Feed the furry fellas at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
Feed the furry fellas at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
There is not a single thing better in the world than having a tiny little monkey look into your eyes with gratitude and (probably) undying love after you’ve fed him a worm from your outstretched palm. Seriously, nothing.
And that, gang, is something you are able to experience for your animal-loving selves as of right this minute at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
Yes siree, you can feed the Sanctuary’s family of Cotton-top Tamarins in their very own house on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (there are only four spots per day) and what an absolute treat it is to be alive.
Here’s how it’ll go down. You’ll be let in to the Tarmarin’s enclosure with one of the highly knowledgeable minders on site who will then drop live, squirmy worms into your hand (worth it). Then, the magic happens.
Papa Tamarin (Mitu) and his three sons (Toro, Arami and Pablo) will scamper down from their respective trees and pluck the worms from your hands to pop into their hungry mouths. After consuming each worm, they will gaze lovingly (or perhaps hungrily, unsure) at you and you will say ‘oh I love them’ 867 times.
The four little fellas will run back and forth, lay their little palms on your hand, eat directly from your fingers and generally ensure you’re having the absolute time of your life.
AND GUESS WHAT: it only costs $39 (plus entry into the entire Sanctuary of course)! Guys, $39 to make four new friends, that’s less than $10 a head you guys. Far more affordable than a round of margaritas and you get to hold live worms, what are you actually waiting for.
Cotton-top Tamarins are some of the smallest primates in the world and are named after the little tuft of white hair atop their cute heads. On average they weigh less than 500 grams and they usually live amongst the trees, attempting to masquerade as birds so predators leave them alone. They even make adorable little cheeping noises as a way to communicate with each other.
You’ll find the Tamarins, along with Ring Tail Lemurs, Red Pandas, Capybaras (world’s largest living rodent), free-flying birds and exotic reptiles in Currumbin Wildlife’s recent addition, Lost Valley.
It’s a five-acre tropical precinct allowing you to get up close and personal with flora and wildlife from the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. It’s an actual living, breathing rainforest and it’s absolutely breathtaking.
So the Tamarins; go book yourself a spot right now and experience the joy of bonding with exotic creatures. Best.
LOCATION: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin
EXPERIENCE TIMES: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 12pm
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
