Meet our two cotton-top tamarins—Ramon and Pax! They are small, energetic primates with an unforgettable look! Known for their striking white crests of fur, these social monkeys are native to the rainforests of northwest Colombia, where they live in tight-knit family groups. Cotton-top tamarins have an impressive ability to leap from branch to branch and communicate with a complex vocal system of at least 38 different calls. Some of their high-pitched vocalizations are so unique that humans can’t even hear them! At the zoo, we’re proud to have a female cotton-top tamarin (Pax) born in 2016, part of the Species Survival Plan, an important conservation effort to protect endangered species. 

Unfortunately, cotton-top tamarins are critically endangered in the wild. Habitat destruction, due to deforestation, and the illegal pet trade are the primary threats to their survival. But there is hope thanks to Proyecto Tití, a conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the tamarins’ rainforest habitat. Proyecto Tití works tirelessly to educate local communities, promote sustainable alternatives to deforestation, and reforest areas that have been damaged. Through their efforts, they help ensure that the future of the cotton-top tamarin is brighter and more secure. 

In the wild, cotton-top tamarins are opportunistic feeders, eating small fish, like sardines and anchovies, along with fruits, insects, and tree sap. At the zoo, our tamarins enjoy a varied diet of Zupreem Marmoset diet (specially formulated food for primates), fruits, vegetables, insects, nuts, and seeds. 

You can find our cotton-top tamarins in the Rainforest Building, where they share their home with Elton, the two-toed sloth, and the red-footed tortoises. They’re just down the path from the Contact Yard and across from the chicken coop area. 

By supporting conservation organizations like Proyecto Tití, zoos help protect these incredible primates and ensure their survival in the wild. With the right efforts, we can help cotton-top tamarins thrive and continue to leap through the rainforests of Colombia for generations to come. 

In the wild: small fish, like sardines and anchovies

At the Zoo: Zupreem Marmoset diet (a canned food for primates), fruit, vegetables, insects, nuts and seeds

Rocky coastlines and islands

In the Rainforest Building along with Elton the Two-toed Sloth, and the Red-footed tortoises, down the path from the Contact Yard and across from the chicken coop area.