Maxim and Evor are Mogo Zoo’s newest pygmy marmosets to arrive from Perth Zoo.

On 7 June, 2005 Bill and Sally Padey began their long journey to Perth to collect these tiny and exquisite creatures.

Prior to their residence at Perth , Maxim and Evor were exhibited at Stockholm Zoo , Sweden .

Maxim and Evor are aged 2 and 3 years, respectively, and both have settled in well to their new home, despite their long and arduous journey.  The pair are currently on display and can be seen darting around their exhibit.

These miniature creatures were accompanied by Truman, a two-year-old cotton-top tamarin, also previously residing at Perth Zoo.

In the near future, Truman will be integrated with a fellow female resident of the zoo, Icara, in order to establish a new breeding pair. 

Upon introducing Truman to his enclosure, it was evident that he was more engrossed with his fruit than he was by his new surroundings.

The cotton-top tamarin inhabits a small area in Northwest Colombia in a range bound by the Cauca and Magdalena   Rivers and the Atlantic Coast .

The cotton-top tamarin is currently endangered and it is estimated that approximately 300 to 1000 remain in Colombia .

The pygmy marmoset is the smallest monkey in the world measuring approximately 15 inches from head to tail and weighing approximately 150 to 200 grams.

This species lives in social groups of up to 15 individuals, comprised of a dominant breeding pair and their offspring.

The pygmy marmoset inhabits the upper Amazonia in Colombia , Peru , Ecuador , North Bolivia and Brazil .  It prefers the riverside and floodplain forests.

This species is also endangered, with the destruction of habitat being its greatest threat.

NEWS FLASH!

It’s official, our new little striped addition, Mwari, is a girl!  Mwari has settled in well to her new environment and as her confidence is slowly developing, she can be seen occasionally breaking away from her mother, Jean, to explore her new surroundings.  Following these occasional bursts of confidence, Mwari remains close to her mother’s side.

The television program ‘Totally Wild’ filmed a series of stories in respect to the various animals at the Zoo over a period of three days in April, 2005.  The story ‘Animal Housemates’ will be aired on Thursday, 11th August, 2005 at 4.00pm and AGAIN on Friday, 12th August, 2005 at 6.00am on Network Ten.  Don’t miss this opportunity of observing the zoo and its keepers in the spotlight!

Photo courtesy of Sandy Worthington, Mogo Zoo

Thelma Returns

In November, 2004 Thelma and Louise, our two sumatran tigers, began their long journey to Perth Zoo where they have been residing for the past 8 months.

Thelma has now returned to Mogo Zoo and following a short period of adjustment to her seemingly familiar surroundings, she has now settled and is content to watch the visitors pass by.

The sumatran tiger inhabits the Indonesian island of Sumatra .

The species is critically endangered with less than 500 remaining in the wild.

Sumatra has undergone significant agricultural growth and consequently, its habitat has become fragmented resulting in the species becoming vulnerable to the further threat of poaching.