Chemnitz Zoo: Offspring among the pygmy marmosets
Access also in the Zebra flat share and activities during the winter holidays
A fortnight ago, the dwarf marmosets in the marmoset house gave birth. The two young animals are being carried and well looked after by their parents. They are the first offspring of the current breeding pair, which was only formed last year. The two-year-old female comes from Rostock Zoo, the equally old male from Wilhelma Stuttgart. Dwarf marmosets have been kept at Chemnitz Zoo for a long time - with breaks - the last birth was in 2001.
Dwarf marmosets are the smallest species of marmoset. They feed mainly on tree sap, but also eat insects and fruit. Adult animals only weigh around 100 g, the young animals, usually twins, are born weighing around 15 g.
Two new zebras, which came to Chemnitz from French zoos at the end of last year, are also on display. Because only one old Boehm's zebra (22) still lives in the zoo - a non-endangered species - it was decided to bring in another endangered zebra species, the Hartmann's mountain zebra. There is also a conservation breeding programme for these animals, in which Chemnitz Zoo is now involved.
As both zebra species have roughly the same social system and there is no stallion in the herd, it was deemed possible to bring the mares together. This has taken place gradually and surprisingly easily over the last few weeks.
Now the zebra community can be observed in the outdoor enclosure. If you look closely, you can recognise differences between the two species despite the black and white, e.g. the plains zebra has a striped belly, the mountain zebra a white one. Mountain zebras also have a small dewlap on their neck.
Tips for the winter holidays
There are short guided tours in the zoo during the holidays from 12 to 25 February daily at 11 am.
In the wildlife enclosure, guided tours with commentary are offered on weekdays at 11 am.
Further information can be found at www.tierpark-chemnitz.de.
Opening hours in February:
Chemnitz Zoo: 9 am to 4 pm, last admission 3 pm
Game enclosure: 8 am to 4 pm