SEOUL, March 15 (Korea Bizwire) — Three golden-headed lion tamarins, an endangered species of monkey, are settling well after moving into the zoo at Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul.
Originally from the tropical forests of South America, golden-headed lion tamarins are at risk of extinction, with only 6,000 remaining in the wild.
The three monkeys – the father (born in 2014) and his sons (born in 2017 and 2018) – lived at the amusement park Everland before they were leased to Seoul Grand Park Zoo on Feb. 25.
The lease was a critical decision to protect the endangered species, considering their confined habitat and welfare.
Lion tamarins are polygamous mammals from the Callitrichidae family. Female lion tamarins are the highest ranking members of the monkey troop, and there are only one for each troop.
So, it is not uncommon for female lion tamarins to give birth to binovular twins with different fathers.
For lion tamarins, the responsibility for rearing offspring is not limited to the parents, but also to other non-family members.
Image Credit: Seoul Grand Park / photonews@koreabizwire.com
