Tamarins are highly social primates that live in extended family groups. Their welfare in captivity depends critically on appropriate social housing and opportunities for natural behaviour.
Tamarins kept alone or in incompatible pairings suffer acutely. The cooperative breeding system means that infants raised without experienced group members are at high risk of being dropped or rejected, causing injury or death. Adults deprived of their social role show depression-like states including reduced activity and self-grooming deficits. Enclosures that lack height, climbing complexity, and foraging challenge fail to engage tamarin behavioural repertoires, leading to stereotypic behaviour. Well-designed social groups with stable membership, appropriate space, and enrichment that mimics forest foraging significantly improve welfare outcomes. Social instability from frequent animal transfers is a major welfare risk that zoo management must minimise.