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AUCKLAND ZOO / Supplied
These marmoset twins were born at Auckland Zoo on July 17.
The twin marmosets are thriving at Auckland Zoo after their mother failed to produce milk, leading to them being hand-reared.
The rare golden lion tamarin, a male and a female, were born to Mama Frida on July 17.
Frida was unable to produce milk for her babies, which means that zookeepers had to make the decision, when they were two days old, to raise them by hand.
AUCKLAND ZOO / Supplied
Auckland Zoo staff said it was a privilege to raise the marmosets by hand.
Auckland Zoo Primate Team Leader Amy Robbins said the possibility of having to breed by hand was already on the table due to Frida’s difficulty raising offspring in the past.
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“Manual rearing is never a decision we make lightly and there are always risks, but we had strong science-based evidence to inform this call and the full support of the species coordinator for this program,” said Robbins.
AUCKLAND ZOO / Supplied
The decision to raise the marmosets by hand was made when they were two days old.
“As twins, we knew that these animals would have the advantage of being able to focus and seek comfort from each other, significantly reducing the risk of imprinting on us humans.”
Robbins said the last five weeks had been “crazy” for the team that cared for the tamarins.
Both twins are at a healthy weight for their age – over 130 grams. They have been closely linked with each other and are reaching physical milestones.
They have had a lot of contact with Frida and Papa Alonzo, Robbins said.
AUCKLAND ZOO / Supplied
Tamarins now weigh more than 130 grams.
“It has been completely exhausting and incredibly hard work, but also an enormous privilege to raise by hand a species that was once one of the most threatened primates in the world.
“We are very proud to have brought babies to this stage as they are as fragile as newborns.”
The zoo said the twins will not be seen by the public until they are fully integrated with their parents.
AUCKLAND ZOO / Supplied
Mama Frida could not produce milk to feed her young.
His birth marks the first successful attempt to breed golden lion tamarins at the zoo.
Frida, now 10, came to the zoo in 2014 from South Carolina in the United States. Alonzo, 6, came from the Mogo Zoo in Melbourne, Australia.
The Auckland Zoo said there are only 2,500 golden lion tamarins in the wild.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Two porcupines (baby porcupines) were born at the Auckland Zoo in January 2020.
The zoo has taken in several other animals over the past year.
On August 14, a baby rhinoceros was received during the coronavirus alert level 3 lockdown.
Two porcupines, baby porcupines, were also born at the zoo.
A red panda cub was also born just before the New Year, as well as the cotton-headed marmoset twins.
