Two male specimens of the dusky marmoset, a species of primate at risk of extinction, are the new residents of the Zoological Park in Sapucaia do Sul, under the management of the Secretariat for the Environment and Infrastructure (Sema).
Named Beautiful and Little Bear, the marmosets, aged between 3 and 4 years old, were transferred to the zoo on Wednesday, February 28, from a Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center located in São José dos Campos, São Paulo. These primates, which weigh around 420 grams, are known for their agility in moving through the trees, and represent an unprecedented addition to the fauna of the Zoological Park.
“Also known as the cave marmoset, due to its white face and almost completely black body, it naturally inhabits areas of the Atlantic Forest, mainly in the Southeast region of the country”, explains the Zoo manager, Caroline Costa Gomes.
Air transport was free, thanks to Latam’s Solidarity Plane program. Receiving the animals is part of the National Action Plan for Species Conservation, coordinated by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).
For now, the marmosets will not be visited until they are used to the new location and the technical team. The Zoo should soon receive females of the same species for mating, as recommended by the plan.
Mating
Mating together is a practice among zoos with the aim of preserving endangered species. In August 2023, Sapucaia do Sul became the home of 12-year-old Kiara, a female giant anteater. The animal was brought from the Catanduva Municipal Zoo, in São Paulo, to pair with 13-year-old Gumercindo. In 2021, Cheetos, a male jaguar, was brought from São Paulo to Sapucaia do Sul to mate with Mimosa. In both cases, there are still no signs of reproduction.