Tamarins, natives of South America, are part of the monkey family but they do not look like them. Let’s look at two species that are in danger of disappearing, because the forests in which they live are being cut down or burned.
One is the cotton-top (called pinche by the people of Columbia, where they live). Its soft-gray, gentle face, is emphasized by a large, upright mane of pure white hair, hanging down over an orange-brown collar. The rest of its body is entirely white.
Another, the golden lion of Brazil, is now one of the rarest animals on earth, with only about 300 still living in the vanishing forests. It is about two feet long, including its tail, and weighs only about one-and-a-half pounds. It looks almost too fragile to live in the wild, but it does very well there.
Thick, orange-red, velvety hair frames its pretty face with its pleading eyes, small nose and large square mouth. It likes to locate in thick bushy areas under tall trees. This also supplies many of the insects it eats, including bugs that live in cup-like leaves of many plants. Wild bananas and other fruits are favorites, too.
At times tamarins make their homes in hollowed-out trees, where the mother, with perhaps just two little ones, teaches them to make their own way in the forest. It is amazing to see her leading her little ones over branches or along a vine stretched between trees.
The father brings up the rear and keeps an eye on the youngsters as well. Coming to the end of a vine, one by one they leap to nearby tree branches, the little ones jumping successfully without any training.
It is usual for young tamarins to stay close to their parents for quite a while and help take care of baby brothers and sisters. Surprisingly, the otherwise gentle females are often quarrelsome with one another (even sisters and mothers and growing daughters), until a father moves in and quiets things down.
Recently some of the golden lions have been taken to zoos in the United States, where large numbers of little ones have been born. Many of these have been taken back to Brazil and placed in more natural homes where they seem to be thriving under the watchful eyes of forest officials. Efforts are being made to save the remaining forests of Brazil, which would also help increase the tamarin population.
Does God, their Creator, know about these tamarins? He certainly does. A Bible verse assures us, “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:99The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. (Psalm 145:9). It is also written: “For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings.” Job 34:2121For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. (Job 34:21). What does God see when He looks on your ways?
ML-07/07/1991