Constantly working towards preventing the extinction of rare and endangered animals on our planet, Chester Zoo is a registered UK charity committed to conservation both here in Britain and around the world. Understandably, new births at the 130-acre zoo are always a cause for celebrations.
Conservationists at the Chester attraction recently rejoiced at a trio of new-borns adding to the present population which includes over 500 species. The latest additions included two tiny twin monkeys. Exceptionally rare, the two cotton-top tamarins weighed just 40 grams each and measured 10 centimetres in length from top to tail. Keepers at Chester likened the duos’ size to golf balls to give an idea of scale.
Classed as critically endangered, the monkey species native to Columbia has experienced a major decline due to loss of habitat from human activity, but in partnership with other zoos around the world, Chester is working hard to prevent their extinction.
The new-born monkeys aren’t the only recent arrivals, however. Chester has also welcomed an onager foal, born to mother Azita after a 12-month pregnancy. A relation of the domestic donkey, onagers live in Iran’s semi-desert regions of Iran, but are now an endangered species. Chester is currently the only UK zoo to work with onagers because of the challenges of caring for and breeding them.
The new male foal has been named Jasper, which means “bringer of treasure” in Persian. Families and other animal lovers visiting Chester will now have the chance to see him cantering around his specially designed enclosure at the Zoo.
