Racine Zoo Welcomes Its 2 Newest Members To Animal Population

RACINE, WI — The Racine Zoo has two new members of its animal population after the Zoo's latest birth announcement.

The Racine Zoo welcomed its third generation of emperor tamarin babies. Twin tamarins were born in the early morning hours of Earth Day, April 22 to first-time parents Amelie and Pitino. Amelie was born at the Racine Zoo herself in 2017 and these babies represent the ninth tamarin birth since Isabella moved to the Racine Zoo in 2012.

Zoo officials said the babies are now one week old, and thriving, with both parents sharing parenting duties. The Racine Zoo matriarch Isabella passed just days after the birth of her youngest daughter, Bella, last year.

Zoo staff stepped in to provide around-the-clock care to Bella. This birth brings a new generation for the Zoo’s tamarin family. Bella, now just over a year old, is very curious about the infants and enjoys playing with their tails.

“This birth is a testament to our amazing keeper team’s hard work and expertise,” says Aszya Summers, the Zoo’s Curator of Animal Care and Conservation Education. “It is such a joy to watch Amelie with her offspring after watching her grow up here since 2017, and I cannot wait for the public to be able to share in this experience and watch our next generation of tamarins grow up.”

“This is such a bright spot in an otherwise dark time amid the current pandemic,” said Beth
Heidorn, Executive Director of the Racine Zoo. “Mother Nature finds a way to keep the world
moving and we are fortunate to contribute to the success of this species.”

The Racine Zoo is currently closed to the public to slow the spread of COVID-19, but is looking forward to the day when it is safe to reopen and allow the public to visit the twins, Heidorn said.