Suffolk New College welcomes its first monkeys
Two tamarins called Pablo and Marcia have moved into Suffolk New College's Suffolk Rural campus after arriving from zoos in Germany and Luxembourg in September.
Why it matters: The pair are the first primates the college has ever had, giving students who want careers in animal care hands-on experience before they enter the industry.
The details: Bringing the monkeys to the Suffolk countryside took more than a year of work involving a number of organisations and college staff.
The tamarins have adapted well to their new surroundings since arriving at the recently upgraded animal unit.
They are the latest in a line of new arrivals at Suffolk Rural in recent years, including alpacas, capybaras, meerkats and Bowser the giant tortoise.
What they're saying: Andrew Waddingham, animal centre manager at Suffolk Rural, said: "It has taken over a year to do this, working with a number of organisations and many colleagues. It has been a real team effort."
"These are the first primates we have ever had at the college and all of the work was to make sure our students are as ready as possible for industry as they can be. If they want to go and work in a zoo for example, they will have experience and skills that very few other colleges or institutions can offer them."
(Photo: Suffolk New College)
He added: "Pablo and Marcia have been settling in well and they get on very well."
Lynsey Wilson, director of land-based industries and culinary arts at the college, said: "The pair are an amazing addition to our expanding animal unit. We have invested heavily so that our students can work with a range of different species whilst they are with us, and this will help give them an edge when it comes to getting jobs in the future."
To the question whether Pablo was named after former Ipswich Town star Pablo Counago, Ms Wilson said: "Apparently Pablo isn't named after the Ipswich Town star Pablo Counago – but I can confirm that if you sing the famous Counago song – he definitely looks happy."
What's next: Mr Waddingham said: "We are always looking to grow, build and get new species in to support our learners' knowledge and experiences."
The bottom line: Pablo and Marcia have settled into their new Suffolk home, and their arrival gives students a rare chance to work with primates before they step into the animal care industry.
Don't forget: If you enjoy our content, please add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google so you can easily find more of the content you value.
This article cost us ~£14 to produce
It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them.
Below the line