In 1960, the Golden lion tamarin Leontopithecus rosalia was almost extinct in the wild and the captive population, with poor reproduction and survival, was not well established. In the 1970s, after many improvements, the captive population began to grow and the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve was created to protect the species. In the 1980s, long‐term research was begun on the demography and socio‐ecology of the Golden lion tamarins, along with community environmental education and a reintroduction programme of captive‐born animals (initially in the reserve, later in neighbouring private forests). About 30 zoos contributed the 146 captive‐born reintroduced tamarins, and provided information on social behaviour, nutrition and health that was critical to developing reintroduction strategies. In 1994, threatened groups isolated in small fragments were rescued and translocated to a protected forest. Both programmes have been successful as measured by survival and reproduction after release, and both techniques have established growing populations. Although new threats (introduction of exotic primates) continue to challenge our efforts to preserve the species, there is no doubt of the success of almost 30 years of the Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Programme.

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Golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia) are known to sleep in tree holes as a means of protection against predators. The aim of this study was to compare the activity period of the diurnal golden lion tamarins with the home range of each group, and the sleeping sites used by tamarins in the Uniã o Biological Reserve. Two groups (Geni and SJ2) were followed monthly from April 2003 to March 2004, for a total of 712 h. The daily distance and the home range of the groups were estimated, the trees used as sleeping sites were marked with numbered tags, and the habitat and the positions of the trees were mapped. During the study, the mean daily activity period was 10.30 h. The SJ2 group had a home range of 96.22 ha and 21 different sleeping sites, and the Geni group had a home range of 72.52 ha and nine different tree hole sleeping sites. The daily activity of golden lion tamarins varied seasonally and was associated with photoperiod and temperature. The size of the home range may be influenced by the occurrence and interaction with neighboring groups.