Skip to main content

Holiday period opening hours

Over the holiday season, some of our facilities will be closed or have reduced hours. 

Find out more
News

Romance is in the air at Brooklands Zoo

News Featured news Brooklands Zoo
PUBLISHED: 6 AUG 2024
Share this article

It was love at first sight for two furry residents at NPDC’s Brooklands Zoo.

Cotton-top tamarin monkey Nomi has arrived from Auckland Zoo and settled in with her new mate, Teo.

“They’re definitely getting along well – they hit it off from the get-go,” says NPDC Brooklands Zoo Lead, Eve Cozzi.

“Teo’s even putting on weight because Nomi is so generous with the food that they share.”

Brooklands Zoo has had cotton-top tamarins since 2000 and is part of the nationwide breeding programme for this critically endangered species – but the squeaks of baby tamarins won’t be heard anytime soon as their offspring aren’t required yet.

“They may be needed further down the track though because they’re a really good pairing – we got Teo from Australia in 2020.”

Getting four-year-old Nomi as a partner for seven-year-old Teo was great news for the zoo as cotton-top tamarins are social animals with strong family ties.

“They’re also hugely popular among zoo visitors,” says Eve. “People love how tiny they are and their funky hairdo – they’re definitely unique-looking.”

The monkeys live up to 14 years in the wild but can live up to 24 years in captivity.

Brooklands Zoo will be celebrating Day of the Cotton-Top Tamarin on 17 and 18 August with keeper talks at noon and 2pm that will feature behavioural enrichment (activities that encourage the monkeys’ natural habits in the wild) and a chalk activity for kids.

Fast facts

  • More than 135,000 people visit Brooklands Zoo every year.
  • The zoo is a Ministry of Primary Industries approved facility and has animal welfare accreditation from the Zoo and Aquarium Association.
  • There are only 7,000 cotton-top tamarins left in the wild in Colombia, with their main threats being habitat loss and the pet trade.

Caption: Teo and Nomi.

Related news

A life saver for tradies: new million dollar waste sorting facility to open for region's businesses
NPDC to discuss Central Government’s Three Waters Reforms at Public Meeting
Historic touches in place as Pukekura Park transformed for footy

Page last updated: 01:55pm Tue 20 August 2024

Contact us
06 759 6060 enquiries@npdc.govt.nz
Visit us

84 Liardet Street
New Plymouth

Search
Find by A–Z
Navigate
Useful links
Our NPDC family
New Zealand Government logo