The Cotton-top Tamarin SSP represents a concerted effort to manage this species in captivity. Participating institutions and the Cotton-top Tamarin SSP Management group members work together to preserve long-term genetic diversity in the captive population as well as appropriate social behavior of the highly endangered species. Moreover, the SSP supports the long-term field efforts of Proyecto Tití, a comprehensive in situ conservation program in Colombia.

 Cotton-top Tamarin SSP Management Group Members

Rebecca Sellin, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, SSP Coordinator

Bill Langbauer, Ph.D., Pittsburgh Zoo, International Studbook Keeper

Anthony Brownie, Central Park Zoo

Bill Gersonde, Tautphaus Zoo

Terry Lincoln, Dakota Zoo

Lee Nesler, Pittsburgh Zoo

Melinda Pruett-Jones, Brookfield Zoo

Joanne Earnhardt, SPMAG Advisor

Don Neiffer, D.V.M., Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Veterinary Advisor

Michelle Farmerie, Keeper/Training Advisor

Kirsten Leong, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, SSP Assistant

What the SSP provides for all institutional representatives

The SSP management groups meets once a year to make breeding recommendations, discuss progress on current projects, make policy decisions, and revising the 3-year plan according to the needs of the program. Throughout the year, the SSP coordinator assists institutions with needs as they arise. The management group is kept informed of all activities through our list-serve communications.

Yearly SSP recommendations are sent to all institutions with updates on all projects and requests for information as needed. We request that all institutional representatives provide us with feedback on the recommendations so that we are can meet the needs of our participating institutions. Six month update surveys will be sent to you to insure that we are completing the yearly recommendations.

A husbandry manual is available in print to all institutions. It can also be found on the web (www.csew.com/cottontop) We encourage all institutional representatives to share the husbandry manual with the keepers directly involved in the care of the cotton-top tamarins at their institution.

The SSP provides assistance to all participating institutions with exhibit design, husbandry management, and education opportunities as needed.

 

 What the Institutional Representatives provides to the SSP

For the SSP to work effectively it is essential that we communicate frequently. The Institutional Representative is the point of contact for all correspondence and animal transactions for this species. It is your responsibility to disseminate the information you receive to the appropriate individuals at your institution.

We strongly encourage all Institutional Representatives to have an email address. We will be establishing an Institutional Representative list-serve (ctopreps@aza.org) that will be using to disseminate general information to all participants.

Please contact the SSP Coordinator when births and deaths or evictions occur at your institution. This is critically important in helping us to manage the population throughout the entire year. Your timely communication assists us with meeting the needs of our member institutions as it allows us to find suitable mates, etc. for individuals.

If your institution has special needs, please keep us informed prior to the master planning session. We will do our best to accommodate all requests.

If the Institutional Representative changes at your institution, it is critical that you inform the SSP Coordinator in writing of the new contact representative at your institution.

Please respond in a timely fashion to all requests for information. Necropsy reports and specimen reports for all animals born or dying at your institution should be sent to the SSP Coordinator. The SSP Coordinator will insure that these are sent to the International Studbook Keeper. You will receive requests for annual updates on your collection as well as a six month update on the implementation of your annual recommendations.

The SSP has several policy statements that need to be disseminated to all individuals at your institution (see attached). Please make sure that everyone is aware of these policies.