Anne Savage, Ph.D.

Proyecto Tití has a long history of working to protect one of Colombia’s most critically endangered primates, the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus). With habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade threatening the survival of cotton-tops, Proyecto Tití works to engage communities in conservation efforts that have tangible benefits for people and wildlife. Our long-term field research provides the opportunity to study wild tamarins and see how our conservation efforts impact their survival. Our community engagement programs work to reduce the number of cotton-tops that are in the illegal pet trade and protect and restore forests for the long-term survival of this critically endangered primate found only in Colombia. Through our successful education programs that work with students, we have significantly increased knowledge and changed behavior in favor of reducing the number of cotton-tops that are desired as pets. Through our women’s empowerment program, we have helped to create artisans that have developed award winning small businesses featuring cotton-top tamarin plush toys and products made from recycled plastic bags that have been recognized by the United Nations Development Program. Leveraging conservation agreements that provide benefits to local farmers and working with private landowners, local and government agencies, we have been able to protect and restore more than 11,000 acres of forests for cotton-top tamarins.