PHOTOS: Two Cotton-Top Tamarins Have Been Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
Every Disney World theme park has things that are unique to that specific park, from big things like Cinderella Castle to small details like the decor. This helps to make each park special!
However, I personally am partial to just how special Disney’s Animal Kingdom is due to all of those amazing animals! There are endless opportunities to admire the beautiful creatures at the park, as well as learn more about each of them!
Photo: David Roark
And now, there are two NEW animals to admire, because some babies were just born in the park!
Newborn Cotton-Top Tamarins
Twin cotton-top tamarins were recently born at Animal Kingdom! They weigh about as much as a normal chicken egg and measure only 4 inches long — AHH! I can hardly handle the adorableness.
Photo: Disney
These extremely small and critically endangered twins mean that the cotton-top tamarin popular at Animal Kingdom has doubled since there were only two before. The newborns hold on tightly to their parents who continue to leap branch to branch in their habitat (which can be found on Discover Island, by the way!).
These are the first cotton-top tamarin births at Disney World since 2001. Right now, they’re too young for the animal care team to know if they’re male or female, so they don’t have names yet.
Photo: Disney
It’s actually pretty normal for this species to give birth to twins. The babies are completely dependent on their parents for survival and will be carried around on their backs for up to 14 weeks.
Disney says that both mom and dad are doing great as first-time parents and are sharing their parenting duties! We should expect to see them snuggled up with their parents for the next few months.
Photo: Disney
Cotton-top tamarins are a rare species with less than 7,500 remaining in the wild. They’re native to Colombia and found in the tropical forests in the northwest region of the country.
The monkeys live high up in the treetops and forage for fruits and insects to eat. They are critically endangered though because of the illegal pet trade and loss of habitat due to extensive deforestation.
Photo: Disney
Disney shared that these cuties are known for their wild manes of white hair on their heads (like Einstein!). They’re also very smart — they have at least 38 distinct calls they can use to communicate with each other!
Even adult cotton-top tamarins weigh less than a pound and are about as big as a squirrel! The birth of these twins is a very big deal for the survival of the endangered species.
Photo: Disney
Disney says that their birth is an example of how they work with “the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan to help ensure the responsible breeding of threatened species in managed care and help create healthy and genetically diverse populations of animals for years to come.”
Photo: Disney
Disney has also worked with organizations like Proyecto Titi in Colombia, to help protect the cotton-top tamarins. The Disney Conservation Fund has also helped the organization’s efforts to help over 180 local farmers create conservation forest corridors, protect over 5,500 hectares of forest, and plant over 100,000 trees for cotton-top tamarins and other wildlife, which has helped connect over 15,000 students with cotton-top tamarins and nature in Colombia.
Photo: Disney
This is part of Disney Planet Possible, which is the company’s commitment to “create a happier, healthier planet for all. You can find out even more about Disney’s conservation efforts, you can visit DisneyAnimals.com and/or follow their team on Facebook and Instagram (@DrMarkAtDisney).
Stay tuned for more Disney World news and updates!
