Cotton-top tamarin
Saguinus oedipus
We are currently home to four cotton-top tamarins - Elf, Zecca and their twins Taylor and Swift born in June 2024.
Cotton-top tamarins are one the world’s most endangered primates, with just 2,000 left in the wild due to habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade. They’re threatened by habitat loss from deforestation, and despite being legally protected they’re regularly caught for the pet trade.
Population
Decreasing
Diet
Omnivore
Habitat
Rainforest
Fact file
Cotton-top tamarins live in family units of two to nine individuals
Disproportionately heavy when born, tamarin babies weigh between 15-20% of their mother's weight
They get the water they need by licking leaves that are wet with rain or dew
Latest cotton-top tamarin news
How we're helping
Like all the animals in our care, our cotton-top tamarins are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued, and loved.
As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the zoo and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health, to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.
Find out more about RZSS conservation