WASHINGTON — For the first time in 16 years, Smithsonian’s National Zoo is celebrating the birth of golden-headed lion tamarin twins. Small Mammal House keepers reported for duty the morning of Oct. 7 and observed that 4-year-old mother Lola had given birth overnight and was caring for two infants.
These babies are the first offspring for Lola and her partner Coco. Zoo visitors can view the golden-headed lion tamarin family at the Small Mammal House.
Animal care staff closely monitor the family visually but leave Lola and Coco to bond with and care for their infants without interference. Keepers have observed Lola carrying and nursing the babies, which appear to be healthy and strong as they hold on to Lola as she explores their habitat. Because Lola is cradling the infants close to her body, it may be some time before keepers can determine their sexes.
Native to the southern part of the state of Bahia, Brazil, golden-headed lion tamarins live in the tall evergreen broadleaf tropical forests and semi-deciduous forests along the Atlantic coast, the zoo said. The greatest threat facing this species is deforestation; they spend the majority of their time from 10 to 33 feet in the forest canopy. Much of their habitat has been cleared for agricultural use, including cattle ranching and cocoa plantations. Conservation scientists estimate only 6,000 golden-headed lion tamarins are left in the wild.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers golden-headed lion tamarins endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation in their native Brazil.