The Emperors are coming to Plantasia Zoo

Plantasia are rolling out the red carpet for the latest additions to their tropical zoo in Swansea, South Wales. Four Emperor Tamarins are arriving at Plantasia this week and excitement is mounting amongst the team as they prepare for their arrival. The troop of adorable primates are young siblings, named Logan, Raven, Quinn and Kronk. Visitors are in for a treat!

These striking monkeys, named after their resemblance to the German Emperor Wilhelm II with their distinctive white “moustache”, are joining from Twycross Zoo, where they were born. Twycross Zoo, set on the Leicestershire/Warwickshire border in England, is an internationally renowned conservation charity and award-winning visitor attraction and fellow BIAZA members with Plantasia. 

They are characteristically playful and social within their species and live in matriarchal “troops”. Their fur is mainly grey-yellow with a reddish tail and black hands and feet. With such an impressive majestic name, visitors might be expecting something colossal in size. However, they weigh roughly the same as a Hedgehog and are comparable in length to a Chihuahua! 

Emperor Tamarins are native to three South American countries; Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia, where they live in lowland tropical rainforests, seasonally flooded forests, and broadleaf woodlands. Their species is currently listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List, so they are not currently considered endangered, though their population is in decline.

Plantasia’s support of Rainforest Concern and their activities across the world in conservation and education comes as part of their continued Conservation Strategy. This involves work both in-situ and ex-situ in conservation, alongside engaging the public in the global effort to protect biodiversity. Plantasia is also actively participating in the Egyptian Tortoise EEP (EAZA Ex-situ Programme) which has seen success with the births of Egyptian Tortoises at the zoo, and have recently received approval to participate in a second EEP for an exciting new species which will be joining the collection soon.

There are only a few places in Wales that house this particular species of monkey so it will be a real treat for locals and tourists visiting from South East Wales and further afield. Plantasia, being in the heart of the city centre and with M4 access, is easily accessible for animal-lovers coming from outside Swansea. 

The Tamarins’ new home is an impressively tall and spacious enclosure opposite Nala, Plantasia’s adorable Asian Leopard Cat, in the tropical heights of the Zoo. With the introduction of the interactive Vital Venoms and Practical Poisons room earlier this year, Plantasia currently houses 50+ species of all shapes and sizes. The zoo currently boasts various species of reptiles - including snakes, lizards and crocodiles and the iconic Green Winged Macaw, Rainbow, who has become a trademark of the Zoo since she arrived in 2011. 

Welcoming such an exciting species to Plantasia Tropical Zoo in Swansea is a testament the progress seen at the zoo who have recently been awarded full accreditation by BIAZA, placing the attraction among a select group of zoos and aquariums in the UK and Ireland recognised for meeting the highest standards of animal welfare, conservation, education, and research.

Attractions Manager, Paul Sheppard says “We are over the moon to have the four Emperor Tamarins joining us. We know they’ll be a big favourite with our regular visitors, who we hope come and give them the warmest welcome while they settle into their new home.”

Zoo and Education Manager, Lucy Williamson, added “I am very excited to be welcoming a personal favourite species to the collection. It has taken some time to carefully source and ready the animals for transfer but I am certain these little ones will be well worth the wait!”