New Census Launched for Black Lion Tamarin in Western São Paulo After 42 Years of Research

A groundbreaking census has commenced in the western region of São Paulo state, Brazil, to map the population of the critically endangered black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus). This initiative by the Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPÊ) expands conservation efforts beyond the traditional Pontal do Paranapanema region, focusing on fragmented Atlantic Forest areas near Lençóis Paulista, Bauru, and Marília. For decades, conservation efforts for this São Paulo symbol species were largely concentrated in the Pontal, a program that began in 1984 and helped the species recover from near extinction. Today, over a thousand individuals are protected at the Morro do Diabo State Park. Researcher Gabriela Rezende, coordinator of IPÊ's Black Lion Tamarin Conservation Program, highlighted that habitat fragmentation due to urbanization, roads, agriculture, and pastures is the primary threat, isolating remaining populations and degrading their environment. This new census, supported by private enterprise and expected to last at least five years, aims to understand the species' status across its entire range within São Paulo. The research involves remote monitoring techniques, including autonomous sound recorders to capture tamarin vocalizations and camera traps to detect their presence. These methods are chosen for their low invasiveness and high efficiency in identifying the elusive primates, which spend most of their time high in the trees and move silently. IPÊ is also engaging in citizen science, distributing educational materials to rural communities to help residents identify the black lion tamarin and report sightings, thereby gathering crucial data on population health and group composition in previously understudied areas. This broader approach is considered a strategic shift to ensure the long-term survival of the species by addressing regional threats and genetic diversity.