Challenge Accepted
Challenge Accepted. The red bellied tamarins didn’t hang around using their new feeder!
They had to work hard. Being made from recycled plastic there wasn’t much to grip onto. But where there’s a will - there’s a way and the cheeky monkeys used their acrobatic skills to get their reward with ease.
#monkeyfun #zooenrichment #animalenrichment #enrichment #cuteanimals #primates #smallmonkey #tamarinmonkey #callitrichid #saguinuslabiatus #whitelippedtamarin #redbelliedtamarin #tamarin
Box Enrichment
Food enrichment that’s almost out of reach.
The small size of squirrel monkeys gives them an advantage in the wild. It enables them to reach food on the thinner outer branches of the forest that larger animals cannot reach. So let’s put it to the test.
Angel and Casper will need all their skills for this one. Balance, ingenuity and determination win in the end.
#enrichment #monkey #squirrelmonkey #monkeyskill #primateenrichment #clevermonkey #boxenrichment #cutechallenge #cuteanimals #animalintelligence
Hoppy Easter!
Nom, nom, nom, nom.
Hoppy Easter!
#pygmymarmoset #cutemonkey #monkeyenrichment #monkeyfun #monkey #marmoset
Did you know?
The red bellied tamarins show off their natural ability to effortlessly hang upside down whilst feeding.
Did you know? Tamarins and marmosets do not have fingernails or toenails except on their big toes. The nails on all other digits have evolved back into claws. Their descendants were larger primates and as they repeatedly dwarfed in size claw-like nails gave them an advantage. This enables them to move more freely, avoid predators and exploit areas of the rainforest larger primates can’t.
Today's Challenge
Today’s challenge. A new enrichment feeder for the squirrel monkeys. Look at those little fingers working hard to get to the food.
World Parrot Day!
Happy World Parrot Day!
To celebrate lets take a close up look at one of the things that makes parrots unique. Unlike most other birds, parrots tongues are muscled, articulated and made up of cartilage. This enables their tongues to have a prehensile ability which they use to manipulate objects and food.
Watch Rio our blue and gold macaw eating a grape. See how precisely he manipulates it. He does it with so much fineness he could go for tea with the Queen! 👑
Weaning time
Now 43 days old the baby Red Bellied Tamarin is being weaned. Wonderful to see the eldest brother help out by carrying the baby and encouraging it to eat solid food.
Tamarins never normally share food but when it comes to babies they are just big softies!
Getting to know the neighbours
The Pygmy marmosets got a visit from Rainbow, the baby Fischer's lovebird, who's almost the same size as them!
As you can see the tiny marmosets were extremely curious and went in for a closer look once they realised their feathered friend wasn’t a threat.
Did you know? Despite their size, in the wild Pygmy marmosets will eat small birds when the opportunity arises. Sadly that means we won’t be able to house them together, despite the lovebird’s large beak. Better to be safe than sorry!
I never expected this to happen!
When you know you shouldn’t laugh but you just can’t help yourself!!! 🤣
Rainbow, the baby Fischer's Lovebird was being picked on by parents in the nest so he/she has been hand reared since 3 weeks of age.
Before now - there was no sign of any flying. Then this…
Glad to say, after a quick wash and blow dry, baby Rainbow is all cleaned up and now resting, fast asleep. Thank goodness it didn’t go up his nose/cere. What an ordeal!
Easter Surprise
The red bellied tamarins enjoying their Easter surprise. Little did we know they had an even better surprise waiting for us. Watch the video to find out more.
The Miracle of life. Happy Easter. 🐣🐣🐣
Tongue-flicking
Did you know?
Cotton top tamarins use 'tongue-flicking' both as a mating ritual and for aggression. Here you can see the technique, rapidly moving the tongue in and out whilst jerking the head.
As visual communications go it is very powerful and is often used to intimidate and warn off potential threats.
Sad News
SAD NEWS: We recently lost a very dear animal, Coco, our adorable squirrel monkey who sadly died following a long illness.
Coco's gentle nature, calming influence and patience with the other, more highly strung, monkeys will leave a big hole.
Her unique qualities within the group helped to resolve many disputes between the others. These same qualities were also the perfect combination for problem solving which meant she was normally the first to work out new enrichment puzzles.
Quite simply Coco had the X Factor and people couldn't help being drawn to her. Her endearing character, inquisitiveness and trusting nature with keepers meant there was a special bond between us.
In Jan 2015 Coco was diagnosed with a severe heart condition. Too poorly to ever survive an operation, she was put on medication for the rest of her life and her prognosis wasn’t good. The vet said her heart condition was such that she could die at any time. Their best guess was anywhere from a few weeks up to 3 years if she responded well to the daily medication.
So it is a testament to her drive and perseverance that she outlived her condition for over 7 years. Throughout this time she lived a full and happy life. It was only the day before that she was subdued and off her food. 14 hours later she was found peacefully at rest, beneath her favourite basking spot. 😢
RIP Coco, you will be sadly missed. ❤️ ###
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
New Day. New Year… New Feeder.
With these record high temperatures, the pygmy marmosets are making the most of being outside and doing what comes naturally - exploring.
Being the smallest monkeys in the world the normal temperature outside in the UK, at this time of year, is usually too cold for their small bodies. So there are no complaints from them with this warmer weather - although they have requested less rain next time!
Wishing you a Happy New Year from everyone at Wonderland Zoo. May your life in 2022 be full of health, happiness - and full of passion for primates! 😃
Log Enrichment Feeder
Top marks go to the Cotton Top Tamarins for displaying their expertise in foraging for food. This log enrichment feeder certainly kept them busy on this Bank Holiday Monday.
Weaning Time
Wide eyed and inquisitive, the red bellied tamarin babies at 43 days old. They are now just starting to wean but solid food is so different to milk.
Oh dear, this chewing malarkey will take some practise!
Happy Families
The red bellied tamarin babies at one day old.
Settling in nicely with dad, Peanut, while mum has a much needed rest - she needs to put all her energy into producing milk from now on.
It's going to be hard with three.
Tamarin baby being born!
Well it’s not often you see a baby tamarin being born; it’s not often that a collection has 2 species give birth on two consecutive nights; and it’s certainly not often a tamarin has quadruplets (normally it’s twins).
But last night that’s just what happened!!!
Here we see the moment the fourth red bellied tamarin baby is born.
Beauty was so large that we suspected she might be having triplets but she decided to go one further and surprise us.
Unfortunately not all survived. The first baby was breech and didn’t make it but mum and the other 3 babies are all doing really well.
We will keep you updated.
Hat-trick!
Baby news!
Ahead of England’s Euro Football Final on Sunday, Bella scored her own hat-trick last night when she delivered triplets!
Cotton top tamarin mum and babies are all doing well. Normally just twins are born so Bella will have her hands full trying to feed three little mouths this time round. Luckily her family will help with much of the carrying in between feeds.
Poor mum (seen on the left) somehow got her hairdo a bit mucky in the birthing process whilst bending over. Will she ever forgive me for sharing this video of her looking like this? Sorry Bella.
Lets hope the result is 3-0 to England on Sunday too!!!
Bursting At The Seams
What a nervous Fathers Day it was for Peanut.
Heavily pregnant Beauty has a good stretch, soaking up the UV lighting, while Peanut checks to see if everything is OK down below!
Bursting at the seams, it won’t be long now. At 720g Beauty is ready to give birth at any time. She usually gives birth early evening so extra checks are being done each night to ensure all is well.
However she’s in safe hands with Peanut who has proved to be a great dad and very hands on - biting through the umbilical cord and doing most of the carrying. Eager to get stuck in and do it again, Peanut, you are a star.
Happy Fathers Day!
Marmoset Mindfulness
Marmoset Mindfulness!
Sit back, relax and lose yourself in the moment. This captivating and intimate video of our pygmy marmosets will calm your soul and relieve stress in under 4 minutes.
Try it out. It really works! (Sound on.) 😃
If you feel less stressed after watching the video please leave a comment below and share with your friends.
#monkeymindfulness #animalmindfulness #monkey #marmoset #monkeymadness #cutemonkey #cuteanimals #pygmymarmoset #monkeyenrichment #lovemonkeys
