"Cotton-Top Tamarin: A Critically Endangered Jewel of the Colombian Rainforest"

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The cotton-top tamarin or Curitiba is a small primate that hails from the Colombian Colombia and is scientifically named as Saguinus Oedipus. This tamarin is certainly adorable, but like many other exotic animals, it is also under threat and is characterized by the white soft cotton like fur tuft on their ears. The cotton-top tamarin measures about 25-30cm (10-12 inches) of body length and its tail length is often a tiny bit more than that of the body. Appearing to be light, as it weighs about 0.5 longer than a pound (which is 1.1 lbs), they are very active and live in groups of monkeys that have up to 13 monkeys.

The diet of these animals comprises mostly fruits, some insects as well as small vertebrates which involve approximately ranging making them very significant in their locality. There are, however, negative pressures on the populations attributed to loss of habitat via deforestation and the illegal wild animal trade so that the IUCN has categorized them as endanger.

There are efforts to rehabilitate the populations by preventing the continuous habitat destruction and trading of this species. It is necessary for this rare species to survive through the creation and the usage of protected areas as well as breeding programs. Saving the cotton-top tamarin not only aids the biological species of the forest also supports and enhances the ecosystem balance of the rain forest in which it is found.