What do we have in common with Cotton-Top Tamarin Monkeys?

Tamarins are small, beautiful, and incredibly cute. But what makes them close to our hearts is that, like our community, they also get IBD. Senior Veterinarian at Wellington Zoo Dr. Kirsten Anderson explains that cotton-tops sometimes present with diarrhoea and weight loss due to colitis. They are treated and usually respond to the same medications that are used by us.

Cotton-top tamarins are native to the lowland forests of Colombia and are among the world’s most endangered species, due mostly to the destruction of their natural habit. Only 6,000 remain in the wild. They are highly protected and cannot be used for medical research. They get their name from their long, white, beautiful hair. They are highly social and live in small groups. While they are critically endangered in the wild, enough individuals are in captivity to sustain their survival as a species.

Our community owes them a special debt of gratitude to these little monkeys since their favourable response to and improvement on “anti-TNF medications” (like infliximab) in the 1990’s, paved the way for these medications to be used in humans. The staff at Wellington Zoo takes loving care of their cotton-tops and are experts in the management of their IBD. The next time you at the zoo, give these little monkeys a thank you and tell them that you understand.