info Announcement 1 of 6:

The following Park Experiences are temporarily suspended due to safe distancing measures:
Elephant Presentation  |  Keepers' Chit Chat 

info Announcement 2 of 6:

The Wet Play Area at KidzWorld is temporarily closed due to safe distancing measures. Pony rides, Falabella grooming and Rabbit petting at Buddy Barn at KidzWorld are temporarily suspended due to safe distancing measures.

info Announcement 3 of 6:

Our shows are operating at limited capacity as part of the necessary Safe Management Measures. We seek your understanding that once full, we will be unable to accept more guests.

info Announcement 4 of 6:

The following exhibit will be closed due to upgrading works:
Frozen Tundra (Until further notice) | White Tiger (10 Mar 21 from 1pm onwards)

info Announcement 5 of 6:

There will be a Bi-Annual Emergency Drill on 8 - 9 Mar 21. The following park experiences will operate from 10.30am onwards:
Rainforest Kidzworld  |  Wild Animal Carousel  |  Tram Services

info Announcement 6 of 6:

You can now book seats for animal shows! Booking portal opens 90 minutes before show time, and can only be accessed onsite. Find out more

  • Wildlife Reserves Singapore
  • Jurong Bird Park
  • Night Safari
  • River Safari
  • Get involved
  • Events and Venues
  • English
    • English
    • 简体中文
  • EN
    • EN
    • 简体中文
    • My memberships
    • Update Profile
    • Change Password
    • Logout
    • My memberships
    • Update Profile
    • Change Password
    • Logout
  • Search
icon

You're now logged out!

Buy tickets
Menu
Close
  • Plan your visit
    • Getting around Singapore Zoo
    • Singapore Zoo map
    • Getting here
    • Tips & Services
  • What's on
  • Animals & Zones
  • Things to do
    • Shows
    • Activities
    • Dine & shop
    • Park ProTips
  • Learning with us
    • Virtual Offerings
    • Resources
    • Mother Tongue Language Resources
    • Programmes & Activities
    • Prepare for your visit
  • Be a member
  • Buy tickets
  • Be a member
  • Plan your visit
    • Getting around Singapore Zoo
    • Singapore Zoo map
    • Getting here
    • Tips & Services
  • What's on
  • Animals & Zones
  • Things to do
    • Shows
    • Activities
    • Dine & shop
    • Park ProTips
  • Learning with us
    • Virtual Offerings
    • Resources
    • Mother Tongue Language Resources
    • Programmes & Activities
    • Prepare for your visit
  • Get involved
  • Events and Venues
Wildlife Reserves Singapore Group
  • bird-park
  • night-safari
  • river-safari
  • singapore-zoo
  • Singapore Zoo
  • Animals & Zones
  • Cotton-top tamarin

Cotton-top tamarin

Find me in
Primate Kingdom
  • Quick Facts
  • Get to Know
  • Protecting Wildlife
  • Visit Us

Quick facts

Lifespan

Lifespan

Around 18 years

Diet

Diet

Fruits, flowers

nectar, plant gums, saps, latex

Habitat

Habitat

Humid to dry deciduous forests

at altitudes of 400m

Range

Range

Colombia

Share on

The cotton-top tamarins

All in the family

All in the family

Our family of cotton-top tamarins at the entrance of Singapore Zoo comprises dad, mum and three youngsters. Dad is the ‘boss’. Tamarins usually have twins or triplets. Dad piggybacks the babies most of the time, passing them back to mum only when the babies need to nurse. Tamarins practise cooperative rearing, so older siblings also help carry the babies. To date, we’ve welcomed 37 baby cotton-tops!
Starting a free-ranging exhibit

Starting a free-ranging exhibit

The tamarins’ strong family bonds are why they’re chosen as one of our free-ranging species. To start a free-ranging exhibit, the keepers select a lushly-planted location and build a small ‘hut’ in its middle. Branches for climbing and other ‘furniture’ are added to the ‘hut’. A family group of tamarins is then housed in the ‘hut’, where they will remain for the first few days. During this time, they get used to the human traffic and noises in their new environment.
Getting used to their new home

Getting used to their new home

Next, keepers coax the female out of the hut to explore and scent mark her new surroundings. A few days later, the male is released while the female is confined. Guided by her scent marks, the male familiarises himself with the area. When he’s observed to be behaving calmly and staying close by, the keepers release the whole family. This is a make-or-break moment as the animals may get spooked and run off. Kudos to our keepers who’ve always managed this step smoothly.
At the ‘hut’ of the family

At the ‘hut’ of the family

After the release, especially for the first week, keepers continue to monitor the family closely to ensure they’re settled in. The ‘hut’ remains at the heart of their lives. It is a safe haven for them, a place where they can take refuge if something frightens them. It is also where they spend the night, a warm hearth to retire to. For their safety, the tamarins must return to their ‘hut’ by the end of day. Keepers condition them to do so by placing food there at 5pm.

Together, we protect wildlife

Exotic pets

Exotic pets

Each year, hundreds of illegal pets come to us in such a manner, or as confiscations. Given our limited space and resources, it is a challenge for us to take in all of them. It’s illegal to keep exotic animals like cotton-top tamarins as pets.

Thousands of wild animals are removed from the wild to meet the demand for illegal pets and most die while being smuggled across borders. Do not buy exotic pets.

The IUCN Status

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

Visit us

photo
50¢ from every ticket purchased goes towards wildlife conservation in the region
Singapore Zoo
Buy Now

You might also like

Lion
Lion
Elephant Presentation
Elephant Presentation
Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia
Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia
Shows
Shows
Wildlife Reserves Singapore Group
  • Jurong Bird Park
  • Night Safari
  • River Safari
  • Singapore Zoo

Need help?

  • Contact us
  • FAQ
  • Temporary closures

About us

  • About Singapore Zoo
  • About Wildlife Reserves Singapore
  • Our policies

Events and Venues

  • Plan an event
  • View venues

Get involved

  • Partner with us

Careers

  • We're hiring!

Press

  • Press room

Opening hours

8.30am - 6.00pm (Last entry at 5.00pm)

We're open every day of the year.

Address

80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826

Follow us

© Copyright 2020, Wildlife Reserves Singapore Group. All rights reserved.

Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari, Singapore Zoo and Wildlife Reserves Singapore are trademarks or registered trademarks of WRS Group in Singapore and/or other countries.
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Data protection policy