LANSING, Mich. — Potter Park Zoo announced the birth of a new cotton-top tamarin last month.
We’re told Yuri and LG welcomed their new baby to the zoo on June 9. It’s the couple’s fifth successful birth in five years.
The zoo says cotton-top tamarins are critically endangered, so Thursday’s news is encouraging for the species’ survival.
“We are thrilled to witness the continued reproductive success of our cotton-top tamarin pair, Yuri and LG,” says Director of Animal Health Dr. Ronan Eustace. “Their offspring not only contribute to the long-term survival of this endangered species but also serve as ambassadors for conservation and education.”
We’re told deforestation and illegal pet trade are the biggest contributors to the species’ endangerment. Only 2,000 cotton-top tamarins remain in the wild. About 200 live in zoos within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, whose Species Survival Plan supports the well-being of tamarins and other endangered species.
Patrons are invited to meet the new baby as well as the other tamarins at the zoo’s reptile house.
READ MORE: Twin tamarins born at John Ball Zoo
