NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:      

CONTACT:    

Barbara Russo - 718-265-3428; 917-494-5493; brusso@wcs.org

Max Pulsinelli - 718-220-5182; 571-218-7601; mpulsinelli@wcs.org

Steve Fairchild – 718-220-5189; sfairchild@wcs.org

Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

Geoffroy’s marmosets and Geoffroy’s tamarin born at WCS’s Prospect Park Zoo 

Brooklyn, N.Y. – June 7, 2016 – Three Geoffroy’s marmosets (Callithrix geoffroyi) and a Geoffroy’s tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi) born at WCS’s (Wildlife Conservation Society) Prospect Park Zoo have made their public debut.

The marmoset trio was born in March to parents Gordon, a 4-year-old male, and Xing, a 5-year-old female. Triplet births are unusual in marmosets.

Geoffroy’s marmosets, also known as white-fronted marmosets, are native to small fragments of Atlantic rainforest in eastern Brazil. While the species is not classified as endangered, they live in areas that are susceptible to deforestation which threatens their habitats. WCS works within this species’ range and in many South American countries to reconcile human development needs with conservation.

The breeding of Geoffroy’s marmosets is part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative breeding program designed to enhance the genetic viability and demographic stability of animal populations in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

A Geoffroy’s tamarin was born at Prospect Park Zoo in April and is the fifth baby successfully reared by parents Napoleon and Canoli.

Geoffroy’s tamarins are native to central and eastern Panama and Columbia and are sensitive to deforestation and habitat loss. WCS works within this species’ range to protect local wildlife and habitat.   

For more information or to speak with a WCS expert, contact Barbara Russo at 917-494-5493, 718-265-3428, or brusso@wcs.org.

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo – $8.00 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for kids 3-12, free for children under 3. Zoo hours are 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. weekdays, and to 5:30 P.M. on weekends and holidays, April through October. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November through March. The Prospect Park Zoo is located at 450 Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. For further information, call 718-399-7339 or visit www.prospectparkzoo.com.

WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242.