Grassroots Campaign Must Raise $20,000 for the Science Center to Bring a Pair of Cotton-Top Tamarins to Jersey City

To get involved, please visit www.indiegogo.com/tamarins.

Cotton-top Tamarin monkeys are critically endangered with only about 1,000 left in the wild. With the help of the public, Liberty Science Center plans to participate in an international program to breed the monkeys and help preserve the species.

While entertaining guests with their playful antics, these squirrel-sized monkeys will serve as animal ambassadors, educating students, teachers and families about the importance of habitat protection and endangered species management.

"Before the Science Center can bring the monkeys to Jersey City, we need to raise $20,000," says Paul Hoffman, Liberty Science Center's President and CEO. Issues like temperature control, lighting, ventilation, drainage and climbing structures all need to be addressed.

"These are incredibly intelligent primates," Hoffman adds. "We must also address their need for behavioral enrichment opportunities, both physical and mental. This is something donors can help with - we need people to actually Skype with the monkeys in their enclosure."

Utilizing the popular online grassroots fundraising platform Indiegogo, LSC is soliciting donations from $5 to $5,000. Exciting perks for donors exist at every level and range from digital images of the tamarins to educational materials and previews of the monkeys via an exclusive webcam. For $5,000, contributors can even select a name for one of the monkeys (within reason!). Behind-the-scene tours, Skype opportunities, and pre-opening party invitations are also available to donors at various levels.