THE BLACK LION TAMARIN LEONTOPITHECUS-CHRYSOPYGUS - ITS CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

The black lion tamarin Leontopithecus chrysopygus originally occurred throughout a large part of the Atlantic forest in the west of the stat e of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Today, however, it is restricted to a few isol ated forest fragments as a result of deforestation caused by cattle ra nching, and urban and agricultural expansion, especially in this centu ry. One of its last strongholds is a small gallery forest at Lencois P aulista in the west-central part of the state. The authors report on a long-term study of this small and isolated population, aimed particul arly at providing a basis for the intensive management and conservatio n of the species and its habitat.