Critically Endangered Species of the Week: The Black-Faced Lion Tamarin!

About:
    The Black-Faced Lion Tamarin, Leontopithecus caissara, is a small monkey of the New World group. The species was recently featured on the BBC documentary 'Attenborough's Ark' (as mentioned in a previous post). The monkeys have golden-orange hair down the back, and black haired head, limbs and tail [1;4]. It is often considered the rarest of the South American primates [5], and one of the world's 25 most endangered primates [2].

    Tamarins (and Marmosets) are distinguished from other New World monkeys by their very small size (adults usually around 30cm long; 3), having claws rather than nails aside from on the big toe and the occurrence of twin births [1]. Individuals live in family groups in forests, feeding on small fruit, insects, small vertebrates and flowers [1; 5]. At night, the entire family group retires to a tree hole to sleep [2; 5].



A Black-Faced Lion Tamarin, Leontopithecus caissara, in the rain!

Photo from [2].

A close up of a Black-Faced Lion Tamarin.
Photo from [2].

Number left in existence:



     The most recent studies believe around 260 individuals of 3 subpopulations remain; Therefore giving an estimated figure of no more than 400 animals existing at this time [1; 2; 3], with a decreasing population trend.



The small geographical range of the Black-Faced
Lion Tamarin (in orange). Map from [1].



Geographical Range in the wild:



     The Black-Faced Lion Tamarin is endemic (only found in) Brazil. Small populations exist on the island of Superagüi, on the coast of the state of Paraná. The species has also been found in certain areas of the mainland nearby this island, in the states of Paraná and Sao Paolo [1; 2; 3; 5]. The species' available habitat may may total approximately 68 square miles [3], but may be larger or smaller.

Why they are endangered:

•  Main threats are forest destruction and degradation due to the increase of agriculture, human development and tourism [1; 2; 3; 4].
• Utilisation of forest resources destroying their habitat, notably the harvesting of heart of palm [1; 2; 4].
• Capture of live individuals for the illegal pet trade, and during hunting is threatening populations [2; 4]. 

 What can we do to help?

      Thankfully there have been some measures put in place for conservation of the species; it is listed on the Brazilian Offical List of Species Threatened with Extinction, and regional lists in the two states it is native to [1; 4]. Additionally the Superagui National Park and Jacupiranga State Park cover most of the Black-Faced Lion Tamarin home ranges [1; 4]. The IPE (Instituto de Pesquisas Ecologicas) has a conservation programme for the species, which gathers research, information about threats and aims to educate people about these [2; 4].

    However, the protected habitats of the species have so far not been safe from destruction, and have found to offer little protection against hunting and collection for pets [1]; greater education is needed in this area to protect the species. Furthermore, there are currently no captive breeding programmes for this extremely rare, declining species [1; 2] - these are necessary as a safeguard against extinction, and should be a priority for future conservation.

References:

1. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/11503/0

2. http://www.arkive.org/black-faced-lion-tamarin/leontopithecus-caissara/#ref6 

3. http://www.animalinfo.org/species/primate/leoncais.htm

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superagui_lion_tamarin

5. http://www.wildinvest.com/projects_tamarin.html