An animal adoption makes a unique and alternative gift.
Behind Marwell Hall at the top of the grassy bank.
Status Critically endangered
Size Head-body length: 21-26cm. Tail length: 33-40cm
Gestation 6 months
Life span Up to 13 years in the wild, around 20 years in captivity
Cotton-top tamarins are omnivores, feeding on plants and other animals. They spend most of their day foraging for different food items such as fruit, nectar, leaves, insects, small vertebrates (such as small snakes and amphibians) and have been known to eat small birds.
These animals are found in tropical rainforests, moist wetland and also within dry thorn forests in North West Colombia, South America.
Cotton-top tamarins are social animals. They live in groups of males and females, but only the dominant male and female in the group will breed. There is no strict breeding season for these animals, and they can mate from the age of 18-24 months.
Newborn tamarins are carried around by the male, and are given to the female when they need to feed. After 3 weeks, young cotton top tamarins start to explore their surroundings; but they can still be carried around until 6-7 weeks of age, and are fully independent by 5 months.
Main predators of cotton-top tamarins include wild cats, snakes and birds of prey.
Cotton-top tamarins stay safe by living in groups of between 2-15 individuals, and all look around for danger to protect the group. If they spot a threat they will give out an alarm call and run to safety. Alarm calls given by cotton-top tamarins will also allow other animals nearby to be alerted to danger.
Habitat destruction is a major threat to cotton-top tamarins - loss of habitat is due to an increase in demand for timber, charcoal production, human settlements and land for agriculture. These animals are also caught and sold illegally as pets.
The cotton-top tamarin has been protected by law in Colombia since 1969, and exports have been banned since 1974. Even with this protection, their numbers have continued to dwindle.
Cotton-top tamarins are one of the most endangered primates in South America.
The oldest recorded cotton-top tamarin in captivity lived to be 24 years old.
Rather than risk exposure to potential threats when looking for water, cotton-top tamarins will get water by licking dew or rain water from leaves.
Researchers have found that cotton-top tamarins use 38 different sounds to communicate with each other.
I visited at the beginning of October and my 5 year old granddaughter took a nasty tumble on the slope leading to the giraffe viewing platform. She had grazes to her knees and elbows and was upset and shocked. Help was summoned and a lovely first aider arrived by buggy who… Read full reviewChristine, 5th November 2015