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Zoo welcomes two new residents

Simon Jones
Updated: Sep 23, 2015 08:00 AM
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Golden lion tamarins Jack and Sienna have been moved from zoos in the US to the Caribbean enclosure at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. The endangered species inhabit the tropical rainforests of Brazil and share many similarities with the monkeys that used to populate many Carribean islands (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Two golden lion tamarins are adapting well to their new lives at the Bermuda Zoo, according to conservation staff.

Jack and Sienna were released into the Caribbean enclosure this summer after being brought to the Island from the United States.

Both monkeys had been living between Philadelphia Zoo and Brandywine Zoo in Wilmington, Delaware.

The duo, both 6 years old, spent a month in quarantine in Bermuda before they were released into their new home.

“They have only ever lived in indoor enclosures without other animals,” said curator Ian Walker.

“They are housed in the Caribbean exhibit, which is an open enclosure shared with other animals. They are slowly adjusting to this change. They reside mostly in the enclosure’s waterfall, and have not ventured too far from their cave.”

Tamarins originate in Brazil and have been classified as endangered species.

They live off a mixed diet of crickets and fruits, and have a life expectancy of 15 years.

The zoo once had four golden lion tamarins, however, in the past two years three of them, which had all surpassed their life expectancy, died due to old age. The population is now back up to three.

Dr Walker said: “Jack is the braver of the two; he will venture out of the cave first and explore further than Sienna will go.

“Jack and Sienna are not genetically related, so would be good candidates for a future breeding programme.

“At the moment BAMZ has not been given permission to breed them, as there isn’t an opportunity to relocate them to the wild.

“As a result, Sienna is given reversible chemical contraception to prevent pregnancy.”

Golden lion tamarins Jack and Sienna have been moved from zoos in the US to the Caribbean enclosure at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. The endangered species inhabit the tropical rainforests of Brazil and share many similarities with the monkeys that used to populate many Carribean islands (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
Golden lion tamarins Jack and Sienna have been moved from zoos in the US to the Caribbean enclosure at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. The endangered species inhabit the tropical rainforests of Brazil and share many similarities with the monkeys that used to populate many Carribean islands (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
Golden lion tamarins Jack and Sienna have been moved from zoos in the US to the Caribbean enclosure at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. The endangered species inhabit the tropical rainforests of Brazil and share many similarities with the monkeys that used to populate many Carribean islands (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
Two golden lion tamarins, Jack and Sienna, have been moved from zoos in the US to the Caribbean enclosure at Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. Tamarins originate in Brazil and are classed as endangered species (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)