Cotton-Top Tamarins - Disney Animals

Marvel at the amazing athletic abilities of the tiny-but-mighty cotton-top tamarin! Weighing just one pound (0.5 kilogram), this pint-sized primate can leap 15 feet (4.6 meters) from a stationary branch.

In the wild, cotton-top tamarins are found only in the tropical forests of northwestern Colombia in South America, where they live high in the treetops.

Delight in the antics of the tiny cotton-top tamarin on Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

Disney animal care experts recreate the forest habitats and diet of cotton-top tamarins based on their natural history.

Here’s an inside look at the life of a cotton-top tamarin at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park:

• Animal Enrichment: Coconut feeders and puzzle feeders containing special treats—like carrots, pear, strawberry and kiwi—are hung in various locations to encourage physical activity, problem-solving, foraging and other natural behaviors.
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• Training: Disney animal care experts use positive training techniques to teach tamarins to stand still in a specific location. Using a target tool, the animal care experts get the tiny monkeys to step voluntarily on scales to be weighed. Cotton-tops also learn to enter and exit their carriers on cue so it’s easy to transport the animals to other areas of the park—for medical treatment or to new habitats.
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• Veterinary Care: The small size of cotton-top tamarins can make many medical procedures challenging. The park’s skilled veterinarians often use medical equipment designed for premature human babies.

The Walt Disney Company is committed to saving wildlife and protecting the magic of nature together as a global community. The Disney Conservation Fund* supports nonprofit organizations working with communities living in and near cotton-top tamarin habitats in Colombia to raise species awareness, reduce unsustainable use of forest products and create alternative livelihood opportunities that benefit communities and tamarins.