Baby pygmy marmosets in the Lake District

Make a beeline for Lakes Aquarium at Lakeside near Newby Bridge in the Lake District this month, where two new baby pygmy marmosets are stealing the limelight as cute and teeny offspring of what is already the world’s smallest monkey.

Each baby only weighs around half an ounce. This is amazingly already one sixth of the weight of their parents.

The babies are currently tiny bundles of fluffy fur, but developing faster than older siblings, Marmite and Marmalade, suggesting mum and dad have learned a few things about parenting since having their first litter.

Visitors can watch proud mother and father, now 5.5 and 3.5 years old respectively, carrying their little treasures around on their backs. Dad then hands the babies over to Mum for suckling, which is when visitors really see them well and gasps of surprise arise.

This experience offers a true wow factor as few people every envisage how small these monkeys are and usually fall in love with their lovely, yet minute, little faces in an instant.

Visitors wishing to catch a glimpse of the new arrivals can do so any day of the week, from 9am to 6pm, with last admission at 5pm. The pygmy marmosets are in the Rain Forest area of the globally themed attraction.

Admission to the attraction costs £8.75 for adults, £5.50 for children and £24.95 for a family of two adults and two children. Under 3s enter for free. Opening hours are 9am to 6pm daily and last admission is at 5pm.

Tickets can be bought online at lakesaquarium.co.uk at up to 25 per cent less than normal admission charges.

For more information about Lakes Aquarium and its other creatures and impressive displays visit lakesaquarium.co.uk.