The world’s smallest monkey has given birth to ultra-rare twins at a British zoo.
It’s the first time in 11 years finger-sized Eastern pygmy marmosets were born there.
The tiny arrivals are the first successfully bred at Shaldon zoo, since 2015.
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Parents Pablo and Tumble only met earlier this year after arriving from different zoos.
The pair bonded immediately and welcomed the twins just six months after being introduced.
At birth, each infant weighed around 15g – about the same as a ping-pong ball.
In Eastern pygmy marmoset families, fathers take on most of the childcare, and Pablo has been carrying both babies on his back, only passing them to Tumble for feeding, as reported by What’s The Jam.
Zak Showell, Director at Shaldon Wildlife Trust, said: “We are absolutely over the moon.
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“To have our first Eastern Pygmy Marmoset births since 2015 is a huge milestone for our team, but to see how quickly Pablo and Tumble bonded makes it even more special.
“At 19 days old, the twins are doing fantastically well.
“Dads do most of the heavy lifting in marmoset families, and Pablo is an experienced dad, having had several babies at his previous zoo.
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“Visitors this summer will need a keen eye, but if you look closely at Pablo’s back, you’ll see two tiny furry faces peeking out over his shoulders!”
Eastern pygmy marmosets are native to the rainforests of the western Amazon Basin and grow to just 12 to 15cm in length as adults.
The species is classed as vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List, with wild populations threatened by habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.
Visitors can now see the new family in the indoor and outdoor habitats at Shaldon Wildlife Trust throughout the summer holidays.
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