The Bermuda, Aquarium, Museum and Zoo continues to enjoy great success with its breeding programme for an endangered species of monkey.

On December 12, an adult pair of Golden Lion Tamarins called Karl and LeaLea gave birth to a set of twins, their second litter of 1997, a BAMZ spokesperson reported yesterday.

"Because of the potentially high infant mortality rate, the news has been kept quiet until now,'' the spokesperson said.

The new babies' older siblings are also doing well and are helping their parents raise the new-borns. "In fact this is how the young learn to raise their own babies,'' said the spokesperson.

Due to their older siblings assistance, the babies are growing fast, although their respective sexes are not yet known, and they are developing eating and climbing skills faster than the first litter did.

The spokesperson continued: "These endangered animals are on a Species Survival Plan which is part of a global Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Programme that is working to ensure their survival in the wild.'' However Karl and LeaLea will not be bred any further as they have given birth to four young. This is to help widen the tamarin gene pool. Instead their first litter may be either lent to another zoo for an indefinite period of time so that they can continue to widen the gene pool as part of the conservation programme or they may be reintroduced into their natural habitat, the Brazilian rain forest.