Three years ago, the family of pygmy marmosets PhD Stella de la Torre was studying with Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Sacha Lodge Reserve disappeared after strong winds knocked down the trees in their territory in the torre baja trail. Throughout this time, the team of guides in Sacha Lodge searched for them and this past August their effort was finally rewarded: they found a new family of pygmy marmosets!
"Thanks to the support of Sacha Lodge for the primatological research project we have at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, we began studying this family soon after their discovery. We now know that this is a large family of 10 individuals, including an adult male, an adult female, 3 subadults, 3 juveniles and 2 infants who babble almost all day. Infant babbling in pygmy marmosets is analogous to babbling in human infants, as the young practice the vocalizations they will use as adults. Both parents and the older siblings take care of the infants, carrying them on their backs and attending to all their needs. The family is feeding on the exudates of a Yellow mombin (Spondias mombin) and a Tanimbuca (Terminalia oblonga) trees."
In August, we had the honor of welcoming a remarkable team of professionals shortly after the discovery of a family of pygmy marmosets. The team’s mission is to study these fascinating primates to better understand the factors affecting their survival and reproduction, with the ultimate goal of developing strategies to reverse their declining numbers.
The team included:
- Stella de la Torre, professor and researcher at the School of Biology at Universidad San Francisco de Quito. For the past 30 years, she has worked on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of Ecuadorian primates. Stella is a member of the IUCN Primate Specialist Group, the Latin American Society of Primatology, and the Ecuadorian Primate Studies Group.
- Neil Ever Osborne, photographer, filmmaker, and public scholar. Neil’s work explores the intricate relationship between people and the planet. He is an Explorer with the National Geographic Society, a Contributing Photographer for Smithsonian Magazine, and an Assistant Professor at the Trent University School of the Environment.
- David Coulson, a visual storyteller focusing on the interconnectedness and resilience of life on Earth. He is a Partner at Evermaven, an environmental communications agency.
- Jessica Camille Aguirre, a freelance journalist specializing in environmental issues.
We are incredibly grateful for their visit and for the vital work they are doing to protect Ecuador’s unique wildlife. Their dedication brings hope for the conservation of these precious species.
