Bronx the Golden Lion Tamarin at Wellington Zoo

Endangered Golden Lion Tamarin arrives at Wellington Zoo

A new arrival has touched down at Wellington Zoo – an endangered Golden Lion Tamarin, originally from New York’s Bronx Zoo, as part of efforts to help save the species from extinction.

The new male is named Bronx, in recognition of his former home. After a stay at Auckland Zoo, Bronx travelled to the capital to join Clementine, Wellington Zoo’s female Golden Lion Tamarin. After being introduced to each other over the last two weeks, they are now settling into their home together in Wellington Zoo’s Mini Monkey habitat.

“These beautiful and charismatic Golden Lion Tamarins are still getting to know each other, and Bronx is getting used to his new environment, so we’re expecting him to be a bit cautious and stay up high for the next few days,” said Paul Horton, Wellington Zoo Life Sciences Manager.

“Clementine arrived at Wellington Zoo in September of 2013 from Santa Ana Zoo in California. We have high hopes that this new pairing will contribute to the international conservation breeding programme for these little monkeys.”

Wellington Zoo supports Golden Lion Tamarin conservation through a partnership with Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado (AMLD) in Rio de Janeiro. AMLD champion a holistic conservation programme for Golden Lion Tamarins – managing the wild population, restoring habitat, and providing guidance for sustainable development in the region. They engage their community by building native plant nurseries and training local teachers to inspire kids to protect the native forests that Golden Lion Tamarins call home.

“We’re really proud to support AMLD’s work. We know successful conservation is about working together,” said Daniela Biaggio, Wellington Zoo Conservation Manager. “Protecting their native Atlantic forest habitat helps save Golden Lion Tamarins, as well as many other animals that share this environment.”

“However, the conservation breeding programme is just as important – Golden Lion Tamarins almost went extinct in the wild in the 1970s, but the conservation breeding efforts of zoos brought this precious species back from the brink.”

“It’s great that Wellington Zoo can be a part of that effort, and that our community has the opportunity to connect with these beautiful monkeys when they visit the Zoo!”

Wellington Zoo visitors can now see Bronx and Clementine in the Mini Monkey habitat, and learn more about these endangered primates.

ENDS

© Scoop Media