Tamarins and marmosets are small South American primates with complex social and cognitive needs that make their welfare in captivity particularly demanding.
Tamarin and marmoset welfare is complex because of their social structure, cognitive sophistication and size. As cooperative breeders, they require family groups that include both parents and older siblings to provide infant care. Pair housing alone is insufficient. Foraging enrichment that mimics complex searching behaviour is essential for cognitive wellbeing. Their small size and apparent adaptability can lead to underestimation of their welfare requirements. Golden lion tamarins represent a genuine conservation achievement — captive breeding programs genuinely contributed to wild population recovery — demonstrating that when welfare and conservation are aligned, significant outcomes are achievable.