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Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent
@jeremydwilliams
12:00 AM 13th January 2025
nature

New Year, New Life: Twycross Zoo Celebrates Its First Animal Birth Of 2025

Twycross Zoo’s newest addition — a new-born coppery titi monkey.
Twycross Zoo’s newest addition — a new-born coppery titi monkey.
Conservation charity, Twycross Zoo, has announced the arrival of a new primate at the zoo — a coppery titi monkey.

Native to South America's rainforests, particularly in Brazil, Peru and Colombia, the coppery titi is named for its distinctive burnt-red, copper-hued fur. These monogamous primates form lifelong bonds and live in small family groups, with males playing a key role in raising their young.

Since the infant’s arrival, it has been cared for by its father, who becomes the primary caregiver 48 hours after birth. He will continue this role until it reaches around six months and can explore its enclosure on its own.

Females typically give birth to a single infant annually between November and March after a 128-day gestation. Their diet in the wild is 75% fruit, along with leaves, seeds, and insects, however fruit intake is limited in captivity due to its sugar content. During pregnancy, females consume more insects to boost protein levels.

Twycross Zoo’s Primate Curator, Matthew Ford, shared: “We are thrilled to welcome a coppery titi monkey, born as part of our ongoing conservation efforts.

At the end of last year, the coppery titi monkeys moved into a newly renovated enclosure designed by our expert team of zookeepers include climbing structures, natural vegetation, and plenty of opportunities to encourage natural behaviours.”

The birth marks an exciting milestone for Twycross Zoo and highlights the vital role zoos play in supporting wild populations through conservation breeding programmes. These efforts not only help to sustain endangered species but also play a key part in maintaining genetic diversity, to keep a healthy population in support of wild counterparts.

As a conservation charity, Twycross Zoo’s primary purpose is to preserve and protect the species with whom we share our planet. As a result, visitors can explore 100 acres of outdoor space whilst meeting hundreds of animals from 70 different species — including giraffes, penguins, tigers and its four species of great ape.

For more information, visit www.twycrosszoo.org