Rare golden monkey baby spotted at Newquay Zoo

A rare golden lion tamarin has been born at Newquay Zoo, marking the first arrival of the endangered species at the zoo in two years and giving visitors a limited-time chance to see the infant over the final weekend of the Easter holidays.

Keepers say the infant is doing well, although its sex has not yet been determined.

The palm-sized primate can already be seen clinging to its parents’ backs as they move around their habitat, a key survival trait that allows adults to forage while keeping the youngster safe.

Golden lion tamarins are native to Brazil’s Atlantic coastal forests and were once on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 200 individuals remaining in the wild in the 1970s.

Thanks to coordinated conservation efforts, including habitat restoration and international breeding programmes in zoos, the population has since recovered to around 3,000 today.

Laura Meredith, zoo keeper at Newquay Zoo, commented, “This is a really important birth for the species and a proud moment for the team. Golden lion tamarins are incredible to watch as parents, with both adults sharing the responsibility of carrying and caring for the baby. Every birth like this plays a vital role in securing the future of the species.”

Visitors can catch a glimpse of the new arrival over the Easter holidays, where the infant can already be seen riding on its parents’ backs in their habitat opposite the Penguin Pool. With the youngster expected to spend its early weeks closely attached to mum and dad, the coming days offer a unique chance to witness this behaviour up close.