Designing coexistence for conservation

The Palm Beach Zoo in Florida has opened a shared exhibit where golden lion tamarins and Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths occupy the same forest-style canopy—complete with trees, vines and rope trails—to encourage natural behaviors and low-stress interaction. Keepers say the tamarins’ arboreal agility contrasts with the sloths’ calm routines, creating an engaging, educational display about South American rainforest ecology. The habitat uses native Florida flora to connect visitors’ local stewardship with global conservation goals. It also spotlights a rare conservation success: golden lion tamarins rebounded from under 200 in the 1970s to several thousand today thanks to coordinated breeding, reintroduction and habitat protection.

Why mixed-species exhibits matter

Modern zoos are testing mixed-species designs to enrich animals’ environments and improve welfare while teaching complex ecological relationships. For primates and sloths, overlapping diets and space use can be managed through vertical zoning, timed feeding and retreat areas. The Palm Beach exhibit will be monitored for stress markers, enrichment outcomes and visitor learning impacts. Curators hope it inspires donors and families to back rainforest protection and humane, science-based zoo practices.