The drama of a cotton-top tamarin monkey, victim of abuse and wildlife trafficking

Malnourished, fangless and tied by the neck, this monkey will never be able to return to its natural habitat.

News Colombia.

A heartbreaking case of animal abuse shook the community of Piedecuesta, Santander, when a cotton-top tamarin monkey (Oedipomidas oedipus), a species classified as critically endangered, was rescued by the Corporation for the Defense of the Bucaramanga Plateau (Cdmb) and the Environmental Police.

This primate, a victim of illegal wildlife trafficking, was in an alarming state of malnutrition, extreme stress, and severe mutilations of its tusks, which prevented it from returning to its natural environment.

The rescue began after a citizen complaint alerted about the illegal possession of a parrot.

Among the threatened species, the cotton-top tamarin is on the list

However, when inspecting the house, the authorities discovered the small primate tied by the neck with a leash.

The rescued marmoset, a female, showed obvious signs of prolonged abuse: low body weight, altered behavior and a critical state of health.

“The specimen was in alarming condition,” said Vladimir Quintero Sánchez, veterinarian and coordinator of the Wildlife Care and Assessment Center (CAV).

According to the expert, these conditions are typical in animals that have been subjected to the stress of captivity and human abuse.

Irreparable consequences and rehabilitation

Although the marmoset monkey was subjected to a rigorous rehabilitation process, the damage caused by the abuse is irreversible.

During a medical evaluation under anesthesia, veterinarians discovered that the animal’s four tusks had been deliberately cut and filed, probably when it was very young.

One of the tusks had a severe infection due to a perforation in the nerve, which required surgery to remove the damaged pieces and avoid future complications.

“This procedure, carried out with the intention of domesticating the animal, condemned it to a life in captivity. Without fangs, the marmoset cannot hunt or defend itself, essential skills to survive in its natural habitat.”, explained the specialists.

A species on the verge of extinction

The cotton-top tamarin, native to the tropical forests of Colombia, is on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Its population has decreased drastically due to deforestation and illegal wildlife trafficking.

Cases like that of this rescued female reflect the impact of human exploitation on a species whose survival is in danger.

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