• Endangered golden lion tamarins are at Chester Zoo

• The duo, George and Leaf, are first of their kind to be cared for by conservationists at the zoo

• The ‘miniature’ monkeys stand at only 8 inches tall – around the same size as a bottle of pop

• Species is a global conservation success story - once nearly extinct in the wild, a conservation breeding programme in zoos has pulled them back from the brink

• Zoo experts say they are a "must see" for visitors

Two highly endangered primates have arrived at Chester Zoo.

The pair of tiny golden lion tamarins, named George (7) and Leaf (12), are the first of their kind to ever live at the zoo.

Standing at just eight inches tall, the duo has been caught on camera as they explored their new home for the first time, where they live alongside other species of rare primates.

Golden lion tamarins are named after their luxuriant, vibrantly coloured coat and a distinctive mane-like ruff around their heads.

In the wild, golden lion tamarins hail from the forests of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where only a few hundred remained until zoo conservationists stepped in to help bring the species back from the brink of extinction.
The colourful monkeys are classified as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of threatened species - a result of construction, the expansion of livestock farming and logging in their forest home.

James Star, Primate Keeper at Chester Zoo, said:

“Leaf and George have moved in with the titi monkeys, pygmy marmosets, emperor tamarin and a goeldi monkey, and they all seem to be getting along brilliantly.

“Lion tamarins have elongated fingers and hands that allow them to forage for insects in tree crevices that are otherwise out of reach for the other species they live with, and we’ve already seen them using this kind of foraging behaviour. Despite their tiny stature, standing at the same size as a bottle of pop, their distinctive coats and charismatic behaviour make them easy to spot when they’re jumping from tree to tree in their new home.

“Golden lion tamarins are a major zoo conservation success story. There were once only a few hundred remaining in the wild. But a coordinated breed and release programme was initiated across conservation zoos around the globe, and the population quickly bounced back, helping to turn it around and bring them back from the brink.”

The tamarins play a vital role in the health of their native forest, consuming wild fruits and then passing seeds in their faeces as they travel through their range. The seeds they spread effectively land within a packet of premade fertiliser, giving the young trees and other plants in the forest all the nutrition they need to grow.

Nick Davis, Mammals General Manager at Chester Zoo, said:

“Golden lion tamarins are an iconic species with an important conservation story to tell, and it’s great to welcome this highly endangered species to Chester Zoo for the very first time. They really are a must see for our visitors.

“Alongside the conservation breeding programme George and Leaf are part of for these precious primates, we are also supporting primate conservation work around the globe, protecting threatened forests and the species that depend on them, in South America, Madagascar and Southeast Asia." 

A group of endangered Maccoa ducks have hatched at Chester Zoo

 It’s the first time the species has ever been successfully bred by bird experts at the zoo

 Only 5,000 remain making it the rarest duck species found in mainland Africa

Conservationists hope ducklings will put a spotlight on the threatened species

Four Maccoa ducklings, one of Africa’s rarest duck species, have hatched at Chester Zoo for the very first time.

The ducklings mark the zoo’s first ever successful breeding of the endangered African birds and comes as part of the zoo’s growing efforts to help safeguard the continent’s most threatened species.

Experts say only around 5,000 of the ducks remain in the wild, with the birds found in increasingly fragmented pockets across Central and East Africa. Once widespread across the continent, latest surveys found just 14 individuals in Kenya and fewer than 100 in Tanzania - prompting concern over the future survival of the species.

The newly hatched ducklings are the first to emerge within the zoo’s huge new Heart of Africa zone - a 22.5-acre habitat dedicated to supporting the conservation of African species that are disappearing in the wild.

Bird conservationists at the zoo say it hopes the successful hatchlings will contribute towards the long-term protection of the rare ducks.

Andrew Owen, Head of Birds at Chester Zoo, said:

"As one of just seven zoos in Europe, and 12 zoos globally, that care for Maccoa ducks, these ducklings are very special as they’re the first of their kind to ever hatch here at the zoo – making it a really historic moment for our team.

“This success gives a real boost to the future of the species and these vital new additions will contribute to the safety-net population in zoos. These birds are facing rapid decline in the wild, so every hatchling really does count. To see them now out on the water inside our new Heart of Africa habitat, which is dedicated to helping Africa’s most threatened species thrive, makes this milestone even more special.”

Maccoa ducks are diving ducks, known for their stiff tails and deep-blue bills and are often found in nutrient-rich wetland habitats. Their rapid decline is linked to habitat degradation, water pollution and climate change. As a result, the species is listed as Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species – highlighting the need for urgent conservation action.

Chester Zoo is one of just a dozen institutions in the world working with the highly threatened species and hopes to play a vital role in its survival.

Maccoa duck fact file:

·        Scientific name: Oxyura maccoa

·        Status: Endangered (IUCN Red List)

·        Native to: Central and East Africa

·        Habitat: Freshwater wetlands and lakes

·        Population: Estimated 5,000 in the wild

·        Known for: Bright blue bill (in males), stiff tail feathers, diving for food

·        Main threats: Habitat loss, wetland pollution, and climate change