Golden Lion Tamarin

endangered · Brazil · tiny monkey · rainforest

Glowing golden fur. Golden lion tamarins have bright, shimmering golden coats and a dramatic mane around their face that makes them look like tiny lions. This striking appearance is how they got their name.

Only in Brazil. These monkeys live nowhere else on Earth except in the Atlantic coastal forests of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They depend entirely on these forests to survive.

On the edge. Golden lion tamarins are endangered, with only about 4,800 left in the wild as of 2022. Habitat loss from deforestation has shrunk their forest homes to tiny patches.

Zoo rescue effort. About 490 golden lion tamarins live in about 150 zoos around the world as part of a careful breeding program to help save the species. These zoo populations keep the species from disappearing completely.

Pint-sized primates. Golden lion tamarins are New World monkeys in the marmoset family, meaning they are small, tropical monkeys found in Central and South America.