This wonderful tamarin is known as the monkey of Manaus as it is only found in the remaining forests in and around the famous city at the heart of the Amazon basin. The pied tamarin has one of the smallest geographic ranges of any tamarin in South America. It is now critically endangered and perhaps the most threatened of all the Amazon forest’s primates.

Its habitat is now very fragmented and what remains is under extreme pressure due to the ever expanding city. Tamarins can be found clinging on to survival in tiny patches of forest within the city limits, where they have to navigate roads and power lines to move from one foraging area to another with the inevitable casualties due to electrocution, cars, and dogs and cats. Remarkably the tamarins are still managing to hold out and there are some fantastic efforts by local conservationists to help them.

Urban tree corridors and bridges over dangerous roads and areas are being constructed to help the tamarins move to safer areas. Work with local authorities continues to identify key areas to protect, within and outside the city.

Inevitably there are many tamarins that need to be rescued and translocated as their habitat is destroyed. Specialist teams of conservationists work to identify these groups, catch them and move them to safer areas. A safety net population in captivity is being grown to ensure the survival of the species and to provide individuals for future introduction in restored areas.

The Tamarin Trust will work with conservationists making a stand for the conservation of pied tamarins, providing funds and support to all elements of the conservation action plan for the species as well as advising on technical workshops in Brazil that will focus on husbandry and conservation plans.