Xena is a cotton-top tamarin who was born July 7, 1997 and arrived at Jungle Friends on July 14, 2008 with nine other special-needs tamarins. These monkeys found a home at Jungle Friends when a research laboratory closed its doors.

Originally there were seventy cotton-top tamarins in need of homes. It took a full year of planning, fundraising, building and networking with other sanctuaries and organizations to find placements for all seventy. The ten who arrived here at Jungle Friends are enjoying their new home, discovering the great outdoors for the first time, getting a taste of a new, larger life - and reminding us why we do what we do!

Xena is a large tamarin, but she used to be much larger. She has been plagued with chronic diarrhea, and has lost quite a bit of weight as a result. While generally outgoing, Xena will give you a good frown if you look at her for too long. Xena and her companion Monet were the second pair to emerge from their crates upon arrival at the sanctuary and were the third pair to venture into the great outdoors. Even the sudden rain shower did not dampen their spirits; they played in the rain, and sprinted from perch to perch enjoying the sunshine and the foliage.

Xena and Monet were racing around on the ground, round and round, then leaping into a bamboo bush and jumping onto a large banana leaf that bent under the slight weight to take them gently to the ground. This pair is really making up for lost time! Xena and Monet are making the most of their new digs!