Tamarin twins born at Shaldon Zoo

Shaldon Zoo says its pied tamarin pair, Bobby and Pedra, have welcomed twins.

Shaldon Wildlife Trust, in Teignmouth, said: "Because pied tamarins can be quite shy, sensitive and delicate in those crucial early weeks, our keeping team kept things extra quiet to give mom, dad, and the newborns plenty of calm, uninterrupted bonding time. Now at 5 weeks old, both tiny babies are strong, active, and doing brilliantly.

"Pied tamarins are Critically Endangered in the wild, due to severe habitat loss around Manaus, Brazil. Raising twin babies is an enormous milestone - in fact Shaldon is one of only two EAZA zoos across all of Europe to successfully breed this species this year.

"This exciting news caps off an extraordinary year of breeding success for our small zoo, after our recent red-ruffed lemur quads, pygmy marmoset babies and the blue-throated conure triplets.

"Both Bobby and Pedra are doing an exceptional job sharing parenting duties (tamarin dads are famous for carrying the babies) and the little duo is starting to peek out at the world."

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