But many more have been lost and there are still nearly a thousand names on the list, and that is even an understatement of the true danger we re in. There are several continuing efforts focused on saving creatures and their habitats from destruction. Among the more promising is the Golden Lion Tamarin Reintroduction Program. Less than 8,000 square miles of their original 400,000 square mile habitat remains intact and only 200 GLTs were surviving in the wild in 1983 when conservation biologist Dr. Jim Dietz began his studies in Brazil. The reserve is a 13,000 acre patch of forest, swamp and grassland that is the largest stretch of untouched forest within the tamarins range.
Zoos are by no means adequate replacement for the natural habitat of any species.
But they often contribute knowledge, staff members, and money to conservation efforts. And, besides education, they provide controlled breeding ground to maintain a dwindling population at the highest possible genetic diversity until such time as they can be returned to the wild. Though adjusting to the wild can be difficult for a captive-born animal, careful training and monitoring in the initial stages of reintroduction increase chances of survival. Most captive-born GLTs are released onto privately owned farms and ranches, called fazendas, outside the national reserves, totaling 140 individuals on more than 6,600 scattered acres of forest that previously had none, according to the most recent count of Benjamin Beck, the National Zoo s associate director for biological programs. But these isolated patches of wildlife generally decrease resource and mate availability.