The cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) is a critically endangered primate, endemic to the tropical forests of Colombia. Population monitoring is essential to evaluate the success of conservation efforts, yet standard survey methods are ineffective because animals flee silently before they are seen. We developed a novel technique that combines the use of playbacks of territorial vocalizations with traditional transect surveys. We used remote sensing to identify potential habitat within the species' historic range, and visited the 27% that we could survey safely. Of this, only 99 km2 was extant forest, containing an estimated 2,045 animals (95% confidence interval 1,587–2,634). Assuming comparable densities in non-surveyed areas, approximately 7,394 wild cotton-top tamarins remain in Colombia. With 20–30,000 animals exported to the United States in the late 1960s, this must represent a precipitous decline. Habitat destruction and capture for the illegal pet trade are ongoing. Urgent conservation measures are required to prevent extinction in the wild.
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机译：棉花顶猴（Saguinus oedipus）是一种濒临灭绝的灵长类动物，是哥伦比亚热带森林特有的。种群监测对于评估保护工作的成功至关重要，但是标准的调查方法无效，因为动物在被看见之前会默默地逃跑。我们开发了一种新颖的技术，该技术将对区域人声的回放与传统的样板调查相结合。我们使用遥感技术确定了该物种历史范围内的潜在栖息地，并参观了我们可以安全调查的27％的栖息地。其中，只有99 km 2 是现存的森林，估计有2,045只动物（95％置信区间1,587–2,634）。假设在非调查地区的密度可比，哥伦比亚约有7,394头棉野生猴。 1960年代后期，有20–30,000只动物出口到美国，这必定代表着急剧下降。非法宠物贸易的生境破坏和捕获正在进行中。需要采取紧急的保护措施以防止野外灭绝。
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