Also known as the Golden Marmoset, this brightly coloredmammal resides within the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil, where less than two percent of its original forest habitat remains today. Considered one of the rarest animals in the world, there are only a thousand left in the wild, with almost five hundred living in captivity.

         In their natural habitat, these animals live in families consisting of two adults and five to six younger offspring. Very territorial, the Golden Tamarin will fight off another if it feels threatened by an intruder. They sleep in small “tree holes” for protection during the night, and remain constantly alert during the day. They warn their group of danger with a loud, hooting call that sends the tamarin running for cover. If a raptor is flying overhead, they give a different hoot that makes the animals instantly drop to the forest floor. Considered omnivores, they search for food in canopies and crevices using their slender fingers, eating insects, fruits and small lizards.

         With the constant threat of deforestation, these animals stay on the move, migrating from different areas and becoming more and more isolated from their own species. These animals have adapted to new “swampy” environments in captivity, and have retained some of their natural behaviors. If the destruction of their habitat continues, these beautiful creatures could become extinct within a decade.