Endangered golden lion tamarins arrive at Chester Zoo
Two highly endangered golden lion tamarins have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time.
The pair, named George, aged seven, and Leaf, aged 12, are among the smallest primates in the world, standing at just eight inches tall. They are now living alongside titi monkeys, pygmy marmosets, emperor tamarins and a goeldi monkey.
Golden lion tamarins, found in the forests of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, are listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. They were once close to extinction, with only a few hundred left in the wild, before a global conservation breeding programme helped bring the population back.
James Star, Primate Keeper at Chester Zoo, said:
“Leaf and George have moved in with the titi monkeys, pygmy marmosets, emperor tamarin and a goeldi monkey, and they all seem to be getting along brilliantly.
“Lion tamarins have elongated fingers and hands that allow them to forage for insects in tree crevices that are otherwise out of reach for the other species they live with, and we’ve already seen them using this kind of foraging behaviour. Despite their tiny stature, standing at the same size as a bottle of pop, their distinctive coats and charismatic behaviour make them easy to spot when they’re jumping from tree to tree in their new home.
“Golden lion tamarins are a major zoo conservation success story. There were once only a few hundred remaining in the wild. But a coordinated breed and release programme was initiated across conservation zoos around the globe, and the population quickly bounced back, helping to turn it around and bring them back from the brink.”
The tamarins play an important role in the health of their native forests, spreading seeds from the fruit they eat as they move through the trees.
Nick Davis, Mammals General Manager at Chester Zoo, said:
“Golden lion tamarins are an iconic species with an important conservation story to tell, and it’s great to welcome this highly endangered species to Chester Zoo for the very first time. They really are a must see for our visitors.
“Alongside the conservation breeding programme George and Leaf are part of for these precious primates, we are also supporting primate conservation work around the globe, protecting threatened forests and the species that depend on them, in South America, Madagascar and Southeast Asia.”
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