Two cotton-top tamarins have been born at Terra Natura Benidorm, one of the most endangered primate species on the planet. The infants arrived on 29 November and are the fifth litter from breeding pair Martina and Basel, who have previously raised eight offspring. A third infant was born but did not survive the first few days, which the park says is common in multiple births for this species.

The surviving infants are healthy and are showing normal behaviour for their age. Cotton-top tamarins typically weigh between 30 and 40 grams at birth and depend heavily on constant physical contact with adults. In keeping with their natural behaviour, the infants are being carried continuously by their parents and older siblings, returning to their mother only when needing to feed.

Martina was born at Terra Natura in 2016, while Basel arrived from Switzerland in 2021 to form a breeding pair with her. The park says the latest birth highlights the good condition of the group and the welfare of the animals under professional care.

Cotton-top tamarins are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to habitat loss, illegal pet trade and climate change. Terra Natura notes that the new births contribute directly to European ex-situ breeding programmes aimed at maintaining genetically diverse and stable populations. The park adds that the arrival follows other recent successes, including the birth of a Goeldi’s monkey in September.