Brazilian Primates Breeding Well at Colchester Zoo!

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Colchester Zoo is proud to announce success in two of their primate breeding programmes which have resulted in the births of a silvery marmoset and Geoffroy’s marmoset triplets.

Gizmo the Geoffroy’s marmoset gave birth to a healthy set of triplets on the 28th August 2011. The youngsters and mum are all doing well, and can be seen within the rainforest walkthrough enclosure opposite the Discovery Centre clinging onto their mothers back.

Not to be out done by Gizmo, Colchester Zoo’s silvery marmoset, Olive, gave birth to a single offspring the day after, on the 29th August 2011. Olive and baby are doing well and can be seen amongst the group in their enclosure at the Worlds Apart Walkthrough exhibit along side a variety of other species.

Gizmo and male marmoset, Gremlin, have already bred a successful group of triplets born in March of this year as well as Olive and Arthur, the silvery marmosets who bred twins that same month.

“All the youngsters are yet to be sexed, but are doing well, with the previous youngsters now gaining invaluable infant rearing experience as their parents take care of the new offspring. Their births are really good news, and have proved that successful breeding pairs have formed in both sets of marmosets” said Zoological Director Anthony Tropeano.

The silvery marmoset is native to Brazil, Bolivia and North Paraguay and the Geoffroy’s marmoset is native to eastern Brazil. Silvery marmosets tend to live in rainforest habitats, whereas the Geoffroy’s marmosets reside in evergreen and semi-deciduous forest. Both species live in extended family groups of 4-15 individuals, with one female breeding during a breeding season.

Listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List, the main threat for these species come from occasional hunting for pet trade and habitat loss due to human expansion, with the construction of roads and industrial developments including logging, agro-industry and cattle-ranching.




EssexTouristGuide.com 8th September 2011

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