27 Apr 2024
Successful breeding of pied tamarins
A total of ten pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor) have been born at Universeum since January
2020. Good animal husbandry is the key to successful breeding, and our keepers contribute to that work.
Critically endangered specie
All pied tamarins living at Universeum are part of the EAZA Ex situ programme – a European conservation programme for the species. These primates are critically endangered in the wild, which is just one step away from extinction. In September, a group of pied tamarins comprising a male, a female and youngsters was transferred from Universeum to Zagreb Zoo as part of continued conservation efforts.
From birth to moving.
In September, a group of pied tamarins comprising a male, a female and youngsters was transferred from Universeum to Zagreb Zoo as part of continued conservation efforts.
This is how the process usually works, from birth to transfer:
- The primates are born:
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The primates are born: for the first few weeks the new family lives closely together and has limited contact with other animals or people.
- Meeting the keepers:
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Meeting the keepers: the young spend their first few months getting to know the keepers. They are encouraged to exercise and engage in enrichment activities that provide an outlet for their natural behaviour.
- Meeting visitors:
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The animals are gradually introduced to enclosures in the Rainforest environment and can move around and watch visitors.
- Adolescene:
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for a year or two the young are able to grow up alongside their younger and older siblings, who all take care of one another in a variety of ways, which helps to improve their parenting skills in later life.
- Contact with studbook keeper:
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Each conservation programme has a coordinating studbook keeper, who uses data analysis of relationships to plan for the future and keep track of the genetic status of the species. Otherwise, there is a risk of inbreeding and illness. Based on the analysis, it may be recommended that animals are transferred to or from Universeum, at which point the planning process begins.
- Transfer day!
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Based on the analysis, a move from Universeum to another zoo is recommended and planned.
Universeum protects biological diversity.
We keep endangered species, contribute to field projects and increase people's knowledge. All efforts are needed if the earth's biological diversity is to be preserved.
