Cotton-top tamarin Grooming Invite Photo Credit Suzi-Eszterhas

Cotton-top tamarins are found only in the forests of the northern region of Colombia. Today, the greatest threat to the survival of the cotton-top tamarin is deforestation of their tropical forest habitat for agriculture, mining, illegal logging and urban expansion. In addition to on-going forest destruction, cotton-top tamarins are threatened by the illegal capture for the pet trade. Understanding how these pressures affect the species is vital to developing effective conservation strategies that ensure the cotton-top tamarin’s future in the wild.

OUR WORK

Cotton-top Tamarins

The Value of Long-Term Field Research

Long-term field studies of cotton-top tamarins are essential for deepening our understanding of this critically endangered species and informing both in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies. By observing tamarins over many years in their natural habitat, Proyecto Tití has uncovered important insights into their population, social behavior, infant development, reproductive biology, diet, lifespan, genetics and habitat use—knowledge that would be impossible to gather through short-term studies alone.

These discoveries not only enhance our scientific understanding of the species but also have practical applications in the management of cotton-top tamarins in zoos and managed care programs. Observations from the wild help inform best practices in managed care, ensuring that animals in captivity have social groupings, diets, and enrichment that mirror their natural behaviors. Most importantly, long-term studies provide the scientific foundation for effective conservation action—guiding habitat protection, informing education programs, and shaping policies that protect cotton-top tamarins and the ecosystems they depend on.

The Longest Running Study of Wild Cotton-top Tamarins

For more than 30 years, Proyecto Tití has led the only long-term field study of cotton-top tamarins, spanning three distinct research sites in Colombia. This isn’t just observation—it’s groundbreaking science that has uncovered how these small primates adapt, survive, and thrive across different environments. By comparing behaviors, survival strategies, and habitat conditions at three different field sites, we’ve gained critical insights into the factors most essential for their long-term survival.

Through innovative techniques—from radio telemetry to non-invasive hormone analysis—we’ve developed a deeper understanding of cotton-top biology, social dynamics, and responses to a changing environment. This research forms the foundation of our conservation work, helping us design more effective strategies to protect cotton-top tamarins and the forests they call home.

Pioneering Conservation Science

Proyecto Tití has been at the forefront of scientific innovation in the study and conservation of cotton-top tamarins, developing pioneering techniques that have significantly advanced our understanding of this critically endangered species.


Cotton top tamarin with tracking

To study cotton-top tamarins in the wild, we use a combination of visual identification and radio telemetry. We identify individuals by applying commercially available hair dye to their white fur—on the head, legs, arms, or chest—creating distinct markings that are easily visible to observers in the forest.

In addition, we equip an adult male in each study group with a lightweight radio transmitter. This allows us to track their movements and gather detailed data on behavior, habitat use, and diet. These insights play a crucial role in shaping effective habitat management and conservation strategies.

One of our most notable achievements is the development of a reliable method to estimate the population size of wild cotton-top tamarins. By combining playback recordings of territorial vocalizations with strip transect surveys, we have been able to accurately assess population densities even in challenging field conditions. This approach has been instrumental in monitoring population trends and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation efforts.

Collecting fecal samples in the wild Field Research Cotton top tamarin

In collaboration with experts, we have applied non-invasive techniques to monitor hormonal cycles in cotton-top tamarins. By analyzing hormones in fecal samples, we can assess reproductive status without disturbing the animals, providing valuable insights into their physiology and behavior.

Studying genetic diversity

As part of a collaborative effort, we are examining the genetic composition of our study animals and examining these results with samples collected in other areas of Colombia. By extracting DNA from hair follicles, we assess genetic diversity and relatedness within and between tamarin populations. This information helps us identify opportunities and prioritize areas for connecting forests to promote greater gene flow.

Cotton top tamarin eating

Our extensive documentation of the cotton-top tamarin's diet has revealed a diverse range of food sources, including fruits, insects, and plant exudates. This information is crucial for habitat restoration efforts, ensuring that reforested areas provide the necessary resources for tamarin survival.

Cotton top tamarin babies

Through long-term observations, we have gained deep insights into the social behavior, infant development, and survival strategies of cotton-top tamarins. These studies have resulted in scientific publications, contributing to the broader understanding of primate ecology and informing conservation practices both in the wild and in managed care settings.

Collectively, these scientific endeavors underscore Proyecto Tití's commitment to evidence-based conservation, ensuring that our efforts to protect cotton-top tamarins are grounded in rigorous research and a deep understanding of their biology and ecology.

From Data to Protection

Field research doesn’t just sit in notebooks—it powers reforestation plans, shapes education programs, and informs policy. Our field research serves as the cornerstone of our conservation efforts. Through meticulous studies on cotton-top tamarins, we've gained critical insights into their behavior, habitat needs, and the challenges they face.

Explore Our Discoveries

Bridging the Wild and Managed Worlds

Understanding cotton-top tamarins in their natural habitat is essential for making informed decisions about their care—both in the wild and in managed environments such as zoos and wildlife centers. Our field research provides critical insights into their natural behaviors, diet, social dynamics, and habitat use, serving as a vital benchmark for evaluating and improving the well-being of animals in managed care.

In fact, some of the earliest breakthroughs—like decoding their vocalizations—were only possible through studies in managed settings, where it was easier to observe individuals closely. Their calls sound so much like birds that identifying and interpreting their vocal repertoire in the forest would have been nearly impossible without that foundational work. 

Vocalizations

Comparing reproductive strategies between wild and managed care populations has also revealed the cotton-top tamarin’s remarkable adaptability. These animals demonstrate a flexibility and resilience to environmental and social changes that we would never have anticipated based on captive studies alone.

Long-term data on lifespan and reproductive output in situ and ex situ allow us to build more effective conservation strategies and population management plans—tools now actively used by programs like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Cotton-top Tamarin Species Survival Plan©. By linking knowledge from the wild with experience from managed care, we are better equipped to protect this critically endangered species across all environments.

Wild & Captive Tamarin Studies

Savage, A., Forero Sánchez, F., Rasmussen, L. Cotton-top Tamarin (Linneaus: 1758). In: Handbook of the Mammals of Middle and South America (SERIES). Ed. M. Melletti, S. Gallina Tessaro, Series Editors, PRIMATES E.W. Heyman, J.C. Bicca-Marques, J.P. Boubli, J.W.Lynch, R.B., Wallace, Volume Eds. Spring Nature In Press.