KEEPERS at Dudley Zoo and Castle have welcomed the arrival of a new female pygmy marmoset which has been brought in to the attraction in the hope of forming a new breeding group.

Four-year-old Chewie arrived in Dudley from Banham Zoological Gardens in Norfolk and has been paired with the zoo’s five-year-old male, Kingston, from the attraction’s previous bachelor group.

The zoo currently only has two pygmy marmosets after the remaining males from its last breeding group relocated to another UK collection.

Pat Stevens, upper primates section leader at Dudley Zoo and Castle, said: “Chewie and Kingston have already settled in well together and we’re hoping we can replicate the success we’ve had with previous breeding pairs as we look to build up a new group.”

The zoo’s pygmy marmosets, which are the world’s smallest primate species, can be seen in the small primate house at the Castle Hill attraction.