Hershey

  • Species: Cotton-Top Tamarins (Saguinus oedipus)
  • Gender: Male
  • Birthday: February 25, 1996
  • Arrival: July 14, 2008
  • Background: Research
  • Character: Cute

Hershey arrived at Jungle Friends with 9 other special-needs tamarins from the University of Wisconsin where they were performing cognitive studies. The general trend was for increasingly invasive research -- Professor Charles Snowdon decided to end all research with the cotton tops rather than feel pressured to do invasive research. With a total of 70 tamarins needing homes, it took over a year of fundraising, building, and networking with other sanctuaries and zoos, but with our help, Dr. Snowdon found homes for all of the tamarins who are out of the lab and out of harm’s way.

Hershey and his companion had a soft release from their indoor enclosure the evening they arrived. Their crate was left in the enclosure with the door open, so the tamarins could decide for themselves when to venture out of their crates. Hershey and his partner waited until late the next morning to slowly venture out, and they quickly adjusted to their new home! Hershey is a very adventurous monkey who enjoys spending as much time as possible in the great outdoors with his partner. He also enjoys running up and down his long runway, checking out everything going on around him.