Second set of bearded emperor tamarin twins born at Buttonwood Park Zoo

NEW BEDFORD — A second set of bearded emperor tamarin twins were born at Buttonwood Park Zoo last month. The babies came one year, almost to the day, of their older siblings Brie and Gouda, who were born at the zoo on October 20, 2019.

According to a press release from zoo officials, Pepper and Jack, an adult pair of bearded emperor tamarin, became parents for second time on October 13.   

"While Zookeepers were able to track Pepper’s first pregnancy through weight checks, they knew much more about her second pregnancy, thanks to the ability to perform an ultrasound." according to the press release. "This important veterinary monitoring takes time, trust and skill to develop and the process began the moment Pepper arrived from the Twycross Zoo in the United Kingdom in 2018."

“With the opening of the Zoo’s Rainforest, Rivers & Reefs exhibit in 2017, the zoo has been very successful in creating in stimulating, natural environments for its many species of small South American primates and this has resulted in several important births“, said Keith Lovett, zoo director and chair of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) New World Primate Taxonomic Advisory Group (NWPTAG). “All of the primates at the zoo are managed as part of AZA Species Survival Plans including the bearded emperor tamarins and these births will help improve the genetic diversity of this population of primates that continues to decline in the wild.”

Native to Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru, these small, tree dwelling monkeys reside in lowland tropical rainforest, typically between 80 – 95 feet elevation and their diet consists of tree sap, fruits, insects, and eggs, the release said. While they are not currently endangered, rapid deforestation, infrastructure construction and popularity within the illegal pet trade may threaten this species in the near future. Currently, there are only 31 bearded emperor tamarins at 10 AZA institutions – including the 6 residing in New Bedford.

Although the zoo’s Rainforests, Rivers & Reefs exhibit, where the tamarins reside, remains closed to the public due to ongoing public health restrictions, the family can be seen on a warm day in one of the outdoor habitats, zoo officials noted.