Emperors arrive at Newquay Zoo
A pair of Emperor tamarins called Mr Miyagi and Waxon are settling in well to a newly refurbished enclosure at the zoo. They are both around 3-4 years old.
Animal Collections Manager John Meek comments "The pair spent 6 months in quarantine at the zoo before they were released into their new home. They started to explore every corner of the island straight away, climbing high into the trees and calling to each other. They have a really long moustache which is very striking. Fingers crossed they will breed and help in the conservation of beautiful species."
This vulnerable species is part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) which coordinates the management and breeding of the species throughout Europe. They are classed as vulnerable in the wild by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) which means that they face a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future.
They are believed to have been named after the Emperor of Germany, Emperor Wilhelm II, due to their long, white imperial-looking moustache. They come from the Amazonian tropical rainforest regions in Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. They spend most of their time up in the trees and are great leapers, making quick, jerky movements. They live between 10 to 20 years. Their diet mainly consists of fruit, insects and tree sap.
