Sweet Baby Marmoset Saved From Forest Fire in Brazil Immediately Wins Firefighters' Hearts

Firefighters in Brazil were able to rescue a truly tiny victim from a forest fire in Pau Furado State Park, about six hundred miles northwest of Rio. In the video, one rescuer can be seen cradling a tiny baby marmoset, a type of tree monkey native to the region. In the video, the minuscule creature can be seen giving a little squeaky cry as well as a sip from a bottle cap filled with water.

It’s unknown whether or not the baby’s family was found during the rescue mission. But the monkey was transferred to a veterinary hospital for treatment after being discovered by firefighters working to stop the blaze.

Related: Zoo Marmosets Get Hold of a Phone and Total Cuteness Ensues

The tiny, finger-sized creature looks bedraggled but overall unharmed from its ordeal, and you can’t deny that the itsy-bitsy baby is especially cute.

But its future—as well as the future of its entire species, remains uncertain.

All About Marmosets

Marmosets are small, arboreal monkeys of the New World. They live in the tree canopies of tropical forests like the ones in Brazil, where they feed on fruit, insects, and tree sap. They are notable for living in large family groups. Female marmosets usually give birth to twins, and the entire family is very involved in carrying and raising them, including their fathers as well as older siblings.

Thus, it is especially notable that this monkey was discovered without caregivers or its sibling. As such a young orphan, this baby’s chances for survival in the wild is very low, so it’s good that it was rescued in time.

The Effects of Habitat Loss on Marmoset Survival

This fire demonstrates the major threat to marmoset survival: habitat loss. As Brazil’s lowland rainforests are destroyed by human expansion into the territory as well as climate change, it becomes harder and harder for these precious animals to survive.

Brazil is experiencing a significant drought season, with a record number of forest fires> Right now, there are over 50,000 forest fires burning across Brazil, and a third of these have been sparked by humans trying to clear land for development.

Marmosets Are Not Good Pets

In addition to habitat destruction, marmosets like this one are often victims of international and illegal pet trading operations. Though the cuteness of a marmoset seems to make it a desirable pet, they are actually not well suited to domestic life. Marmosets are highly social creatures used to living in large family groups and roaming extensive forested areas every day. They are very intelligent and need a lot of social interaction and enrichment, which humans keeping them as pets struggle to emulate.

Marmosets can not be left at home alone for long periods, are difficult to train and entertain, need a lot of specialized care, are extremely territorial and aggressive once they reach sexual maturity, think of the humans around them as its family group and need constant interaction with them, and are extremely susceptible to human colds, viruses, and other illnesses.

As adorable as this video is, remember, this is a wild animal. If you want a cute pet, stick to a cat.

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