A set of tiny twins at Blackpool Zoo have been named in honour of Strictly Come Dancing Stars Aljaz and Janette.

The Emperor Tamarins were given the names after being born while the dancing duo were filming at the attraction for Channel 5’s Big Week at the Zoo, airing Monday – Friday this week.

Big Week at the Zoo is a documentary series celebrating the conservation work carried out by great British zoos, and this Thursday the spotlight will fall on Blackpool Zoo and its work with endangered Asian Elephants.  

Adam Kenyon, Section Head of Project Elephant at Blackpool Zoo, said: “We are thrilled to be a part of Big Week at The Zoo, and to show viewers the amazing work our keepers do in caring for our five Asian elephants.

“Aljaz and Janette were a pleasure to work with and in their honour we are naming two Emperor Tamarins after them – which were born at the time of their visit!  

“We hope they will be back to visit very soon, and we will be cheering them on when Strictly returns!”

Aljaz and Janette commented: “We absolutely love animals and our time shadowing the zookeepers at Blackpool Zoo for Channel 5’s new show Big Week at the Zoo was incredible, we couldn’t stop smiling!

“To top it off, two baby Monkeys from Blackpool Zoo have been named after us! They were born at the time of our visit and we are totally honoured.

“Blackpool has such a special place in our hearts, and is even more special to us now. Hopefully we will be visiting again soon!”

Big Week at the Zoo airs from Monday – Friday this week at 8pm on Channel 5.

The Emperor Tamarin is a species of tamarin that is allegedly named for its apparent resemblance to the German emperor Wilhelm II. It lives in the southwest Amazon Basin, east Peru, north Bolivia and in the west Brazilian states of Acre and Amazonas. 

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The multi award-winning Blackpool Zoo has it all! The zoo is situated in 37 acres of traditional, spacious parkland with lakes. All your favourites are here – big cats, elephants, giraffes, gorillas, orang-utans and 'Blue Peter' TV stars, the sealions.

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