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Ok, ok… we know we rave about a lot of species here at Lemu, but seriously, this is one of the cutest!&nbsp;The cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus),&nbsp;or just “Tití” as known by locals, is the epitome of “dynamite comes in small packages”.These cute primates are part of the five New World monkeys sub-groups, with the cotton-top tamarins being from the&nbsp;callitrichidae&nbsp;group. In its&nbsp;native home of Colombia, this species is known simply as titís.Sadly, due to deforestation and illegal trading, there are now only about&nbsp;<a href="https://a-z-animals.com/animals/cotton-top-tamarin/">7,000 of these creatures left</a>&nbsp;in the wild.Beyond their cute looks though, there are plenty of reasons why we need to support efforts to protect these precious creatures.To learn more about the cotton-top tamarin and the conservation efforts behind their survival, join our waitlist for more information on species that are in danger and the stewards working tirelessly to protect them.<figure class="image"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/YJODB_5j_RG_Wxpv_AHXYV_Hqj_A_79bfff44fa/YJODB_5j_RG_Wxpv_AHXYV_Hqj_A_79bfff44fa.jpeg" alt="YJODB5jRGWxpvAHXYVHqjA.jpeg" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/thumbnail_YJODB_5j_RG_Wxpv_AHXYV_Hqj_A_79bfff44fa/thumbnail_YJODB_5j_RG_Wxpv_AHXYV_Hqj_A_79bfff44fa.jpeg 208w,https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/small_YJODB_5j_RG_Wxpv_AHXYV_Hqj_A_79bfff44fa/small_YJODB_5j_RG_Wxpv_AHXYV_Hqj_A_79bfff44fa.jpeg 500w,https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/medium_YJODB_5j_RG_Wxpv_AHXYV_Hqj_A_79bfff44fa/medium_YJODB_5j_RG_Wxpv_AHXYV_Hqj_A_79bfff44fa.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Cotton-top tamarins are omnivores.</figcaption></figure><h2>Here are 5 things you might not know about cotton-top tamarins</h2><h3>1. Appearances are everything</h3>Cotton-top tamarins may be tiny at a head and body length of&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton-top_tamarin">8.2 to 10.2 inches</a>, but their physical features make them larger than life.With a characteristic white crest running from their head to chest, they are a striking ball of fur.Weighing in at just&nbsp;<a href="https://a-z-animals.com/animals/cotton-top-tamarin/">one pound</a>, their tail is longer than their body, but unlike other monkeys, it is not prehensile, which means they cannot use it for swinging and grasping.<figure class="image"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/6_II_In_Fry_2_E30xdf_Ls_Su_A_df135fe5fc/6_II_In_Fry_2_E30xdf_Ls_Su_A_df135fe5fc.jpeg" alt="6IIInFry-2E30xdfLs_SuA.jpeg" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/thumbnail_6_II_In_Fry_2_E30xdf_Ls_Su_A_df135fe5fc/thumbnail_6_II_In_Fry_2_E30xdf_Ls_Su_A_df135fe5fc.jpeg 125w,https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/small_6_II_In_Fry_2_E30xdf_Ls_Su_A_df135fe5fc/small_6_II_In_Fry_2_E30xdf_Ls_Su_A_df135fe5fc.jpeg 403w,https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/medium_6_II_In_Fry_2_E30xdf_Ls_Su_A_df135fe5fc/medium_6_II_In_Fry_2_E30xdf_Ls_Su_A_df135fe5fc.jpeg 604w,https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/large_6_II_In_Fry_2_E30xdf_Ls_Su_A_df135fe5fc/large_6_II_In_Fry_2_E30xdf_Ls_Su_A_df135fe5fc.jpeg 806w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Cotton-top tamarins are located in Colombia.</figcaption></figure><h3>2. SOS! An endangered species</h3>Unfortunately, due to deforestation and loss of habitat, their illegal trade as pets, as well as depletion of forest resources by impoverished communities, the cotton-top tamarin is now on the critically endangered list.Thanks to stewards like<a href="http://www.proyectotiti.com/">&nbsp;Proyecto Tití</a>&nbsp;located in Colombia, with which we have the pleasure to collaborate, conservation measures are being executed.<h3>3. Dietary options</h3>Cotton-top tamarins are omnivores. With a seasonal diet, they tend to eat more fruit in the rainy season when fruit is more readily available, turning to tree gum,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalgeographicla.com/animales/2020/04/mono-titi">nectar and insects in the drier months</a>. Because of their varied diet — feeding off several trees — they are able to help with regenerating the forest as they travel through it, thanks to their droppings that contain seeds.<h3>4. Highly vocal</h3>A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.proyectotiti.com/en-us/Cotton-top-Tamarins/Publications">study</a>&nbsp;revealed that these little creatures are highly vocal, with 38 distinct sounds observed, based on different factors. These include chirps to indicate human observers, the possession of food, among others.<h3>5. Family orientated</h3>Cotton-top tamarins tend to be social, living in groups of two to ten, made up of breeding parents and mature offspring. They tend to be monogamous, mating for life. They also tend to reproduce twins as a norm. Together, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalgeographicla.com/animales/2020/04/mono-titi">family unit</a>&nbsp;(that might include migrated adults) help to defend each other from predators that include snakes and big cats.Learn more about the efforts being made to protect the titi monkey, and other stewards that are at the forefront of conservation by signing up for early access to our&nbsp;<a href="https://le.mu/">Lemu app</a><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/v_PPW_42cz0_Nmrinv_f_NI_1g_06468e2fa1/v_PPW_42cz0_Nmrinv_f_NI_1g_06468e2fa1.jpeg" alt="vPPW42cz0Nmrinv__fNI1g.jpeg" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/thumbnail_v_PPW_42cz0_Nmrinv_f_NI_1g_06468e2fa1/thumbnail_v_PPW_42cz0_Nmrinv_f_NI_1g_06468e2fa1.jpeg 235w,https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/small_v_PPW_42cz0_Nmrinv_f_NI_1g_06468e2fa1/small_v_PPW_42cz0_Nmrinv_f_NI_1g_06468e2fa1.jpeg 500w,https://storage.googleapis.com/lemu-web-dev/medium_v_PPW_42cz0_Nmrinv_f_NI_1g_06468e2fa1/medium_v_PPW_42cz0_Nmrinv_f_NI_1g_06468e2fa1.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw">

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Meet a one-pound monkey: The Cotton-top Tamarin

The evolution of bonobos as we know them today happened in the equatorial forests south of the Congo River, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This, simply put, means that it is their home: they can’t survive anywhere else in the world. This is key to understand why a project at that exact location is key to maintain an ensure their survival. <a href="https://gacebb.org/">Project GACEBB</a>, which is acronym for Groupe D'appui À La Conservation Des Ecosystèmes De Basankusu Et Bolomba, took on the mission to safeguard them.How does GACEBB work? By implementing income generating micro-projects for the local communities to improve their socio-economic conditions and by that, to reduce pressure on bonobos and their habitat. They also have an education program to sensitize the population about the importance and fragility of ecosystems and a climate change fight program aimed to restore deforested areas. To be precise, GACEBB initiatives are:

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