Marwell Zoo in Hampshire welcomes three newborn monkeys in one night

Marwell Zoo, which is near Bishop’s Waltham, has welcomed twin cotton-headed tamarins and a coppery titi monkey. Zookeepers have reported that all the babies are healthy.

Amy Denny, animal team leader for primates and small mammals at Marwell said: “It was a huge surprise and very unusual to find two different groups had given birth on the same night, but a complete coincidence. We discovered the cotton-headed tamarins first which wasn’t too unexpected given we were anticipating it for a little while. But when the keeper moved on through Life Among the Trees to discover a titi baby that we had no idea about, we were pretty speechless.

“The relief was that everyone was happy and healthy and all siblings were settled with their new additions too, so you can’t hope for more than that as a keeper.”

Cotton-headed tamarins are on the critically endangered list and the twins bring Marwell’s group – called a troop – to nine. It’s the fourth time that mum Gurt and dad Mico have become parents whose young are named after the Addams Family – Pugsley, Pubert, Fester, Lurch and Sloom.

Amy said: “We’ve had a string of success with cotton-headed tamarin births in the past couple of years – they have successfully bred every year since they were introduced to each other so they’re just a very compatible pair!”

It is thought that fewer than 2,000 cotton-headed tamarins are left in the wild, with numbers still falling. In Europe, breeding of the species is co-ordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Ex situ Programme (EEPs), to ensure genetic diversity and build healthy populations.

The coppery titi monkey is the second baby to be born to breeding pair mum Taco and dad Mr Titi. Nacho was born in January last year and interestingly it’s the dad who will primarily carry the baby from now on.

Amy said: “We will leave the young to their parents – we’re hands-off with our management. We won’t now do anything physical until they’re due their first vaccinations in 2027 when we will sex and microchip them as well.”

The new babies will be visible during half-term when visitors are encouraged to take part Wild at Heart – a week of creative activities, seasonal treats, keeper talks and heart-warming family fun. Marwell is running Love bug family craft sessions each day from 10.30am to 3pm, as well as animal feeding sessions and keeper talks.

Senior events manager Nicky Cole said: “We’re excited to welcome visitors to our Wild at Heart event this February half-term. It’s set to be a week full of nature and heart-warming family fun while exploring everything Marwell has to offer.”

To find out more see www.marwell.org.uk