Lion Tamarins are among the most critically endangered mammals. They are found in areas of Brazil which were first colonised and now have the highest concentration of humans. They are unable to survive in secondary forests and rely on undisturbed primary forest. They are also illegally collected for the pet trade. Until the 1960s, they were extensively collected for labs, zoos and the pet trade.
Some locals even eat lion tamarins.
The lion tamarins are also susceptible to human diseases like rubella and herpes . There are now about 400 in the wild. Initial efforts in the 1960s to establish a reserve for the Golden Lion Tamarin in Rio de Janeiro failed when money could not be found for the project. This is the last major refuge for wild Golden Lion Tamarins. In the 1960s, intensive efforts began to establish a captive breeding pool of Golden Lion Tamarins in zoos.