'Critically Endangered' Species Of Monkey Born At Cape May Zoo

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ — A baby cotton-top tamarin, a critically endangered species, was born at the Cape May County Zoo, officials announced Saturday. Parents Lil' T and Cordelia welcomed their first child Aug. 3.

The mother carried the baby for its first week, but the father has started helping too, according to the zoo.

Cotton-top tamarins are native to the rainforests in Colombia. In the 1960s and early 1970s, 20,000-30,000 were exported to the United States for biomedical research as subjects for studies related to colon cancer, according to National Geographic.

It is now illegal to import the species into the United States. But they are still used for medical research, and captive tamarins outnumber those in the wild. Deforestation and human activity pose significant threats to their survival, according to National Geographic.

There are 6,000 cotton-top tamarins, including about 2,000 mature individuals, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which documents endangered species.

The Cape May County Zoo reopened last month. Visitors can see the cotton-top tamarins from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

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