A Good Year for Tamarins
There are only about 7,400 Cotton-top Tamarins left in the wild, and they are squeezed into the Northwest of Colombia, in South America. Rosamira Guillen, Executive Director of Fundación Proyecto Tití, raised funds for 13,000 acres by 2018 for the monkeys. Now, in 2024 Project Tamarin is expecting to have ownership of a further 1200 acres to turn into forest for this critically endangered monkey.
A project partner, Wildlife Conservation Network, (WCN), reported that “Proyecto Tití conducted a population census in 2005-2006 to examine the status of the wild population. We were very distressed to learn that there were less than 7,500 cotton-tops remaining.”
The cotton-top tamarin now exists in less than 5 percent of the territory it once held. 95% of the area has experienced habitat degradation due to plantations, ranches, crops, and logging.
The Fundación Proyecto Tití (Project Tamarin) was started with the goal of safeguarding animals, and increasing the degraded dry rainforest habitat of the cotton-top tamarin in Colombia. This beautiful, tiny monkey has been plagued by the pet trade. Also, in the 1960's and 1970s it was a common subject of medical experiments. This is now outlawed.
Mongabay has reported that since its inception, “Proyecto Tití has planted more than 120,000 native trees across nearly 570 hectares (1,400 acres) to secure more habitat for cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) and other native wildlife to thrive.”
More plants and animals that benefit from the new habitat include: the Peroba Rosa tree, Northern Tamandua anteaters, Dahl’s Toad-headed Turtles, Columbia Red Howler Monkeys, Yellow-striped Poison frogs, Brown-headed Spider Monkeys, and Blue-and-yellow as well as Scarlet Macaws.
Project Tamarin is an exemplary, progressive charity, and as Guillen says, “a model for effective conservation programs in Colombia. The team’s commitment to not only save this critically endangered primate but to provide [at least 15 stable] employment opportunities for local [community members] to learn and get involved with the conservation of this little monkey, will make a life-long difference in the lives of many Colombians.” Proyecto Tití employs local workers, and offers education conservation programs.
Funding-raising efforts are directed towards making tree corridors through Northern Colombia through donations. These newly planted trees link tamarin populations and prevent loss of genetic diversity. The basis of the program was built around scientific study of the habitat and the monkey species. It is focused on monsoonal climates that have very little rain. In the case of Project Tamarin that means no precipitation for six months of the year.
There are few laws to protect tamarins in Colombia. Hunting of monkeys, as well as armadillos, deer, and wild boar and pigs, is common in South America. Project Tamarin does not try to interfere directly with poachers. There have been conservationists in South America, like SuruMwe Burhani Abdou, 30; Alexis Kamate Mundunaenda, 25; Reagan Maneno Kataghalirwa, 27; Eric Kibanja Bashekere, 28; Innocent Paluku Budoyi, 28; and Prince Nzabonimpa Ntamakiriro, 27, who have lost their lives. The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) environmentalists were ambushed by militia and murdered in 2021.
By contacting those shown hunting and poaching by foundation camera traps, Project Tamarin representatives try to open dialogues and say “let’s talk…see what we can do for you,” Guillen explains.
Cotton-top Tamarin characteristics
These black, grey and white monkeys weigh only about 1 lb (0.45 kg) fully grown, and are only around 10 inches (25 cm), not including a 16-inch (40 cm) tail.
Cotton-top tamarin monkeys live in trees, and eat insects, nectar, sap, and fruits. In the wild, they live about 13 years.
Babies are born early in the rainy season. Only the alpha male and female breed, but the young are taken care of by all members of the cotton-top tamarins in the troop. The male tamarins make particularly great dads, and often carry infants on their backs.
Whitley Award Recipient
Rosamira Guillen received the Whitley Conservation Award in 2015. The award’s website reported that Guillen said she “heard that these tamarins were found only in Colombia and that they were in danger of becoming extinct in my lifetime, I felt that I had to do something!”
In 2015, Guillen was given the award in London, England by HRH Princess Anne. The Whitley Fund for Nature Awards also extended funding to Fundación Proyecto Tití, in 2017 and 2022, as well.
The Whitley Award is named after Edward Whitley, a philanthropist and TV personality.
Sources
About Proyecto Tití. (2024). Wildlife Conservation Network. https://wildnet.org/wildlife-programs/cotton-top-tamarin/
Conservation leader from Colombia wins 2015 Whitley Award: “Green Oscar” awarded for conservation of cotton-top tamarins. (2015, April 29) . Whitney Fund for Nature. https://whitleyaward.org/2015/04/30/2015-whitley-award-winners/
Cotton-top tamarin. (2015-2024). National Geographic Partners. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/cotton-top-tamarin
Effort to save rare Colombian monkey looks to crowdfund its conservation. (2023, July 5). https://news.mongabay.com/2023/07/effort-to-save-rare-colombian-monkey-looks-to-crowdfund-its-conservation/
Cotton-top tamarin. (2024, March 10). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton-top_tamarin
Worldwide Conservation deaths in 2021. (2021, December 30). Mongabay.com.https://news.mongabay.com/2021/12/conservation-deaths-in-2021/