Sal and Feta, Emperor Tamarins

January 17, 2025

Say hello to Lincoln Park Zoo’s newest primate residents! The zoo has welcomed a pair of emperor tamarins, whose long white mustaches are among their most stunning features. An eight-year-old male, Sal, and a four-year-old female, Feta, can now be seen in Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House.

The move for this breeding pair was recommended by the Bearded Emperor Tamarin Species Survival Plan®, a program that manages populations in the care of institutions that are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The male came to the zoo from Chattanooga Zoo in Tennessee and the female arrived from the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Emperor tamarins are small monkeys native to the Amazon Basin—parts of South America that drain into the Amazon River and its tributaries. They can be found in wooded habitats in countries like Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. They primarily live in groups of up to 15 individuals and eat an omnivorous diet that is primarily made up of fruit.

bearded emperor tamarin

Photos courtesy of Guest Engagement Facilitator Amy-Mei Lynch

Scientists believe these monkeys were named for the German emperor Wilhelm II, who also wore a bushy, turned-up mustache. In addition to their distinctive facial markings and reddish tails, emperor tamarins are known for a diverse set of vocalizations, which they may use to intimidate predators, show their displeasure, mark territories, and more. They also use olfactory glands on their chest and tails to communicate through scent.

In the wild, emperor tamarin family groups generally consist of one breeding female, two breeding males, and offspring. Adult males assist with the young as soon as they are born by washing them and carrying them for most of the day until they are weaned at two or three months. The juveniles become adults at around 16–20 months. And, like other tamarin species, they often give birth to twins.

While emperor tamarins are listed as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List, their populations do experience pressure from deforestation and human encroachment, especially due to agricultural activities. They are also trafficked as pets, like many small primates. Lincoln Park Zoo is one of many organizations advocating for the Captive Primate Safety Act, which is designed to prohibit private possession of nonhuman primates. Take Action With Us and help save primates like these!

Sal and Feta share a habitat in the Ecosystem section of the building (in the back, underneath the glass dome roof) with Oro, the Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth. They have been pretty active during the day, so stop on by in the new year and check them out!

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