Today is International Cotton-Top Tamarin Day and our fluffy haired duo Turbo and Philippe are centre stage.
These tiny, big haired dynamos at Alexandra Park Zoo are cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus).
They weigh only around 500 grams but don’t let their size fool you – they’re packed with personality.
They are found only in north west Colombia and famous for their wild white crests, feather light bodies and a whole symphony of sounds.
Big personalities in small packages
Turbo (female, turning 16 in October) and Philippe (male, 7) can chirp, trill, squeak and even produce calls so high pitched humans can’t hear them.
When cotton-tops get excited or alarmed, their white crest stands straight up to make them look bigger and bolder.
They’re omnivores and enjoy fruit, vegetables and a mix of protein foods.
Built for the treetops
Cotton-top tamarins are canopy dwellers, using their claws for climbing and their long tails for balance.
Watch Turbo and Philippe put these features to work as they leap, climb and explore their habitat.
Why today matters
Cotton-top tamarins are one of the world’s most endangered primates.
Turbo and Philippe are part of the Australasian Species Management Program, helping raise awareness about threats like habitat loss, unsustainable palm oil and the illegal pet trade.
Visitors to the zoo can also learn about Proyecto TitÃ, a Colombian conservation group restoring forest habitat and supporting local communities.
Learn more at our keeper talk
You can meet Turbo and Philippe up close at our free zoo keeper talks.
You’ll watch them enjoy their morning feed and hear fun facts about their personalities, behaviours and conservation story.
Talks run at 10.35 am in front of the cotton-top tamarin exhibit every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday outside school holidays.
During school holidays, check the zoo keeper talk schedule for extra dates and times.
Alexandra Park Zoo is open Wednesday to Sunday, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm and is located at 29 Quay Street, Bundaberg West.
Come celebrate International Cotton-Top Tamarin Day with two of the most entertaining primates you’ll ever meet.
