CAMERAS AT DUBLIN Zoo have captured an incredibly rare natural occurrence.
The makers of The Zoo tv series caught footage of a male golden lion tamarin carrying and caring for young of another species – pygmy marmoset young.
This behaviour has never been witnessed before by keepers at Dublin Zoo and the video footage is believed to be the first ever recording of a species caring for another species’ young.
Alloparenting, where a non-parent cares for young, is extremely rare in primates.
The marmosets are the newest additions to the South American House and are the result of the breeding programme at Dublin Zoo with their mum being born at Dublin Zoo and their dad coming from Dudley Zoo in the UK.
Pygmy marmosets are one of the world’s smallest primates weighing in at only 120 to 140 grams in weight.
And they’re so cute it hurts.
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