MEET OUR TAMARINS

WILSON

MIMI

ANIMAL

Click here for external links to Cotton-Top Tamarin information

COTTON-TOP TAMARIN

Scientific Name: Saguinus Oedipus

The cotton-top Tamarin is one of the most endangered primates in the world.  About the size of a squirrel, they are noted for their shock of white hair. The back is brown and the lower parts, arms and legs are whitish to yellow. The rump and inner sides of the thighs are reddish-orange. The tail is also reddish-orange towards the base and blackish towards the tip.

They are the only primate known to develop colon cancer and colitis, resulting in the exportation of 20,000-40,000 Tamarins to the United States for use in biomedical research in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.  This in turn resulted in the species being declared endangered in 1973.  There are fewer than 2000 cotton-top Tamarins left in the world today.

In the Wild....

The cotton-top Tamarin lives in trees and eats fruit, insects, new leaves or buds, small lizards and even small birds.  They also lick nectar from certain flowers.  Tamarins often use leaves wet with dew or morning rain to obtain moisture, rather than exposing themselves to predation by descending to the ground to find water. Groups of cotton-top Tamarins usually consist of 2-12 individuals, not all necessarily related.  In addition to a dominant mated pair and their young, there may be transient individuals, usually young animals of both sexes. 

Biology

The Tamarins can live 15 - 20 years. Only the dominant pair breed, with the female usually giving birth to twins.  Females can get pregnant at only 10 months old. The gestation period is normally about 6 months. The babies are weaned at about 8-10 weeks of age and mature at 18 months (females) to 24 months (males).

Habitat and Distribution

Up to the 1980’s, the cotton top Tamarin was thought to occur from Costa Rica south to Northern Columbia.  By 1992, it could be found in only northern Columbia in the tropical forests.

Threats

Habitat destruction in the Columbian rain forest is the main reason for the endangered status of the cotton-top Tamarin. Each year more than 3 thousand square miles of tropical habitat are destroyed in Colombia. Tamarins are often used as pets and exported to the United States for biomedical research.

Fernie's Story

Due to the complicated social structure of Tamarin monkeys, it also can be quite difficult to establish the right relationships within one captive habitat since the animals have no place to get away or find another partner like they could in the wild.

When we put the word out that Wilson needed a companion, the University of Wisconsin, Department of Psychology contacted us and advised us they had a young female Cotton-top Tamarin that had been kicked out of her colony by other family members and could not be reintroduced for her own safety. She would be a great friend for Wilson. At the University of Wisconsin, Department of Psychology, the Callitrichid Behavior Laboratory is renowned for research on communication, reproduction, and conservation of these endangered primates.

It was extremely important that Wilson had companionship at our sanctuary and there are very few cotton-top Tamarins that are in need of rescue, so it was unlikely that we would have another Tamarin arriving soon. This was a rare opportunity for Wilson to be matched up with a companion. We agreed to provide lifetime care for Fern at our sanctuary and she was transported to us from Wisconsin. When she arrived, her name was Ernie (a male name) and her previous caregivers at the University didn’t mind if we corrected it. When Tamarins are born, they cling to their family members at all times and it is very difficult to tell their gender until they grow older. We decided to modify her name a little and Ernie is now called Fern. We will call her Fernie for a while to prevent confusion with recognition of her name.

We are happy to report, that after the required quarantine period passed, Wilson and Fern love each other and are getting along wonderfully. Our Tamarins are sterilized and unable to reproduce as we have a no breeding policy at our sanctuary.

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TAMARINS IN THEIR NEW HABITAT SLIDE SHOW

Watch Animal, Wilson and Mimi in their new habitat with lots of room to play and behave like real monkeys!

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External links to Tamarin information on the Worldwide Web

Arkive: Images of Life & Earth:

General species information, images and videos of Cotton-Top Tamarin Monkeys

Project Tamarin:

A project that deals with conservation of Tamarins in the wild in Colombia.

Cotton-Top Tamarin Species Survival Plan Program Web Page:

This site includes the Cotton-top Tamarin Husbandry Manual as well as additional resources to help you learn more about these tamarins and their natural and captive environments.

Primate Info Net: Cotton-Top Tamarin:

Scientific and general information about the Cotton-Top Tamarin.