Rare Twin Cotton-Top Tamarin Baby Monkeys Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Twin Cotton-Top Tamarin
Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney World

Rare Twin Cotton-Top Tamarin Baby Monkeys Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

An adorable set of tiny, twin Cotton-Top Tamarin baby monkeys were recently born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The size of the cotton-top tamarin population at Disney World has now doubled!

Related – Merry Menagerie Returning to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the 2023 Holiday Season

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Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney World

Weighing about as much as a common chicken egg, and measuring approximately four inches
long, these pint-sized newborns cling tightly to their parents as both mom and dad acrobatically
leap from branch to branch in their habitat on Discovery Island.

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Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney World

These bundles of joy have Disney’s animal care team themselves jumping for joy – though less
acrobatically – as the pair marks the first cotton-top tamarin births at Walt Disney World since 2001. It’s too soon to know if they’re male or female, so these cute little monkeys haven’t been named yet.


Although cotton-top tamarins are considered a rare species with less than 7,500 remaining in the wild, having twins is quite typical for the species. Infants are completely dependent on their families for survival and are carried around on the backs of their family members for up to 14 weeks. As first-time parents, both mom and dad are doing great, sharing the parenting duties. You can expect to see the twins cozied up to both mom and dad over the next several months.

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Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney World

Cotton-top tamarins are native to Colombia and typically found in the tropical forests of the northwest region of the country. These primates live high in the treetops and forage through the canopy for the fruits and insects that make up most of their diet. They are critically endangered because of the illegal pet trade as well as extensive deforestation and loss of habitat.

Cotton-top tamarins are known for the wild manes of bright-white hair atop their heads, resembling a well-known genius and theoretical physicist. And they’re highly intelligent, too, with at least 38 distinct calls in their vocal repertoire to communicate with each other!

Fully grown, adult cotton-top tamarins weigh less than a pound and are about the size of a squirrel. Though small in stature, these twins will play a big role in the continuation of one of the most endangered primate species.

The birth of these critically endangered primates is just one example of how Disney works with the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan to help ensure the responsible
breeding of threatened species in managed care and help create healthy and genetically diverse
populations of animals for years to come.

Be on the lookout for these cute babies on your next visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

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Sara is a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, a Disney Earmarked agency. She lives in Alaska with her husband and 3 kids. Due to her extreme dislike of winter, she travels often to warmer destinations during the colder months. She visits the Disney parks and resorts frequently with her family and loves helping other families plan magical vacations. Contact her here for help with your vacation!
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