Tiny Twins Bring Big Hope: Critically Endangered Palm-Sized Primates Born At Newquay Zoo

Newquay Zoo is thrilled to announce the birth of twin cotton-top tamarins, a critically endangered primate species, born on 3 April 2025 to first-time parents Febe (2 years old) and Santiago (3 years old).

These palm-sized primates, each weighing about the same as a chicken egg at birth, are already capturing hearts as they cling tightly to their parents. Both Febe and Santiago are sharing parenting duties, often seen each carrying one of the twins and attentively caring for their new arrivals. 

In their natural habitat, cotton-top tamarins live in tightly bonded social groups where the care of young is a shared responsibility. This behaviour, known as cooperative care, involves multiple group members contributing to the rearing of offspring. Maternal behaviours in tamarins are not solely instinctive—they are learned through observation and experience within the group. Such collective caregiving is critical to the survival and healthy development of the infants, especially in the early stages of life. 

Native to the tropical forests of northwest Colombia, cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) are among the world’s most endangered primates. With over 80% of their habitat lost to deforestation and ongoing threats from the illegal wildlife trade, their wild population is now estimated at fewer than 2,000 individuals. They are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, and breeding programmes in accredited zoos like Newquay Zoo are vital to ensuring their survival. 

Senior Animal Keeper Emma Sweetland expressed her excitement:  

“It’s incredibly special to see Febe and Santiago co-parenting so naturally. Their attentiveness is heartwarming, and these births are a significant milestone for the conservation of this critically endangered species. These twins are not just adorable additions to our zoo family; they represent a vital step forward in the fight against species extinction.” 

Visitors to Newquay Zoo may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the 4-week-old twins clinging tightly to their parents as they explore their surroundings. As the babies grow bolder and more curious, they’ll become more visible, bounding across branches and ropes on their island enclosure.  

Named for their crown of fluffy white hair which stands on end when they get excited, cotton-top tamarins are just one of three tamarin species at Newquay Zoo. The zoo is also home to striking golden lion tamarins, a species once on the brink of extinction but now recovering thanks to international breeding programmes and careful species management, and pied tamarins, which - like cotton-tops - are listed as critically endangered and urgently need protection. 

As part of the Wild Planet Trust, Newquay Zoo actively participates in international breeding programmes aimed at preserving endangered species. The arrival of these twins underscores the zoo's commitment to global conservation efforts. 

For more information, visit Newquay Zoo’s website or follow us on social media for updates.