Blank Park Zoo Welcomes Two Adorable New Endangered Animals
The next time you take a trip to Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, be sure to stop and visit with their two new additions! The zoo announced this week that it is now home to a couple of endangered monkeys. Meet Kida and Eddie!
According to the Facebook post from the Blank Park Zoo, Kida and Eddie are a type of small monkey called a tamarin. They're actually cotton-top tamarins, which are named for the flowing white hair on their head and neck. On average, they weigh about 15.2 oz and are anywhere from 8.2 to 10.2 inches long.
Cotton-top tamarins are considered a critically-endangered species. The post says that "only 2,000 mature individuals remain in their native habitat in Colombia." The cause of their decline is mainly deforestation, which is defined as "conversion of forest to other land uses." The good news is that Kida and Eddie are a part of the Species Survival Plan as a breeding pair, so the hope is that they'll reproduce. Just imagine how cute the babies would be!
Kida and Eddie haven't been at Blank Park Zoo long, but zookeepers say that they're already very and playful and curious! If you want to check them out, they're located inside the Myron and Jackie Blank Discovery Center over near the aquarium. The zoo is currently open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can get more information on tickets and the Wild Lights Festival, which is going on through May 29th, on the official website HERE.