Investigating the Health of Golden-Headed Lion Tamarins in Brazil

Trentham Monkey Forest is proud to support a new conservation research project through the Primate Society of Great Britain focused on the health and survival of endangered tamarins living in one of Brazil’s most threatened landscapes.

The project, led by PhD researcher Maria Alejandra Rivillas Carmona from Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, will take place in the Atlantic Forest region of Bahia, Brazil between 2026 and 2027.

The research focuses on the golden-headed lion tamarin, an endangered primate found only in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Although this species has been studied in parts of its range, far less is known about populations living at the western edge of their habitat, where deforestation and cattle ranching have heavily fragmented the landscape.

In these areas, forest patches are smaller, more isolated and increasingly surrounded by farmland. This can make it harder for tamarins to move between forests, find food and maintain healthy populations.

The project will investigate how habitat loss is affecting tamarin health by studying parasite infections and diet across 15 forest landscapes with varying levels of forest cover. Researchers will collect non-invasive samples, including hair and faecal samples, to better understand how fragmented habitats may influence stress, nutrition and disease risk.

The study will also examine how changes in the landscape affect the foods tamarins rely on. In highly fragmented areas, animals may be forced to adapt their diets and spend more time using resources found near farmland or degraded forest edges.

Importantly, the project goes beyond scientific research. Community engagement forms a key part of the work, with plans to hold workshops with local farmers and cattle ranchers throughout the region. These sessions will share practical information about the importance of forest remnants and how protecting these areas can help support wildlife conservation.

The findings from the project will contribute to Brazil’s National Action Plan for Atlantic Forest primates and help identify landscapes that are especially important for the long-term survival of the species.

At Trentham Monkey Forest, we are committed to supporting conservation projects that combine research, education and local collaboration. By helping fund projects like this through the Primate Society of Great Britain, we hope to contribute to the protection of endangered primates and the forests they depend on.