Taipei Zoo

Today (August 15) is Cotton-top Tamarin Day! Cotton-top tamarins are among the world's most endangered primates and are listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Their wild populations have declined rapidly due primarily to extensive habitat loss caused by tropical deforestation and the illegal pet trade, making ex-situ conservation increasingly important. Cotton-top Tamarin Day was established by the conservation organization Proyecto Tití to raise public awareness of the conservation challenges facing cotton-top tamarins and other small tamarin species. At the Tropical Rainforest Indoor House (Pangolin Dome) at Taipei Zoo, visitors can often spot a male and a female cotton-top tamarin using the visitor handrails as their own expressway through the exhibit. If you encounter them, please give them the right of way, and remember not to feed or touch them.

Cotton-top tamarins are small, tree-dwelling primates found primarily in the forests of Colombia. They have hairless black faces and are best known for the striking crest of long white hair on the tops of their heads. When alarmed, they raise this crest to make themselves appear larger. Their backs and tails are black, while their undersides are white. Their small, agile bodies are equipped with sharp claws that allow them to grip slender branches securely and move effortlessly through the forest canopy. As omnivores, they feed on fruits, young shoots, insects, spiders, bird eggs, and small vertebrates, and they occasionally forage among the leaf litter on the forest floor. They also play an important role in forest ecosystems as seed dispersers.

Following the zoo's temporary closure in late June 2026, keepers introduced two lively cotton-top tamarins to roam freely inside the Tropical Rainforest Indoor House (Pangolin Dome). Visitors may spot them moving through the dense vegetation, running along the handrails, or even resting on the roof near the entrance. Taipei Zoo reminds visitors to keep all personal food securely stored while enjoying these charming primates to prevent them from accidentally eating inappropriate food, and asks everyone not to feed the animals. Feeding animals can lead to nutritional imbalances and negatively affect both their health and their natural behaviors. An immersive wildlife experience depends on everyone's cooperation in following the Three No's—No Feeding, No Touching, and No Disturbing—while maintaining an appropriate "social distance" from the animals. By doing so, visitors can enjoy an unforgettable experience without disturbing the animals.