In 2020, the Auckland Zoo successfully raised a pair of golden lion tamarin twins, and they’re absolute knock-outs. Truly, they may be the most heartbreakingly beautiful creatures I’ve ever seen. I realize they’re critically endangered, but are we 100% sure I can’t have one…? Seriously, though, the dedication of this remarkable primatologist is truly inspiring. She was getting up and coming to work every couple of hours for feedings, just like you would with your own baby. The story was so compelling, I just had to do a bit of research on the animals.
Weighing less than 2 lbs in adulthood, the golden lion tamarin, A.K.A. golden marmoset, is an endangered species, found high up in the trees in rainforests in the lowland tropical forests of Brazil. A combination of deforestation, agriculture, and development resulted in the loss of all but 5% of their original habitat, with their entire population estimated at about 200 by the late 1970s. In the early 1990s, the Golden Lion Tamarin Association was founded, and began buying up land to create connected conservation areas. Conservation efforts also included the construction of tamarin bridges which allow the beautiful primates to pass above major roadways instead of trying to cross them. So smart!
There are now estimated to be about 2,500 golden lion tamarins in the wild and roughly 500 in captivity, spread across about 150 zoos around the world. One of the main reasons the breed came back so well from near extinction is that they evolved to nearly always have twins. Nature is so clever!
You can learn more about these remarkably beautiful animals on the National Geographic website, and you can help support the primates on the SaveTheLionTamarin website.
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My OBT 
September 17, 2021 at 7:40 am
They are so cute!! The video is wonderful–what dedication from their caretaker. She just exuded love for taking care of them.
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September 18, 2021 at 7:26 am
You have to be a special kind of person to devote your life to animals. I’ve never met an animal handler I didn’t like.
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September 17, 2021 at 8:29 am
I would give this a ten if I could. Great post! Thanks for bring this to us. Hal
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September 18, 2021 at 7:27 am
They are just the cutest! So glad you enjoyed them.
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September 17, 2021 at 8:35 am
Cute and amazing critters, thank for sharing. And yes, the video is inspiring.
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September 18, 2021 at 7:29 am
If I were stupidly rich, I would really struggle with the temptation to keep beautiful creatures like these. Thank heaven that’s not something that’s ever going to happen.
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September 17, 2021 at 10:20 am
special…Blessings to the caregivers.
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September 18, 2021 at 7:29 am
They really do deserve their place in heaven!
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September 17, 2021 at 2:04 pm
They are indeed adorable. Their eyes are beautiful and engaging.
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September 18, 2021 at 7:30 am
There was one in my dream last night. Someone was asking me to babysit their little one and I kept saying no, but then I looked in the carriage, and it was one of these lovelies. I changed my tune right quick!
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