There are some dates on the calendar that quietly come and go. And then there is August. For those of us at Proyecto Tití, August is more than just another month. It is a month filled with hope, creativity, laughter, music, and an incredible sense of community. It is the month when the cotton-top tamarin takes center stage—not just in the forest, but in classrooms, town squares, parks, homes, and hearts across northern Colombia.
What began years ago as a simple idea to celebrate one remarkable little primate has grown into a month-long movement that brings together thousands of people with one common purpose: protecting the forests that both cotton-top tamarins and people call home. Throughout August, our team will travel from community to community visiting schools where students have spent months preparing for this celebration. Classrooms will come alive with paintings, sculptures, murals, poetry, songs, dances, costumes, puppet shows, and theatrical performances—all inspired by the cotton-top tamarin and the tropical dry forest. It is impossible not to smile when you see children proudly dressed as titís or hear them enthusiastically explaining why this tiny primate should never be kept as a pet.
One of my favorite parts of these celebrations is that no two schools are ever alike. Every community adds its own traditions, talents, and imagination. Some celebrate through dance. Others through music. Some create breathtaking artwork from recycled materials, while others tell stories that remind us why protecting nature is so important. There is no script—only creativity, pride, and an incredible sense of ownership. And it isn't just the children. Parents, teachers, community leaders, artisans, farmers, local governments, and conservation partners all become part of the celebration. The cotton-top tamarin becomes a symbol that unites people around something much larger than a single species. It becomes a celebration of the forests that provide clean water, fertile soils, biodiversity, and opportunities for future generations. Over nearly four decades, Proyecto Tití has learned an important lesson: lasting conservation is built by people.
Scientific research tells us what cotton-top tamarins need to survive. Forest restoration helps rebuild their habitat. Community conservation agreements help protect those forests. Sustainable livelihood programs create opportunities for families living alongside wildlife. Ecotourism introduces visitors from around the world to the beauty of Colombia's tropical dry forest. And education inspires the next generation of conservationists.
August is where all of those pieces come together.
Every drawing, every dance, every song, every tree planted, every child who teaches a parent that cotton-top tamarins belong in the wild represents another step toward a future where this extraordinary species can thrive. As we launch another Month of the Cotton-top Tamarin, I find myself filled with gratitude—for our dedicated staff, our teachers, our community partners, our supporters around the world, and especially the thousands of children whose enthusiasm reminds me why this work matters. The cotton-top tamarin may be one of the smallest primates in the Americas, but each August it inspires something truly remarkable: an entire region coming together to celebrate conservation. I can't wait to see what this year's celebrations will bring. Here's to a month of creativity, community, and hope—for the cotton-top tamarin and for all who share its forest.