The Little Monkey with the Lion's Mane - Project Mico Leon (27/35)

The Little Monkey with the Lion's Mane - Project Mico Leon (27/35)

In the early seventies, when the lion marmosets were counted in Brazil, there was evidently cause for alarm: only 100 animals had survived the deforestation of the coastal region for the plantation of coffee, cocoa and sugar cane and subsequent cattle farming. Not enough to ensure the survival of the species. There were, however, still some marmosets living in zoos - thus the zoo became a Noah's Ark. A project was launched to resettle the lion marmosets in their former habitat, the coast of Brazil. Yet the first results were most disappointing: only a few of the lion marmosets, reared in the zoo and then resettled, finally survived. It turned out, however, that the next generation of young animals, born in freedom, was more resilient and able to survive in the wilderness. Over 200 lion marmosets, all descendants of zoo animals, now live once again on the cost of Brazil. Felix Heidinger observed the lion marmoset group "Olympia", born in Atlanta, USA, returned to the wilderness in Posso da Santas, Brazil: five animals, whose resettlement here is to ensure the future of their species.