A teenage pair of cotton-top tamarins are adjusting well to their new home at Port Macquarie's Billabong Zoo.
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The tiny monkeys, native to northwest Colombia, are the newest inhabitants at the zoo after arriving from Perth Zoo in Western Australia in late December.
The male duo are already feeling at home in their rainforest themed bachelor pad, according to koala and primates senior keeper Simone Popp.
"They have been really relaxed and friendly towards us. They are really inquisitive towards the public and really gentle when we have to hand feed them," said Ms Popp.
"They have lots of energy so they are always bouncing around their exhibit from vine to vine and basking under the heat lamp. I love them, they are so fun.
"Unfortunately this species is critically endangered due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade."
Albert and Einstein, affectionately named because of their wise old man looks, are fed a diet of fruit, vegetables, tree sap and special fruit/pellet cake mix.
A female tamarin is expected to join the pair at a later date.
Billabong Zoo owner Mark Stone said the pair were originally born at Perth Zoo and are a great conservation ambassador for their species.
"If people can see these animals they can form a better connection and the conservation message is very strong," he said.
"There is quite a lot of money that has gone into upgraded keeper access, heating and lighting. Because the monkeys are highly intelligent it was important that the exhibit be themed correctly as a native rainforest for their exploration and keepers to utilise.
"We have plans for another two species, with four in total. We're waiting on pygmy marmosets from Perth Zoo but we're not sure when the next ones will arrive.
"We have also put our hand up for another species of monkey which are quite unusual and sought after in Australia."
The zoo has suffered lower visitor numbers and two evacuations due to nearby bushfires.
"We have had a slow start in visitor numbers but we have had some really good days," said Mr Stone.
"There may even have been a record breaking day after Boxing Day. I'm quietly confident that we might have broken our best ever day because on that particular Sunday we saw a lot of local people guiding visitors from out of town.
"This holidays have been a really important time to reconnect with family and the zoo is a nice sanctuary to get away from everything."
In October 2019, the zoo received $150,000 in funding to develop a new night time experience to host conventions, functions and events for up to 100 people.
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