While millions of Brazilians celebrate the Valentine’s Daythis Friday (12), a small primate who lives in southeastern Pará also awaits the arrival of his companion.
Amendoim, a tamarin sheltered at BioParque Vale Amazônia, in Carajás, is part of a national conservation program that seeks to form reproductive pairs forhelp save one of the most endangered species in the world from extinction.
The expectation is that the future partner de Amendoim arrives in the second half of this year.
The search is part of a joint effort by Brazilian and international institutions aimed at protecting the collared tamarin (Saguinus bicolor), a species endemic to Brazil and currently classified as .
According to ICMBio’s Risk Assessment System (SALVE), the tamarin’s distribution is restricted to the state of Amazonas and faces constant threats caused by deforestation and urban expansion.
Projections indicate a population reduction of at least 50% over the next 18 years.
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Peanut’s story
Amendoim arrived at BioParque in December 2022, after being rescued by the Manaus Sorting Center.
The animal survived a dog attack that killed the adult primate it was with, possibly its father.
Small in size, the tamarin measures between 30 and 42 centimeters and weighs 450 to 600 grams.
Its main characteristic is the white fur that covers the head, neck and chest, forming a kind of “collar” that gives rise to the popular name of the species.
For space veterinarian Nereston de Camargo, forming couples in controlled environments is a strategic tool to prevent the animal’s extinction.
“By locating a female, the proposal is to enable the pairing of individuals, seeking to increase the chances of reproduction. This formation of couples and reproductive monitoring make it possible to contribute to the survival of the species”, he highlighted.
