I2- GOLDEN LION TAMARIN

Description

The golden lion tamarin, one of the world's most striking mammals, is so-called because of the beautiful mane of silky golden hair that frames its face. The fur is a lustrous golden colour, apart from the tail and forepaws, which may be brown or black. The digits are long and delicate with claw-like nails, which are perfectly adapted to go in search for small prey items. Males are typically larger than females, although there is some argument that there is simply seasonal variation in weight, but otherwise there are no major differences between the sexes.

Habitat

The golden lion tamarins live in what lasted of the tropical forests in the coastal lowlands, usually below 300 metres, this area is extremely restricted in the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is also occasionally reported from cultivated areas and secondary re-growth forests. They live in reserves without fully intact forests.

Population

The total wild population is estimated to be 562 individuals but another 500 captively-bred animals have been reintroduced to forested areas.There are about 500 individuals in captivity. 

Threats

A staggering ninety percent of the original area of Atlantic coastal forest has been destroyed through logging and clearance for cultivation and development. The habitat of the golden lion tamarin has therefore been drastically reduced and fragmented into isolated patches. A former threat to the species in the wild came from the collection of live individuals for private collections and zoos, but this practice became illegal in the 1970s, and subsequently decreased. Occasionally, specimens will still turn up in a local market, but the pet trade now has relatively little impact on numbers. Furthermore, captive breeding in zoos and subsequent re-introductions have literally helped save this species from extinction, so its former collection for zoos has also had a very positive impact.

Conservation

Fortunately, the golden lion tamarin has been the subject of a large-scale, determined conservation effort. A captive breeding programme aims to maintain a zoo population of 500 individuals, and since 1984, captive-bred individuals have been re-introduced to the wild. Furthermore, released individuals have successfully reared young in the wild. A huge conservation education programme in Brazil has raised the profile of the golden lion tamarin, and the species is now widely regarded with pride as a national symbol of conservation. In 1980, the wild population had reached an all time low of less than 100 individuals, but by 2000 this had increased to 1000, 424 of which were re-introduced from captive stock. Despite these efforts, the species still requires protection and continued conservation efforts if it is to evade extinction.

adapted from conservationoutdoor.org