A new beginning: Rescued marmoset thrives at Black Beauty Ranch

George is in a much different spot than he was earlier this year. 

Before arriving at our Black Beauty Ranch sanctuary, George lived a bleak existence. Law enforcement officers in Wisconsin responded to a complaint about a small primate not receiving proper care. At the house, officers found a caged marmoset in the basement and confiscated him. Soon after, the marmoset was on a plane bound for his new home at Black Beauty Ranch in Texas.

The marmoset shares a name with the titular gregarious monkey in Curious George, but real-life George was more reserved when he first arrived at the sanctuary. He came out his shell, though, when our staff gave him enrichment items such as food puzzles to play with, says Christi Gilbreth, senior specialist of outreach and development at the sanctuary.

After a veterinary examination showed George was in good health, he was moved to an enclosure next to another marmoset, named Cali, who also came from the wild animal pet trade. Caregivers slowly introduced the pair so they could eventually live together. At first, George and Cali didn’t interact much. But once they were placed in an outdoor habitat together, they started grooming each other. “That is always a good sign during the introduction process,” Gilbreth says.

Today George is living up to his literary namesake. He loves to explore the platforms and trees in his enclosure and leap from branch to branch.

With Cali by his side, George’s confidence and curiosity will likely only keep growing.