robyn and Hook, were matched at the zoo as part of an initiative to safeguard the species from extinction. Hook arrived at the zoo last year to kickstart breeding attempts with Robyn.
Pygmy Marmosets are usually found throughout South America ranging from Brazil to Bolivia but are experiencing population decline in the wild due to habitat loss across the Amazon basin. The species are vulnerable to extinction in the wild according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.