RACINE (WITI) -- The Racine Zoo announced Thursday, January 8th a pair of emperor tamarins, primates known for their small size and signature long, white mustache, have just welcomed an offspring.
Arriving the morning of December 23rd, the newborn is doing well and weighing in at approximately 2.2 ounces. Staff will determine the baby’s sex once he or she grows a bit larger in size and can tolerate a complete medical exam. After a gestation of about 145 days, emperor tamarins typically give birth to twins but singletons, as in this case, are not uncommon.
“This is the first primate birth here at the Zoo in a few years,” said Theresa Donarski, the Zoo’s curator of conservation and animal care. “This is also the first pair of emperor tamarins we have in our collection and we are elated our team successfully created the right conditions for them.”
First-time parents, mother, Isabella acquired from Zoo New England, and father, Marquis acquired from the San Francisco Zoo, have been paired in Racine since the summer of 2012. Unlike many fathers in the animal world, the male emperor tamarin is the primary care taker, with the exception of nursing, the baby will have a solid grip on him at all times until the infant is about 70-days-old.
“I’ve been monitoring the family on site and remotely using cameras set up within the exhibit,” said Crystal Champeau-Williams, the Zoo’s primary primate specialist. “It’s very satisfying to see they are both great parents and the family is doing well.”