{"id":609199,"date":"2026-08-30T11:56:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T11:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/609199\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T11:56:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T11:56:17","slug":"a-lot-of-monkey-business-as-letterkenny-zoo-welcomes-four-new-arrivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/609199\/","title":{"rendered":"A lot of monkey business as Letterkenny zoo welcomes four new arrivals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Four tiny monkeys have created a big baby boom at Tropical World after two pairs of babies arrived within two weeks.<\/p>\n<p>The Letterkenny attraction welcomed two white-lipped tamarins on Monday, 17th August 2026, followed by two Geoffroy\u2019s marmosets on Friday, 28th August 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Zookeeper Katie Franklin revealed the latest arrivals during a special visit by Donegal Daily, when the newborn marmosets were less than 24 hours old.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have had a baby boom here. It has been very, very exciting,\u201d Katie said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is absolutely fantastic for conservation here at the zoo and around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-647396 in-content-img not-prose w-full\" height=\"503\" width=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a-lot-of-monkey-business-as-letterkenny-zoo-welcomes-four-new-arrivals.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-serif font-normal text-base leading-6 text-tertiary not-prose\"> One of the baby white-lipped tamarins clings tightly to an adult male.<\/p>\n<p>The white-lipped tamarin babies were born overnight without any complications, giving keepers a wonderful surprise when they arrived the following morning.<\/p>\n<p>Katie said the mother, believed to be a first-time parent, handled the birth brilliantly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMum was an absolute superstar. She did everything herself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The newborns are being raised by their entire family group, which now consists of four adults and the two babies. The mother feeds the youngsters, but the father and brothers carry out much of the remaining childcare.<\/p>\n<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">\u201cThey teach the babies how to climb, how to hold on to things properly and how to eat politely, or as politely as a monkey can!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe mother is basically there for feeding. She\u2019s the leader.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-647398 in-content-img not-prose w-full\" height=\"581\" width=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a-lot-of-monkey-business-as-letterkenny-zoo-welcomes-four-new-arrivals.jpeg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-serif font-normal text-base leading-6 text-tertiary not-prose\"> A white-lipped tamarin carries one of the family\u2019s two new arrivals.<\/p>\n<p>The births follow a major effort to establish healthy breeding groups of white-lipped tamarins at Tropical World, in collaboration with zoos in the Czech Republic and Poland.<\/p>\n<p>The programme brings unrelated animals together to establish healthy breeding lines and reduce the risks associated with inbreeding.<\/p>\n<p>White-lipped tamarins, which are also known as red-bellied tamarins, originate in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.<\/p>\n<p>There are currently twelve in the Letterkenny zoo.<\/p>\n<p>The new arrivals are believed to be the first white-lipped tamarins born in captivity in the Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-sans font-semibold text-xl md:text-[30px] leading-9 text-primary w-full\">\n        You may also be interested in\n    <\/p>\n<p>            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.donegaldaily.com\/news\/bundoran-rnli-today-hosts-emergency-services-open-day-647439\" class=\"block w-2\/5 shrink-0\" aria-label=\"Bundoran RNLI today hosts \u2018Emergency Services Open Day\u2019\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>        <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bundoran-rnli-today-hosts-lsquo-emergency-services-open-day-rsquo.jpg\" class=\"max-w-full w-full h-full object-contain relative z-10\" width=\"150\" height=\"84\"  alt=\"Bundoran RNLI today hosts \u2018Emergency Services Open Day\u2019\" \/><\/p>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<p>            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.donegaldaily.com\/sport\/cockhill-celtic-denied-historic-victory-by-last-minute-penalty-647434\" class=\"block w-2\/5 shrink-0\" aria-label=\"Cockhill Celtic denied historic victory by last minute penalty\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>        <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cockhill-celtic-denied-historic-victory-by-last-minute-penalty.jpg\" class=\"max-w-full w-full h-full object-contain relative z-10\" width=\"150\" height=\"84\"  alt=\"Cockhill Celtic denied historic victory by last minute penalty\" \/><\/p>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-647397 in-content-img not-prose w-full\" height=\"598\" width=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788090976_653_a-lot-of-monkey-business-as-letterkenny-zoo-welcomes-four-new-arrivals.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-serif font-normal text-base leading-6 text-tertiary not-prose\"> One of Tropical World\u2019s newborn white-lipped tamarins travels safely on an adult\u2019s back.<\/p>\n<p>Tropical World\u2019s baby boom continued on Friday when Penelope, a Geoffroy\u2019s marmoset, gave birth to twins.<\/p>\n<p>There are now ten Geoffroy\u2019s marmosets, also known as white-headed marmosets, in the family group, spearheaded by Penelope and Pedro, who have been inseparable since they were first introduced in 2019.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-647395 in-content-img not-prose w-full\" height=\"536\" width=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788090976_419_a-lot-of-monkey-business-as-letterkenny-zoo-welcomes-four-new-arrivals.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-serif font-normal text-base leading-6 text-tertiary not-prose\"> Penelope (left) carries her newborn Geoffroy\u2019s marmoset babies on her back.<\/p>\n<p>The new additions are thriving, Katie said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey are still clinging to their mother, who is an absolutely fantastic mum. She is a fifth-time mum.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The marmosets also form part of a breeding programme. When the young animals reach the appropriate age, Tropical World may contact other zoos seeking marmosets for their own breeding groups.<\/p>\n<p>Both monkey species are currently classified as being of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, although habitat loss poses a threat to some wild populations.<\/p>\n<p>The four new arrivals have brought the total number of animals at Tropical World above the 200 mark.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-647393 in-content-img not-prose w-full\" height=\"548\" width=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788090977_287_a-lot-of-monkey-business-as-letterkenny-zoo-welcomes-four-new-arrivals.jpeg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-serif font-normal text-base leading-6 text-tertiary not-prose\"> Katie Franklin and Michael O\u2019Boyce at Tropical World at Alcorns Letterkenny on Saturday, 29th August 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The five-person zookeeping team is carrying out daily health checks to ensure the babies are moving normally, feeding properly and displaying the expected behaviours.<\/p>\n<p>Katie said public interest has increased since Tropical World announced the arrival of the tamarins.<\/p>\n<p>And the quieter weeks following the summer holidays could offer the perfect opportunity to see them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a great time to visit Tropical World, especially with all the new arrivals,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe zoo is also nice and peaceful and quiet, so the animals are likely to come out more and be more active.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou will have a greater chance of seeing the animals and their babies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-647394 in-content-img not-prose w-full\" height=\"592\" width=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788090977_233_a-lot-of-monkey-business-as-letterkenny-zoo-welcomes-four-new-arrivals.jpg\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-serif font-normal text-base leading-6 text-tertiary not-prose\"> Zookeeper Katie Franklin at the Geoffroy\u2019s marmoset enclosure in Tropical World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Four tiny monkeys have created a big baby boom at Tropical World after two pairs of babies arrived&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":609200,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[61,60,43],"class_list":["post-609199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=609199"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609199\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/609200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=609199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=609199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=609199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}