A bearded emperor tamarin monkey carrying a baby
© Chris White/iStock/Getty Images Plu
Happy Father's Day. Hold on tight, kid
We’re celebrating Father’s Day with this bearded tamarin, happily giving a piggyback to its pint-sized offspring. From day one, both male and female bearded emperor tamarin babies start growing their trademark moustaches and wispy beards. These diminutive residents of the Amazon basin are highly sociable animals. Females often give birth to twins and have their hands full nursing them. The males watch over them by carrying them around on their backs.
By the time the young tamarins reach two months old, their fathers become the main carers, providing food and showing them the ropes - where to find fruit and nectar, how to leap from branch to branch and the best grooming techniques. On Father's Day, we salute dads everywhere giving their kids piggyback rides and sharing the sweeter things in life.