New arrivals bring charm, conservation importance and exciting educational opportunities to Swansea’s indoor rainforest.
Plantasia Tropical Zoo in Swansea has welcomed a trio of exciting new residents: a cotton-top tamarin named Meep, a vibrant Sambava panther chameleon named Barry, and a White’s tree frog who will play an important role in the zoo’s educational activities.
Meep, born on 23 November 2017, arrived from a wildlife park in Hertfordshire in April and completed a standard quarantine period before joining the zoo’s Geoffroy’s marmoset, Marmalade, in a shared habitat. Although the team initially hoped to find another Geoffroy’s marmoset, it was important to act quickly following the loss of Marmalade’s previous companions. Monkeys are highly social animals and need companionship, so it was important to find Marmalade a new companion as soon as possible for her wellbeing. Meep was an ideal match and provided that much-needed social connection.
Cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, with fewer than 7,500 believed to remain in the wild due to habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade. Plantasia Tropical Zoo’s role in housing and educating visitors about endangered species like Meep helps raise public awareness of global conservation issues.
Meep quickly made an impression on her keepers, earning her name during the journey to Swansea thanks to her energetic and expressive vocalisations. She bonded almost instantly with Marmalade, and the two now share their lush mixed-species habitat with white-cheeked turacos Kiwi and Lime, and Big Momma the red-eared slider.
Zoo & Education Manager Lucy, who travelled with Zookeeper Amy to collect Meep said….
“Their bond was a joy to witness. It’s wonderful to see how well they’ve adapted to one another. Meep is full of character and Marmalade is thriving with her new companion.”
Barry the Sambava panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) joined the zoo from Chester Zoo and, following quarantine, moved into a spacious new enclosure built specially for him in the zoo’s underground zone. Born on 27 November 2023, Barry is significantly larger than his predecessor Mittens, and required a taller and more complex habitat to match his needs. Swansea Glass generously donated the bespoke glass for the build, with construction carried out by JMBuilding and internal planting by the zoo’s expert keepers.
Paul Sheppard, Attraction Manager told us….
“Barry is an incredibly striking individual, and his new environment gives him everything he needs to grow and display his vivid colours.”
Also joining the team is a White’s tree frog (Ranoidea caerulea), who arrived from Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park. This calm and charismatic amphibian will not be on public display but will appear regularly in the zoo’s VIP animal experiences and educational workshops. White’s tree frogs are known for their engaging personalities and are ideal for helping children connect with nature through hands-on learning.
These recent arrivals reflect Plantasia Tropical Zoo’s mission to inspire, educate and connect people with wildlife – both exotic and endangered.
Plantasia Tropical Zoo is run by Parkwood Leisure on behalf of Swansea Council.
Council cabinet member Robert Francis Davies said…..
“It’s fantastic that there are more exciting new reasons to visit Plantasia. These three fantastic new residents will bring new charm and exciting educational opportunities to Swansea’s indoor rainforest.”
To learn more or plan your visit, go HERE
