From February 22 to March 1, Black Lion Tamarin Week 2026 brought together children, students, families, and local residents in a series of activities celebrating Brazil’s National Black Lion Tamarin Day. Organized by IPÊ’s Black Lion Tamarin Conservation Program, the event highlighted the importance of protecting one of the world’s rarest primates and strengthening the connection between local communities and the Atlantic Forest.
“This week is a key opportunity to bring conservation closer to the community,” said Gabriela Rezende, coordinator of the Black Lion Tamarin Conservation Program. “Through different approaches, we aim to raise awareness about the challenges faced by this endangered species, which is found exclusively in the state of São Paulo and has become a symbol of conservation in the region.”
Throughout the week, approximately 200 students from five public schools visited Morro do Diabo State Park, home to more than 60% of the wild black lion tamarin population. In addition to walking the Black Lion Tamarin Trail, students took part in storytelling activities inspired by the memories of Sebastião dos Santos, affectionately known as “Tião,” a lifelong resident of the Pontal do Paranapanema who shared stories about the region’s transformation and the importance of restoring forest habitats.
Art meets conservation
One of the highlights of the celebration was the inauguration of a large mural dedicated to the black lion tamarin, painted by São Paulo-based artist and activist Fernando Berg on the side wall of the Teodoro Sampaio City Hall building. The artwork pays tribute both to this primate, other local species, and the local community, which has supported conservation efforts for more than four decades.
“The mural is a celebration of the species and of the people who have embraced its conservation over the last 40 years,” said Rezende. “Having this artwork displayed on an official public building symbolizes that protecting the black lion tamarin is a shared commitment.”
Sports for conservation
The week concluded with the first-ever Black Lion Tamarin Run, which brought together more than 600 participants in support of conservation. Organized as part of the IPÊ in Motion initiative, the event combined healthy lifestyles with biodiversity conservation and raised funds that will be directly invested in actions led by the Black Lion Tamarin Conservation Program.
More than 40 years protecting an endangered primate
Once believed to be extinct for nearly 70 years, the black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus) was rediscovered in the Pontal do Paranapanema region in 1970. Since 1984, IPÊ’s Black Lion Tamarin Conservation Program has been working to protect the species and restore the Atlantic Forest landscape. These efforts contributed to improving the species’ conservation status from Critically Endangered to Endangered on the IUCN Red List and continue to serve as a model for integrated conservation, combining research, habitat restoration, environmental education, and community engagement.
