One of the rarest animals in the world is the cotton-top tamarin, and recently one of two baby tamarins born at Des Moines’ Blank Park Zoo has died. The twin monkeys were born in February, with one passing away at just three weeks old. Despite efforts to reunite the infant with its family group, the zoo’s animal care team was unsuccessful and the tamarin was euthanized due to declining health. Cotton-top tamarins have a high infant mortality rate, with about 53% not surviving their first six months of life. There are fewer than 6,000 cotton-top tamarins remaining in the wild, making them one of the most endangered primate species in the world. Blank Park Zoo is committed to providing the highest standard of care for the tamarins and contributing to their long-term survival. Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez, a general assignment reporter for the Register, covered this story and can be reached via email or on Twitter for more information.
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