The golden-headed lion tamarin belongs to the group of ’marmosets’, the largest of which is the lion marmoset. Males and females look identical.

Zoological gardens around the world, including Odense Zoo, cooperate with the government of Brazil. A joint breeding effort has been established from which the surplus animals from zoological gardens are released in the wild. A sanctuary was founded in 1976 where the primates are released. Local biologists work together with local residents on the project. The number of tamarins has grown since the sanctuary was established, but the tamarins are still overly endangered.