Our veterinary team left the food in high areas for the animal to move and recover mobility affected limbs

Carmelo, a cotton-tailed marmoset (Saguinus oedipus) that lives in Terra Natura Benidorm, has successfully recovered from the partial paralysis he suffered on both legs and didn´t let him move normally. The recovery of this small primate, which is in danger of extinction, has been possible thanks to the non-invasive rehabilitation treatment to which it has been subjected, in addition to the administration of thrombolytics and anti-inflammatories given by the veterinary team that have allowed its improvement.

Our team of zookeepers observed a month ago that Carmelo, the male leader of the group of marmosets of this species in the zoo, was only able to hold on to the branches that were in his facility with his arms. When this situation was detected, he was transferred to the veterinary clinic of Terra Natura Benidorm to be checked by veterinarians.

After doing an x-ray and reject the existence of possible bone lesions with this test, it was determined that the paralysis could be due to the appearance of a clot. Immediately, he was treated with thrombolytics, anti-inflammatory and non-invasive rehabilitation for 20 days.

The objective was to strength his muscles and make a full recovery of both limbs. To carry it out, the team of experts left the favourite food of the marmoset, called zophobas, in high areas of the facility, to naturally force him to climb up to where it was and move to reach this kind of worm, rich in protein, to ingest it.

Thanks to the treatment, Carmelo has recovered the mobility of both legs again. The reintroduction with the rest of the group of marmosets has been made in a progressive manner because he was the leader of the group before leaving for his treatment and during his absence this situation could have changed.

In first place, the reintroduction only was visual and afterwards the group made contact with the happy news that he has adapted perfectly and has returned to occupy the role of leader of the group. Carmelo arrived at Terra Natura Benidorm in 2006 and has had three offspring with Eva, who came in 2015, having two females born in 2016 and one male in 2018.