| Scientific
Name: Leontopithecus rosalia
Size: 70cms including tail
Weight: 750 gms
IUCN Endangered Species?: Endangered
Estimated Population: 1000
Distribution: Brazil
Description: Its
name comes from its beautiful, golden fur and mane-like hair around the
face. They live in social
groups where all members care for the babies.
The main cause for decline is the deforestation of the Amazon
rainforest. Recently
classified as ‘Critically Endangered’, numbers of this tiny monkey
are increasing in its home range of the rainforests of Brazil.
At one point, the wild population was believed to be less than
100. Now that sanctuaries
have been secured, several hundred individuals have been reintroduced
into the wild and these animals have done very well and bred soon after
their release. In order for
this, and many other rainforest animals to survive, it is important to
address the destruction of the south American forests.
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