New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Buttonwood Park Zoo’s Bolivian gray titi monkey family has grown again! Madeira, the 13-year-old matriarch of the family, gave birth to the new baby on February 2, 2021- this is the fourth offspring for her and seven-year-old Crumpet.
For the first several months, the new baby will mostly remain on the back of its parents before beginning to explore the indoor and outdoor habitats. From the moment the baby is born, zookeepers work to form a positive relationship through continued husbandry training with the family. This training, and the bond between the animal and zookeeper, allows for close monitoring of each animal. Zookeepers conduct weekly weight checks and eventually will begin determining the gender of the newborn – although this can take up to a year to confirm.
There are a total of 58 Bolivian gray titi monkeys at 18 Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institutions in North America, including the six here at BPZOO. These tree dwelling monkeys weigh around two to three pounds as adults, have a lifespan of 20-25 years and are active during the day. Members of the group exhibit social bonding by sitting side by side and twining their tails. There is a strong bond between adult mating pairs; they stay close and carry out activities together, including infant care.
In the wild, this species is found in the tropical forests throughout central Bolivia and into Rondônia in eastern Brazil. Although their population in the wild is decreasing and agricultural activities have resulted in considerable habitat loss, Bolivian gray titi monkeys are reasonably tolerant of habitat disturbance and are adaptable to a variety of environments throughout its relatively wide range.
Crumpet, Madeira, and their four offspring reside in the Zoo’s innovative Rainforests, Rivers & Reefs building, sponsored by the Stoico/FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation which is currently closed to the public. As the weather begins to warm, many of BPZOO’s primate species will spend time in the two outdoor habitats. Private tours of Rainforests Rivers & Reefs are now available – for more information visit https://www.bpzoo.org/events/rrr-private-tour.
“The goal of the Zoo’s Rainforests, Rivers & Reefs building was to create an interactive guest experience where the community could gain a better appreciation of species from both tropical forests of South America and select global marine environments,” said BPZOO Director, Keith Lovett. “Additionally, we wanted to create dynamic habitats where species could thrive. Our family group of titi monkeys have done just that, and we are proud to continue to support the sustainability of this species in AZA zoos and in the wild.”
