Hello, world! Chattanooga Zoo welcomes critically endangered pied tamarin twins

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The population at the Chattanooga Zoo has now grown by 2, and now zoo officials need your help giving this endangered pied tamarin pair a name.

The zoo announced Tuesday that 2 endangered pied tamarins were born back on September 19th, to parents Daphne and Dudley.

Pied tamarins are a critically endangered species native to a small area of the Brazilian rainforest. The zoo says pied tamarins face severe threats from habitat destruction and urban expansion around the port city of Manaus.

The species is also endangered by the exotic pet trade, with experts warning they could face extinction within decades.

Chattanooga Zoo has been home to pied tamarins since 2009, and the zoo's breeding program has seen several successes, including the births of Dudley and Dobby in 2016 and Crash and Eddy in 2021.

"Wildlife conservation is at the core of Chattanooga Zoo," said Lacey Hickle, general curator. "We are working hard to help in the fight to save pied tamarins from extinction, and we are proud of our successes with this species. Pied tamarins are notoriously difficult to breed, and not many zoos in the United States even have them.

Right now, the zoo is one of only six in the United States housing pied tamarins, accounting for about 25% of the U.S. population.

Visitors to the zoo can see the pied tamarins in the Corcovado Jungle section, where the newborns are often spotted riding on the backs of their family members.

Later this year, zoo veterinary staff will conduct routine health checks to determine the genders of the newborns.

Chattanooga Zoo is inviting the public to help name the baby tamarins. You can learn how here.

The options are Appa & Momo, Apple & Cherry, and Merry & Pippin.

You can cast a vote online or through donations at the pied tamarin enclosure.

The winning names will be announced on November 12, 2024, via the zoo's social media pages.

Click on our gallery above to see more photos.

Depend on us to keep you posted.