A pair of critically endangered tamarin monkeys have been born at Disney World, the theme park said.
The twin cotton-top tamarin monkeys were born June 12 and are the first new births of the species at the park since 2001. They are acclimating to their habitat on Discovery Island in the park’s Animal Kingdom.
The twins currently weigh about the same as a chicken egg and haven’t been named because the park’s workers don’t know yet if they’re male or female. When they’re fully grown, they’ll weigh about a pound and be roughly the size of a squirrel with a shock of bright white hair.
There are only about 7,500 cotton-top tamarins — which are native to Colombia and its tropical forests — left in the world, but having twins is common.
“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,” the park said in a news release. “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.”
The monkeys typically live in trees and forage for fruit and insects to eat. Their population has been decimated by several factors, including the illegal pet trade, deforestation and loss of habitat. They are critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
“Though small in stature, these twins will play a big role in the continuation of one of the most endangered primate species,” the news release states.