Golden Lion Tamarin

Leontopithecus rosalia
Goldgelbes Löwenäffchen

Classification: Callitrichidae
Distribution: south eastern coast of Brazil
Head-to-body length: 20 – 33 cm
Length of tail: 32 – 40 cm
Weight: 480 – 650 g
Gestation: 4 months, mostly twins
Diet: small vertebrates, fruit, tree exudates

Golden Lion Tamarins are the largest species of the family of Callitrichidae. They have tegulae, claw-like nails, on fingers and toes, only the first finger and first toe have flat nails. They catch and kill small vertebrates with elongated canines, but fruit and tree juice also belong to their diet. These small New World monkeys emit “whine” and “peep” calls to communicate.

In the beginning of the 70ths Golden Lion Tamarins almost were extinct in the wild. To save the remaining ones a project called “Countdown 2025” was initiated. In 1984 a global initiative of zoos and NGOs started to reintroduce zoo-born Golden Lion Tamarins. In 1992 there were also five tamarins reintroduced that were born in this house.

In 2014 the status of Golden Lion Tamarins in the Mata Atlantica, as these coastal forests are called, was estimated at 3.700 animals. But a yellow fever outbreak in 2018 caused a heavy decrease of over 30%. In 2020 an extensive vaccination program was started.