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Emperor Tamarin

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General Information

These tiny primates may be small in size, but they're big on personality and style! With their distinctive long, white moustaches, they have an air of sophistication that's hard to resist.

Emperor tamarins are true social butterflies, living in tight-knit family groups that revolve around a dominant breeding female. Like a royal court, the family structure is essential for their survival and contributes to their strong bond with one another. And if you're lucky enough to witness their daily escapades, you'll find that they're diurnal creatures, meaning they're most active during the day. 

Living high up in the treetops, these arboreal acrobats have mastered the art of tree-dwelling. Their long, nimble fingers allow them to swing gracefully from branch to branch, showcasing their impressive agility. But don't be fooled by their playful nature! Emperor tamarins are highly territorial, and when they sense a threat, they have a quirky way of showing it. They flick their tongues as a warning sign to potential intruders, making for an amusing and unique defensive display.

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Latin name - Saguinus imperator subgrisescens

Class - Mammals

Order - Primates

Family - Callitrichidae

IUCN Status - Least Concern (CITES Appendix 1)

Habitat - Rainforest

Distribution - Peru, Bolivia, Brazil

Threats

Habitat destruction

Lifespan

17 years in captivity.

Fun Fact

Emperor tamarins are so named because of their long white moustaches, which resembled the moustache of the German Emperor Wilhelm II. However, it’s not just the boys that have moustaches – so do the girls!

Our residents

Our Emperor tamarins are part of an EEP (European Breeding Programme). Some of our previous offspring have been sent to New Zealand and Sweden as part of the EEP. We currently have 2 males - Thunder and Lightning!

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