For Immediate Release: April 16, 2026
Cotton-Top Tamarins Find a New Home at Riverbanks Conservation Outpost
Columbia, SC, April 16, 2026 — Riverbanks Zoo and Garden has welcomed a new pair of cotton-top tamarins, Pepita and Caqueta, to the Riverbanks Conservation Outpost (RCO), introducing guests to one of the world’s most endangered primate species.
Pepita, a six-month-old female, arrived at Riverbanks after being confiscated from the illegal pet trade and removed from an unsafe living situation. “She was being raised with the intention of being a pet, and that does not work well for nonhuman primates,” says Dr. Martha Weber, Vice President of Animal Care at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “When she arrived here at two months old, she was malnourished, and we had to nurse her back to health.”
Because cotton-top tamarins are highly social animals that rely on close-knit family groups, once Pepita recovered, it was clear she would need a companion. Working closely with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP), Riverbanks found the perfect match in Caqueta, a 12-year-old female from the Buttonwood Park Zoo in Massachusetts with experience raising young. Dr. Weber adds, “Our hope is that she will take little Pepita under her wing and show her the ins and outs of being a tamarin.”
Creating an appropriate habitat plays a key role in helping the tamarins settle in and display natural behaviors. Ryan Jones, Gorilla and Small Mammal Supervisor at Riverbanks, explains, “In the RCO, each habitat is unique and tailored to the species and individuals that live there. We continually adjust and adapt those spaces throughout their lives.”
Jones and his team have looked forward to welcoming the new arrivals. When asked if they are excited to be taking care of a new species, he responded, “It’s always exciting, but it’s not just about a new species; it’s about meeting new individuals. We get to learn their personalities, and that’s what makes it fun.”
Pepita’s story is a powerful reminder of the ongoing issues of exotic pet ownership and wildlife trafficking. Riverbanks is taking a proactive step to help disrupt wildlife trafficking through its Bridge to the Wild expansion, including a future primate forest habitat that will expand capacity to care for primates surrendered or confiscated from the illegal pet trade.
Demand for exotic pets continues to threaten wildlife populations locally and around the world. By caring for animals like Pepita and Caqueta, Riverbanks helps raise awareness about the impacts of the exotic pet trade and the importance of conservation. To learn more about wildlife trafficking and what you can do to help, visit https://www.aza.org/wta-what-you-can-do.
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About Riverbanks Zoo and Garden: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to more than 3,000 magnificent and fascinating animals and one of America’s best public gardens. The Zoo opened on April 25, 1974, and for over five decades, has connected individuals, families and school children with the natural world. Riverbanks is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is recognized as a global leader in animal care and welfare, education, recreation, science and wildlife conservation. It is the mission of the Zoo and Garden to create meaningful connections and inspire actions that will have a lasting impact on wildlife and wild places. For more information, visit riverbanks.org.