Oakland Zoo, in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Wildlife Confiscations Network (WCN), has recently undertaken the rescue and care of an illegally owned female marmoset. The monkey, seized from a private residence in southern California, has been named Estrela, reflecting the Portuguese name for the species – mico-estrela – and the star-shaped spot of fur on her forehead.
The owner, arrested on unrelated charges, was pre-informed of the impending seizure by authorities. Both San Diego Zoo and Los Angeles Zoo, accredited partners of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, were unable to accommodate Estrela due to capacity concerns related to other WCN rescues. Oakland Zoo stepped in to provide the necessary care for the marmoset.
Estrela is currently under the care of Oakland Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital, where she underwent a thorough examination, including tests for diseases like TB, SIV (non-human primate version of HIV), and rabies, as well as a CT scan. The examination revealed evidence of a pre-existing fracture in her left radius and ulna, likely a result of trauma during her private ownership. Estrela had been housed inappropriately in a large birdcage, which may have contributed to her accidental injury.