The health of domestic animals and wildlife is deeply connected. Many diseases and parasites can spread from dogs and cats to wild animals, making the care of community pets an essential part of protecting wildlife - especially the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin. At Proyecto Tití, caring for wildlife also means caring for the domestic animals that live alongside the forests where the cotton-top tamarin calls home. For cotton-top tamarins to be healthy and safe in their natural habitat, it is essential that the pets in neighboring communities are healthy too. That’s why our work extends beyond the forest - and why our veterinarian, Lorena Beltrán, plays such a vital role on both fronts.

Lorena is a veterinarian trained at the National University of Colombia, with a specialization in wildlife health. For the past three years, she has worked with us in  our field studies of cotton-top tamarins. This year, she also has also helped care for the health of the rescued dogs housed at our field station in Los Titíes de San Juan Forest Reserve and neighboring communities and led a veterinary outreach day for dogs and cats in the community of Los Límites.

“All animals matter,” Lorena shares. “A community that cares for, protects, and treats its pets with kindness is a community that is sensitive to animals—and that same compassion extends to cotton-top tamarins. These are people who would never allow animals to be mistreated.”
We were especially encouraged that this initiative came directly from the community. Living so close to the forest where cotton-top tamarins are found, residents of Los Límites wanted to ensure their dogs and cats were healthy—both to protect their own community and to prevent the spread of disease to wildlife. With that shared commitment, we got to work together.
The results were incredibly positive. We examined 30 dogs and cats. All were found to be in good health and were dewormed and given vitamins to help them stay healthy. Today, the Los Límites community has pets that are healthier, better cared for, and more protected.
We also used the opportunity to create a list of dogs and cats eligible for sterilization, with the goal of securing funding and hosting a spay-and-neuter clinic next year. Moments like these remind us why community partnerships are at the heart of conservation. We are grateful to work with people who are deeply committed to the well-being of their pets—and to the protection of the cotton-top tamarin. Because caring for domestic animals is also a way of caring for the forest and its biodiversity.