Research has demonstrated that cotton-top tamarins must have experience carrying their siblings while they remain in their natal group. If they do not obtain this experience in their natal group, both males and females will reject or abuse their own offspring. Therefore the SSP will not remove any individual from an intact natal group until they have had experience carrying one set of siblings. If an institution chooses to remove an animal from it’s natal group prior to obtain sibling experience, this animal will no longer be managed by the SSP. This means the animals care and disposition will be responsibility of the institution in perpetuity.

HAND-REARING OF INFANTS

The SSP does not support the hand-rearing of infants rejected by/removed from their parents. Our data shows that hand-reared infants that are not properly socialized have a low probability of gaining the necessary social skills and sibling experience needed to be productive contributors to the gene pool in the future. Thus, if an institution chooses to hand-rear an infant, this animal will not be managed by the SSP. The care and disposition of the animal will be the responsibility of the institution in perpetuity.

If the institution follows the hand-rearing protocol described in the husbandry manual, successfully integrates the individual into a social group and the animal obtains sibling experience, the institution may petition the SSP management group to reconsider the decision to exclude this animal from the managed population. Each petition will be reviewed by the management group as needed.