Save the Golden Lion Tamarin

What Save the Golden Lion Tamarin does

Save the Golden Lion Tamarin (SGLT) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2005 and headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, dedicated to the conservation of the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia), an endangered primate endemic to Brazil's Atlantic Forest. SGLT operates as a fundraising and coordination body that channels 100% of donations directly to Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado (AMLD), its sole on-the-ground implementation partner in Brazil, which has executed field conservation since 1992. Core programmatic activities include forest corridor restoration (449 hectares completed by June 2024), a yellow fever vaccination program for wild GLTs (the first of its kind for non-human primates, launched October 2020 with over 500 animals vaccinated), ex situ population management across a 150+ zoo network maintaining approximately 500 individuals, and policy advocacy supporting Brazilian federal and state legislation protecting roughly 50,000 hectares of habitat.

SGLT's technology stack is fundamentally field-conservation oriented: radio telemetry collars, vocalization playback surveys, genetic pedigree databases (with 86% of zoo-born tamarins traced to managed founders), and direct habitat reforestation. The organization does not develop proprietary software, AI systems, or commercial technology products. Its outputs are measured in hectares restored, individuals vaccinated, and wild population counts rather than software or data licenses.

The organization's business model is a traditional nonprofit donations model. Revenue streams comprise individual donations (online, crypto, Zelle, Venmo), planned giving and legacy gifts, and corporate matching gift programs. SGLT distributes donated funds to AMLD for field execution and supports international zoo partners (including Copenhagen Zoo's Lion Tamarins of Brazil Fund) for ex situ population management. Governance is provided by an all-volunteer board, and the organization holds a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency (2024). SGLT has driven the wild GLT population from approximately 200 individuals in the 1970s to roughly 4,800 by 2023, making it one of the few documented primate conservation recovery stories at scale.

Name

Save the Golden Lion Tamarin

Legal name

Save the Golden Lion Tamarin

Website

https://savetheliontamarin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Save the Golden Lion Tamarin is a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity that funds the conservation of the endangered golden lion tamarin in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, partnering with AMLD for field operations including forest restoration, yellow fever vaccination, and zoo-based insurance population management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vaccine Programs & Tendering (Government/NGO, Eradication Campaigns) (HLAMAKAO), Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation
• Endangered species protection
• Forest restoration
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Habitat conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Silver Spring

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals worldwide. Accepts donations via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, mailed checks, wire transfers, and appreciated securities. Monthly donor program available.
2. Planned Giving: Bequests, charitable estate gifts, and IRA qualified charitable distributions for donors age 72+. Donor Advised Fund contributions accepted.
3. Corporate Matching Gifts: Employer gift matching programs where available to multiply individual contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Save the Golden Lion Tamarin (SGLT) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charity that provides technical and financial support to its Brazilian partner Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado (AMLD) to protect golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia) and the Atlantic Coastal Forest habitat they depend upon. SGLT channels donor contributions to on-the-ground conservation programs including forest corridor restoration, yellow fever vaccination of wild tamarins, radio-telemetry population monitoring, and community education with landowners in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

Product overview

Save the Golden Lion Tamarin (SGLT) is a U.S.-based nonprofit that supports conservation efforts led by its Brazilian partner Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado (AMLD). Rather than a unified tech product, SGLT offers a portfolio of interconnected conservation programs: Forest Corridor Restoration (restoring and connecting Atlantic Forest habitat), Yellow Fever Vaccination Campaign (vaccinating wild GLTs against disease), Population Monitoring (using radio telemetry to track GLT groups), Community Education and Engagement (building local forest protection capacity), Forest Protection Services (legislative protection coordination), and the annual GLT Day Awareness Program. Additional outreach products include educational materials (fact sheets, coloring pages, films) and the GLT Day Photo Contest. The organization also facilitated the historic Zoo-Born GLT Reintroduction Program that reintroduced 146 captive-born GLTs between 1984-2001.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forest Corridor Restoration Program Restoration of forest corridors that reconnect isolated patches of Atlantic Coastal Forest, enabling golden lion tamarins to move between fragments to find unrelated mates and maintain a viable population. Implemented by AMLD in Silva Jardim and surrounding areas in Rio de Janeiro state.
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Campaign Wildlife vaccination program that immunizes golden lion tamarins against yellow fever using a vaccine adapted from an existing human formulation. Field-deployed in Brazil's Atlantic Forest to protect the species from epidemic outbreaks that previously reduced the wild population by 32%.
• GLT Population Monitoring Ongoing wildlife monitoring of golden lion tamarin populations using radio-transmitter collars attached to 1-2 individuals per family group and population census methodology based on playback of recorded tamarin vocalizations along forest transects.
• Community Education and Engagement Programs that engage local landowners and communities in Silva Jardim and surrounding areas in forest protection, offering education and building capacity for forest-friendly income sources such as agroecology and ecotourism.
• Forest Protection Services Coordination with the Brazilian government at federal and state levels to establish and maintain legislative protection of forest habitat, ensuring 50,000 hectares in AMLD's geographic scope remain protected against deforestation.
• Zoo-Born GLT Reintroduction Program Coordinated reintroduction effort that returned 146 captive-born golden lion tamarins from 43 zoological institutions worldwide to Brazilian Atlantic Forest habitat between 1984 and 2001.
• Annual GLT Day Celebration Annual global awareness and fundraising event held every August 2, featuring zoo-based celebrations, photo contests, keeper talks, and community activities designed to build support for golden lion tamarin conservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• GLT population increased from ~200 in 1970s to 4,800 in 2023
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado (AMLD)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMLD is the Brazilian nonprofit established in 1992 that coordinates all efforts to save GLTs in their native forest. SGLT provides technical and financial support to help AMLD achieve its shared vision. AMLD implements all on-the-ground conservation work including forest restoration, population monitoring, vaccination campaigns, and community engagement.
• 150+ Zoos WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 150 zoos worldwide maintain an insurance population of approximately 500 GLTs. Zoos participate in cooperative breeding programs, GLT Day celebrations, education programs, and some helped fund the original reintroduction program. The zoo population retains 96.1% of genetic diversity of wild founders.
• Smithsonian National ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmithsonian's National Zoo was instrumental in founding GLT conservation efforts. Jennifer Mickelberg began as Assistant GLT Studbook Keeper at the Smithsonian in 2000. The zoo hosted the free-range GLT program and continues to support conservation efforts.
• Zoo AtlantacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoo Atlanta houses the largest captive collection of gorillas and orangutans in North America. Dr. Jennifer Mickelberg served as Vice President of Collections and Conservation and was International GLT Studbook Keeper.
• Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz)coreTechnology or IntegrationBrazil's health institution that developed the human yellow fever vaccine helped develop and test the modified vaccine safe for golden lion tamarins. Provided vaccine donations and scientific expertise for the vaccination campaign.
• Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJeremy Mallinson, Director Emeritus, was involved in all 50 years of GLT conservation efforts. The trust sponsored Population Viability Analysis workshops and helped coordinate international breeding programs.
• European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAZA collaborates with ICMBio in managing the captive GLT population in Europe. EAZA professionals supported the Togo trafficking rescue operation by remaining connected online with veterinarians caring for rescued animals.
• Brazilian Government AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBAMA and Brazilian Federal Police carried out the GLT rescue in Togo. ICMBio manages primate research and conservation. The Ministry of Foreign Relations and Ministry of the Environment facilitated international rescue operations.
• São Paulo ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSão Paulo Zoo biologist Mara Marques is responsible for management of the captive GLT population in Brazil. Zoo participated in trafficking rescue operation.
• Copenhagen ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Lion Tamarins of Brazil Fund that raises substantial funding for lion tamarin field projects in Brazil.
• Local Brazilian LandownerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal landowners in Silva Jardim and surrounding areas allow GLTs to live protected on their properties. The reintroduction program resulted in 29 privately owned local conservation reserves. Landowners participate in forest-friendly income programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fauna & Flora International (FFI): UK-based international conservation NGO working on threatened species and habitats worldwide. Comparable as a long-running, species-focused conservation organization with a global donor base.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the largest environmental nonprofits, operating globally on land and water conservation. Comparable as a large donation-driven conservation organization with a focus on habitat protection.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): One of the largest global wildlife conservation nonprofits, operating across species and habitats worldwide. Comparable as a large-scale, donation-driven conservation organization with which SGLT's board members have direct connectivity (e.g., Emeritus Board Member Nancy de Moraes worked at WWF for 19 years).
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Wildlife conservation organization running a global network of zoos and aquariums alongside field conservation programs. Comparable through its zoo-based conservation model and emphasis on species recovery programs.
• Conservation International: Global conservation NGO focused on biodiversity, habitat protection, and conservation finance. Comparable as a large-scale donor-funded conservation organization; SGLT Special Advisor Fabiano Godoy works at CI's Conservation Finance Division.

Emerging players

• Re:wild: Species-focused conservation nonprofit formed from a merger of Global Wildlife Conservation and Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Comparable in species-recovery mission and emphasis on protecting biodiversity hotspots.

Direct peers

• Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust: Species-focused conservation trust that operates captive breeding programs and field conservation. Already a partner of SGLT (Jeremy Mallinson of Durrell has been involved in all 50 years of GLT conservation), making it the most directly comparable peer in mission and methodology.
• The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund: Nonprofit dedicated to a single endangered primate species (gorillas) through field research, community engagement, and conservation. Directly comparable in species-focused mission structure, scientific monitoring approach, and donation-based funding model.
• Rainforest Trust: Nonprofit focused on purchasing and protecting threatened tropical habitat, including in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Directly comparable in habitat-protection and land-purchase/conservation-reserve model used by AMLD's corridor restoration program.

Others

• Smithsonian National Zoo Conservation Biology Institute: Smithsonian's conservation research arm was instrumental in founding GLT conservation efforts and continues to be a core strategic partner of SGLT. Comparable as a research and zoo-based conservation counterpart within the same network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SaveTheGLT
• Facebookfacebook.com/saveglts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/save-the-golden-lion-tamarin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Save the Golden Lion Tamarin