A set of critically-endangered Cotton-top Tamarin twins joined the troop last week, while the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby mob have two fluffy joeys in pouch.
The exciting news comes just in time for International Cotton-top Tamarin Day today and for National Science Week, which this year is celebrating the theme “Species Survival: More than just sustainability”.
Cotton-top Tamarins and Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby are both threatened species. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species estimates there are only around 2,000 Cotton-top Tamarin left in the wild, with the once wide-spread Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby now only found in protected areas like the Flinders Rangers.
Adelaide Zoo Curator, Deb Barry, said this makes the birth of young incredibly special.
“We are all thrilled to welcome the Cotton-top twins and wallaby joeys to the zoo family,” Deb said.
“As a conservation charity, saving species from extinction and ensuring their survival is at the heart of what we do.
“To have two endangered species give birth is testament to the importance of the conservation efforts of organisations like Zoos SA and brings hope for species into the future.
“These animals play a critical role as insurance populations to safeguard the long-term survival of species. If needed, insurance populations have the potential to help re-establish wild populations in their natural habitats. The Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby is just one of the examples of this.
“For almost 30 years, Zoos SA has been working on the conservation of the species including reintroducing animals into protected areas in South Australia, which excitingly, has seen population numbers increase.”
Zoo-goers can see the two-week-old Cotton-top twins by visiting the Tamarin House and keeping an eye on the tunnels overhead.
The five-month-old wallaby joeys can be spotted popping their heads out of the pouches of Fennel and Flore, and will soon start to hop out to explore the world around them.
For further information or to learn about Zoos SA conservation work: