Iowa zoo euthanizes 3-week-old cotton-top tamarin found in poor health
One of two baby cotton-top tamarin twins born recently at Des Moines' Blank Park Zoo has died, the zoo announced.
The Blank Park Zoo welcomed the pair of cotton-top tamarin monkeys in February, almost a year after their mom, Kida's, first set of twins. The Zoo shared on Facebook Monday that one of the three-week-old infants died.
The 3-week-old monkey was found separated from its family the week prior, the zoo said in a post on Facebook.
Blank Park Zoo euthanizes baby cotton-top tamarin
After being examined by a zoo veterinarian, the infant was reported to be in declining health. After multiple evaluations and no sign of improvement, the tamarin was euthanized.
"Our veterinary team, in consultation with the chief animal officer, made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the infant," the zoo wrote on Facebook.
It's not uncommon for cotton-top tamarins to die prematurely. Their infant mortality rate is high, with about 53% not surviving their first 6 months of life, the zoo wrote.
According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo, the small tree-dwelling monkey is native to South America's tropical forests. It has a white-colored crest of hair stretching from its forehead to the nape of its neck. Grayish-brown fur can be found on the animal's shoulders, back and rear, while reddish-brown fur is on its thighs and white fur is on its underbelly.
The white hair atop its head is used as a defense, helping the monkey appear larger when on alert, according to the Smithsonian. The animal typically weighs one pound and its body measures up to nine inches long with a 10-inch tail.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classified the mammal as critically endangered with fewer than 2,000 individuals alive as of February 2020. It attributes the species' status to deforestation, unsuitable habitat for the remaining forest and an "ongoing, unregulated pet trade of significant proportion."
Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.