Colchester Zoo welcome four new marmoset monkeys
Queenie, Nursie, Bob, and Maria Escalosa, have made their debut after arriving from Chester Zoo
In a recent addition to Colchester Zoo, four female eastern pygmy marmosets, named Queenie, Nursie, Bob, and Maria Escalosa, have made their debut after arriving from Chester Zoo on 16th April.
Queenie, the eldest among the females, was born on 7th August 2020, followed by twins Nursie and Bob on 4th May 2021, and Maria Escalosa on 5th October 2021.
Housed alongside Golden-lion tamarins at the Canopy of South America enclosure, these newcomers are settling in well according to the zoo's Animal Care Team. Over the next few weeks, the team plans to observe and learn about each marmoset's individual personality.
Although this is the first time the species has been housed at Colchester Zoo, it is not the first encounter with pygmy marmosets for the establishment, having previously housed a pair of common pygmy marmosets in 2016.
The eastern pygmy marmosets, currently classified as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, face challenges due to deforestation in their native habitats. Despite their diminutive size, these primates are skilled climbers, capable of leaping up to 5 meters.