Endangered baby emperor tamarin born at Scotland's only indoor tropical rainforest in North Lanarkshire

Scotland’s only indoor tropical rainforest has welcomed a new addition with the birth of an endangered emperor tamarin.

It’s the first time the endangered species of monkey has been bred by the team at Amazonia, located at M&D’s theme park in North Lanarkshire.

Amazonia is a temperature-controlled tropical indoor forest home to over 60 species, including monkeys, parrots and snakes.

A spokesperson for the theme park said the birth marked a significant milestone as the emperor tamarin is part of a European Endangered Species Breeding Programme (EEP) run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).

Amazonia has welcomed a baby emperor tamarin to its collection of primates. Amazonia

The programme aims to have and maintain healthy and thriving populations of animals in EAZA and beyond. It currently manages over 500 animal species, including the emperor tamarin.

Emperor tamarins are small monkeys native to the Amazon Basin, inhabiting areas of Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. They are easily identified by their long, white whiskers, which resemble moustaches.

The team at Amazonia said they are “delighted” with their latest arrival and are looking for the public’s help with naming the little one, born to parents Neeps and Jeeza.

The zoo initially only housed two female tamarins but was able to take on dad Jeeza through the EEP programme.

“After a gestation period of 140 to 145 days, females give birth to one, two or occasionally, three young. Adult males assist with the birth, taking the newborn immediately and washing it,” Amanda Gott, zoologist and zoo manager at Amazonia said.

“The mother will carry and feed the young for about 30 minutes every two to three hours. Otherwise, the males carry and care for the infants.”

She added: “Adults carry the infants until they are six to seven weeks old, at which point the youngsters start to explore their surroundings by themselves, still going back for the occasional piggyback.

“The young are weaned after two to three months as independent youngsters.”