Zoo Animals

Zoo Golden Lion Tamarin Welfare: Conservation Success Story

Overview of golden lion tamarin welfare and the zoo-led conservation reintroduction programme.

Key Facts

Golden lion tamarins were saved from extinction through zoo breeding and reintroduction
Wild population recovered from 200 to over 3,000 through conservation intervention
Zoo-bred tamarins require pre-release training for reintroduction welfare success
Social group composition in zoos affects reproductive welfare of family groups
The golden lion tamarin programme is a model for zoo-conservation welfare integration

Welfare Considerations

Golden lion tamarin welfare demonstrates how zoo breeding programmes, when done well, can contribute to both captive welfare and wild conservation outcomes. The programme's success in recovering the wild population is a landmark achievement. Welfare in zoo and pre-release settings is carefully managed to maximise reintroduction success. The tamarins' welfare in zoo settings requires appropriate social group management as they are family-group animals.

What You Can Do

Support the Golden Lion Tamarin Association and conservation partners
Visit AZA-accredited zoos with golden lion tamarin breeding programmes
Donate to the golden lion tamarin reintroduction programme