The tiny cotton-top, which weighs less than a pound, is named for the shock of white hair that sits atop its head. The monkeys, nicknamed the cutest in South America, entertain researchers with their endless antics. However, cotton-top tamarins are among the most endangered primates in the world. They are found only in northwestern Colombia, and their tropical forest habitat is being destroyed for cattle ranching, agriculture, and urban development. Cotton-tops are also captured and illegally sold as pets.
Many Colombians who live near the cotton-tops’ forest home do not know that these monkeys—known locally as “titís”—are endangered. Proyecto Tití (PT) aims to change this by providing information about the cotton-top alongside employment opportunities that enable locals to protect the forest and its monkeys.
All of the deforestation that has been going on in Colombia for the last few decades has made the cotton-tops and the dry tropical forest of northern Colombia critically endangered.Rosamira Guillen
Rosamira Guillen entered the wildlife conservation field via a different path than many conservationists. She worked as a landscape architect for the Barranquilla Zoo in northwest Colombia and became the director of the zoo in 2001.
As Zoo Director, Rosamira was dedicated to developing partnerships with conservation organizations both in Colombia and around the world. One of these partnerships was with Proyecto Tití to create an education campaign about the local endangered cotton-top tamarin. When the project became an official Colombian non-profit organization, Rosamira was excited to join as Executive Director. She is proud to lead a project that has important benefits for local and urban communities while also protecting Colombia’s incredible biodiversity.
Tackling Wildlife Crime
Restoring Habitat
Reducing Conflict
Scientific Research
Expanding Education
Empowering Women
Boosting Local Economies
Guiding Policy
Honoring Culture
Unfortunately, the illegal pet trade causes many cotton-top tamarins to be taken from the wild and kept in captivity. Many do not understand the impact of having a cotton-top tamarin as a pet to the long-term survival of the wild population, so Proyecto Tití works to educate people about the difference between domestic and wild animals, and what animals are appropriate pets, to reduce ownership or trade of cotton-top tamarins.
Proyecto Tití collaborates with private property owners, the Colombian government, and other NGOs to connect privately owned forest corridors to larger forest ecosystems. Proyecto Tití also manages plant nurseries for the propagation of native trees that are used by cotton-top tamarins for food and shelter, caring for them from seeds to saplings, and creating future forest for cotton-top tamarins.
To reduce the illegal pet trade of cotton-top tamarins, Proyecto Tití launched “Amiguau,” a program that builds a strong bond between children and dogs, understanding why the critically endangered cotton-top tamarins do not make good pets. As they learn about dog behavior, the children also learn about cotton-tops, and how their family in the forest provides everything they need to thrive.
Proyecto Tití has studied wild cotton-top tamarins in Colombia for more than 30 years, the longest running field study of the species. Studying such a tiny monkey is no easy task given how easily they can hide in the dense forest vegetation. Their research provides valuable insights into the complex social organization of cotton-tops, their reproductive strategies, feeding ecology, and how they respond and use newly created forest corridors to improve conservation efforts.
Proyecto Tití’s education programs teaches children in elementary and secondary schools about the threats facing cotton-tops and what they can do to help. Since 2010, more than 10,000 students have participated in these programs, not only increasing their knowledge about cotton-tops and the forests, but actively engaging in behaviors that positively impact the long-term survival of their forest home.
Proyecto Tití supports female artisan cooperatives living near cotton-top habitat to produce plush cotton-top tamarin toys and “eco-mochilas,” traditional tote bags used that are crocheted from recycled plastic bags. Women who previously had little to no work now make a steady income while removing thousands of plastic bags from local forests and streams.
Proyecto Tití provides local farmers with seeds, tools, supplies, and training in agricultural practices, all in exchange for signing a conservation agreement that designates portions of their property as habitat for cotton-top tamarins. These corridors of privately-owned forest connect to a larger reserve, acting as a win-win for farmers and wildlife.
Through their guidance on the National Conservation Plan for Cotton-top Tamarins, Proyecto Tití outlined the critical need to protect forest habitat to Colombia’s government. Proyecto Tití was also instrumental in stopping the development of an airport that would have cleared hundreds of acres of forest, and helped the government declare the first two protected areas for cotton-top tamarins in northern Colombia.
August 15 is the Day of the Cotton-Top Tamarin, celebrated by Proyecto Tití and various communities and partners. It’s a wonderful way to bring together all communities to show their support of cotton-top tamarin conservation through dance, songs, art displays, and more.
Tackling Wildlife Crime
Unfortunately, the illegal pet trade causes many cotton-top tamarins to be taken from the wild and kept in captivity. Many do not understand the impact of having a cotton-top tamarin as a pet to the long-term survival of the wild population, so Proyecto Tití works to educate people about the difference between domestic and wild animals, and what animals are appropriate pets, to reduce ownership or trade of cotton-top tamarins.
Restoring Habitat
Proyecto Tití collaborates with private property owners, the Colombian government, and other NGOs to connect privately owned forest corridors to larger forest ecosystems. Proyecto Tití also manages plant nurseries for the propagation of native trees that are used by cotton-top tamarins for food and shelter, caring for them from seeds to saplings, and creating future forest for cotton-top tamarins.
Reducing Conflict
To reduce the illegal pet trade of cotton-top tamarins, Proyecto Tití launched “Amiguau,” a program that builds a strong bond between children and dogs, understanding why the critically endangered cotton-top tamarins do not make good pets. As they learn about dog behavior, the children also learn about cotton-tops, and how their family in the forest provides everything they need to thrive.
Scientific Research
Proyecto Tití has studied wild cotton-top tamarins in Colombia for more than 30 years, the longest running field study of the species. Studying such a tiny monkey is no easy task given how easily they can hide in the dense forest vegetation. Their research provides valuable insights into the complex social organization of cotton-tops, their reproductive strategies, feeding ecology, and how they respond and use newly created forest corridors to improve conservation efforts.
Expanding Education
Proyecto Tití’s education programs teaches children in elementary and secondary schools about the threats facing cotton-tops and what they can do to help. Since 2010, more than 10,000 students have participated in these programs, not only increasing their knowledge about cotton-tops and the forests, but actively engaging in behaviors that positively impact the long-term survival of their forest home.
Empowering Women
Proyecto Tití supports female artisan cooperatives living near cotton-top habitat to produce plush cotton-top tamarin toys and “eco-mochilas,” traditional tote bags used that are crocheted from recycled plastic bags. Women who previously had little to no work now make a steady income while removing thousands of plastic bags from local forests and streams.
Boosting Local Economies
Proyecto Tití provides local farmers with seeds, tools, supplies, and training in agricultural practices, all in exchange for signing a conservation agreement that designates portions of their property as habitat for cotton-top tamarins. These corridors of privately-owned forest connect to a larger reserve, acting as a win-win for farmers and wildlife.
Guiding Policy
Through their guidance on the National Conservation Plan for Cotton-top Tamarins, Proyecto Tití outlined the critical need to protect forest habitat to Colombia’s government. Proyecto Tití was also instrumental in stopping the development of an airport that would have cleared hundreds of acres of forest, and helped the government declare the first two protected areas for cotton-top tamarins in northern Colombia.
Honoring Culture
August 15 is the Day of the Cotton-Top Tamarin, celebrated by Proyecto Tití and various communities and partners. It’s a wonderful way to bring together all communities to show their support of cotton-top tamarin conservation through dance, songs, art displays, and more.
$15 will purchase a tití-post made of recycled plastic to reduce dependence on wooden posts for fences.
$150 will purchase CARTITILLA workbooks for a classroom of 40 students to teach Colombian children about the importance of cotton-top conservation.
$300 will outfit one field assistant with research gear such as a backpack, boots, rain gear, insect repellent, and a water jug.
