Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago recently welcomed a pair of emperor tamarins. These small monkeys have glorious white mustaches that curl under their chins and long golden-red tails.
Sal, an 8-year-old male emperor tamarin, and Feta, a 4-year-old female, came to Lincoln Park Zoo as part of the Bearded Emperor Tamarin Species Survival Plan. This plan aims to boost the population of emperor tamarins.
“We are hopeful future offspring will support the next generation of a species which is such a rewarding opportunity,” said Lincoln Park Zoo Curator Dan Boehm.
Sal arrived from Chattanooga Zoo in Tennessee and Feta arrived from the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
In the wild, emperor tamarins live in forested areas throughout the Amazon Basin in South America. Although the IUCN lists emperor tamarins as a species of least concern, these primates are often trafficked as pets.
In an effort to curb the primate pet trade and improve the welfare for all primates, Lincoln Park Zoo has joined forces with dozens of other organizations to advocate for the Captive Primate Safety Act. You can learn more about CPSA here.
To learn more about Sal and Feta, visit the Lincoln Park Zoo website.
