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AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Questing Beast – Birth
By Dolphin Whisperer
“AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö” is a time-honored tradition to showcase the most underground of the underground—the unsigned and unpromoted. This collective review treatment continues to exist to unite our writers in boot or bolster of the bands who remind us that, for better or worse, the metal underground exists as an important part of the global metal scene. The Rodeö rides on.”
In this year of 2024, artists on the rise have an untold treasure of heavy metal history and knowledge from which they may conjure works of the distorted and riffy kind. That’s how young acts like Questing Beast can come across with their self-imposed “power doom” tag without sounding too much like bearers of the odd torch who came before like Memory Garden or Morgana Lefay. Rather, Birth wears shades of power through vocalist Joe Harris, whose trained vibrato runs equal parts dramatic and powerful while still finding room to switch to a sorrowful tone. And the doom comes out to play through traditional lurching riffs, dry stoner drives, and extended harmonic melodies. But with Elder-like (or maybe a little more Lyle Mays to these ears) glistening interludes and shifting tempo structures, is this also prog? My oh my, what a journey Questing Beast has set forth for our hard-to-please Rodeö crew. But I think it’s a beast they can wrangle, at least this time around. – Dolphin Whisperer
Questing Beast // Birth [June 14th, 2024]
Kenstrosity: I am not known for being particularly picky when it comes to metal in general. However, for one reason or another, I tend to be more selective about the tried and trve ways ov heavy metal. Regardless of pedigree or outside hybridizations, when I see the “heavy metal” tag, I exclaim with much prejudice, “we’ll see about that!” Enter New Hampshire’s proggy heavy metal quintet Questing Beast and their debut full-length, appropriately named Birth. Unexpectedly crunchy grooves and frankly beautiful melodies characterize the majority portion of these pieces (“At Crater’s Edge,” “Growth,” “Titan’s Grip”). But, it’s the more consistent presence of palpable grit in the instrumentation, as companion to the smooth and crystalline pipes at the mic, which makes the magic of the record’s best moments (“The Comet’s Tale,” Beneath Red Leaves,” “Corruption,” “Call of the North”). Using this uncommonly well-realized formula as the basis for strong storytelling and musical composition, Questing Beast handily carve out a niche for themselves in the metalverse that makes the most out of their heavy metal heritage without trying to play strict homage to it. While many of their songs could use a bit more immediacy and the vocalist’s falsetto a bit more stable power, Questing Beast make a compelling case for themselves on their first try. Let’s see if they can follow through on album two! 3.0/5.0
Cherd: On paper, Questing Beast looks like a textbook case of multiple personality disorder. They refer to themselves as “power doom,” but their sound is a circus tent pitched over three rings of power metal, classic doom, traditional/epic heavy metal and progressive metal. And that’s not all, folks. “Corruption” includes the above PLUS a healthy dose of djenty deathcore. Remarkably, the band mostly pulls it all off. Their debut full-length Birth is best when it leans into the older styles of metal. “Titan’s Grip” is a fine epic heavy metal tune updated for contemporary ears. Meanwhile, “At Crater’s Edge” sees them sounding like a bouncier Candlemass. This comparison is especially apt because of classically trained vocalist Joe Harris, who hews closer to Johan Längqvist than to Messiah Marcolin. Harris’ powerful pipes and smooth-like-butter timbre, along with the clearly talented instrumentalists in this quintet, keep Questing Beast’s sound from descending into chaos. Things do go a bit soft in the middle of the record from a songwriting standpoint, but all the material before the first instrumental and after the second one is eyebrow-raising, invigorating stuff. 3.0/5.0
Itchymenace: Beast indeed! This album has a lot going on. There are elements of thrash, prog, death, classic metal and even some jazz. Unfortunately, this ambitious hodgepodge never coalesced in a way that I found compelling or enjoyable. Birth’s primary fault is a lack of a common thread or a narrative that ties it all together. I felt pulled in numerous directions, questing for a voice that would guide me through the disparate tracks. Instead, I got a lot of operatic wailing that never seemed to find its place within the music. Where bands like Iron Maiden or Judas Priest use this style effectively to balance the sonic frequencies across the mix, it feels like Questing Beast stole a vocal track from one album and tried to make it fit over another. I don’t know if it’s a shortcoming in the production, the songwriting, the performance or all three. Much of the lyrical content doesn’t help either. The call and response during “At Crater’s Edge” was about as silly as it gets without being Anvil. Musically, I can appreciate what the band is trying to do. The guitars are crunchy with a classic harmonic metal sound that I love. There are some good riffs and competent playing but that is not enough to make me want to put it on again. Hopefully there is life after-Birth. I wish I could give this a better score. 2.0/5.0
Why unicorn a band when they have their own mythical beast icon?
Mystikus Hugebeard: Birth is a righteous debut by a brand-new band that is already swinging for the fences. This album is, upon reflection, even grander than perhaps it might feel in the moment as you listen to it. During a typical spin, my focus is easily held by the crunchy, exciting riffs that dominate the tracklist, from the slower doom that opens “The Comet’s Tail,” through the energetic classic-metal-tinged guitars in “Beneath Red Leaves,” to the unstoppable pounding riffs of “Call of the North.” But the larger scale of Birth really creeps up on you. Complex rhythms (“Corruption”) and unconventional melodies (“Growth”) speak to Questing Beast’s admirable ambition, and they have the talent to pull off these progressive elements. It’s the bodacious, borderline campy vocals, rather, that make Birth feel epic and they cement the album’s lasting appeal for me. They’re full of righteous but tastefully applied vibrato, and the singer has the endearing timbre of an unrefined but uber-talented vocalist giving 110% that’s just hard to find these days. Some elements do betray Questing Beast’s green-ness in a more harmful way, though. Birth is crying out for some killer guitar solos to punctuate the riffs and further heighten the scale, but the few we get are underwhelming and come across as a bit sloppy, with the exception of “Beneath Red Leaves.” Furthermore, I think the drums can sound a little too sharp and could use a less distracting mix. Despite that, the broad strokes of Birth are a big success for me. Birth is the kind of hidden gem that’s exciting to discover, and leaves me with a big, satisfied grin on my face. 3.0/5.0
#2024 #AmericanMetal #AngryMetalGuySUnsignedBandRodeo #AngryMetalGuySUnsignedBandRodeo2024 #Birth #Candlemass #DoomMetal #Elder #IndependentRelease #IronMaiden #JudasPriest #Jun24 #LyleMays #MemoryGarden #MorganaLefay #PowerMetal #ProgressiveDoomMetal #ProgressiveMetal #QuestingBeast #SelfRelease #StonerDoomMetal
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AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö: Questing Beast – Birth
By Dolphin Whisperer
“AMG’s Unsigned Band Rodeö” is a time-honored tradition to showcase the most underground of the underground—the unsigned and unpromoted. This collective review treatment continues to exist to unite our writers in boot or bolster of the bands who remind us that, for better or worse, the metal underground exists as an important part of the global metal scene. The Rodeö rides on.”
In this year of 2024, artists on the rise have an untold treasure of heavy metal history and knowledge from which they may conjure works of the distorted and riffy kind. That’s how young acts like Questing Beast can come across with their self-imposed “power doom” tag without sounding too much like bearers of the odd torch who came before like Memory Garden or Morgana Lefay. Rather, Birth wears shades of power through vocalist Joe Harris, whose trained vibrato runs equal parts dramatic and powerful while still finding room to switch to a sorrowful tone. And the doom comes out to play through traditional lurching riffs, dry stoner drives, and extended harmonic melodies. But with Elder-like (or maybe a little more Lyle Mays to these ears) glistening interludes and shifting tempo structures, is this also prog? My oh my, what a journey Questing Beast has set forth for our hard-to-please Rodeö crew. But I think it’s a beast they can wrangle, at least this time around. – Dolphin Whisperer
Questing Beast // Birth [June 14th, 2024]
Kenstrosity: I am not known for being particularly picky when it comes to metal in general. However, for one reason or another, I tend to be more selective about the tried and trve ways ov heavy metal. Regardless of pedigree or outside hybridizations, when I see the “heavy metal” tag, I exclaim with much prejudice, “we’ll see about that!” Enter New Hampshire’s proggy heavy metal quintet Questing Beast and their debut full-length, appropriately named Birth. Unexpectedly crunchy grooves and frankly beautiful melodies characterize the majority portion of these pieces (“At Crater’s Edge,” “Growth,” “Titan’s Grip”). But, it’s the more consistent presence of palpable grit in the instrumentation, as companion to the smooth and crystalline pipes at the mic, which makes the magic of the record’s best moments (“The Comet’s Tale,” Beneath Red Leaves,” “Corruption,” “Call of the North”). Using this uncommonly well-realized formula as the basis for strong storytelling and musical composition, Questing Beast handily carve out a niche for themselves in the metalverse that makes the most out of their heavy metal heritage without trying to play strict homage to it. While many of their songs could use a bit more immediacy and the vocalist’s falsetto a bit more stable power, Questing Beast make a compelling case for themselves on their first try. Let’s see if they can follow through on album two! 3.0/5.0
Cherd: On paper, Questing Beast looks like a textbook case of multiple personality disorder. They refer to themselves as “power doom,” but their sound is a circus tent pitched over three rings of power metal, classic doom, traditional/epic heavy metal and progressive metal. And that’s not all, folks. “Corruption” includes the above PLUS a healthy dose of djenty deathcore. Remarkably, the band mostly pulls it all off. Their debut full-length Birth is best when it leans into the older styles of metal. “Titan’s Grip” is a fine epic heavy metal tune updated for contemporary ears. Meanwhile, “At Crater’s Edge” sees them sounding like a bouncier Candlemass. This comparison is especially apt because of classically trained vocalist Joe Harris, who hews closer to Johan Längqvist than to Messiah Marcolin. Harris’ powerful pipes and smooth-like-butter timbre, along with the clearly talented instrumentalists in this quintet, keep Questing Beast’s sound from descending into chaos. Things do go a bit soft in the middle of the record from a songwriting standpoint, but all the material before the first instrumental and after the second one is eyebrow-raising, invigorating stuff. 3.0/5.0
Itchymenace: Beast indeed! This album has a lot going on. There are elements of thrash, prog, death, classic metal and even some jazz. Unfortunately, this ambitious hodgepodge never coalesced in a way that I found compelling or enjoyable. Birth’s primary fault is a lack of a common thread or a narrative that ties it all together. I felt pulled in numerous directions, questing for a voice that would guide me through the disparate tracks. Instead, I got a lot of operatic wailing that never seemed to find its place within the music. Where bands like Iron Maiden or Judas Priest use this style effectively to balance the sonic frequencies across the mix, it feels like Questing Beast stole a vocal track from one album and tried to make it fit over another. I don’t know if it’s a shortcoming in the production, the songwriting, the performance or all three. Much of the lyrical content doesn’t help either. The call and response during “At Crater’s Edge” was about as silly as it gets without being Anvil. Musically, I can appreciate what the band is trying to do. The guitars are crunchy with a classic harmonic metal sound that I love. There are some good riffs and competent playing but that is not enough to make me want to put it on again. Hopefully there is life after-Birth. I wish I could give this a better score. 2.0/5.0
Why unicorn a band when they have their own mythical beast icon?
Mystikus Hugebeard: Birth is a righteous debut by a brand-new band that is already swinging for the fences. This album is, upon reflection, even grander than perhaps it might feel in the moment as you listen to it. During a typical spin, my focus is easily held by the crunchy, exciting riffs that dominate the tracklist, from the slower doom that opens “The Comet’s Tail,” through the energetic classic-metal-tinged guitars in “Beneath Red Leaves,” to the unstoppable pounding riffs of “Call of the North.” But the larger scale of Birth really creeps up on you. Complex rhythms (“Corruption”) and unconventional melodies (“Growth”) speak to Questing Beast’s admirable ambition, and they have the talent to pull off these progressive elements. It’s the bodacious, borderline campy vocals, rather, that make Birth feel epic and they cement the album’s lasting appeal for me. They’re full of righteous but tastefully applied vibrato, and the singer has the endearing timbre of an unrefined but uber-talented vocalist giving 110% that’s just hard to find these days. Some elements do betray Questing Beast’s green-ness in a more harmful way, though. Birth is crying out for some killer guitar solos to punctuate the riffs and further heighten the scale, but the few we get are underwhelming and come across as a bit sloppy, with the exception of “Beneath Red Leaves.” Furthermore, I think the drums can sound a little too sharp and could use a less distracting mix. Despite that, the broad strokes of Birth are a big success for me. Birth is the kind of hidden gem that’s exciting to discover, and leaves me with a big, satisfied grin on my face. 3.0/5.0
#2024 #AmericanMetal #AngryMetalGuySUnsignedBandRodeo #AngryMetalGuySUnsignedBandRodeo2024 #Birth #Candlemass #DoomMetal #Elder #IndependentRelease #IronMaiden #JudasPriest #Jun24 #LyleMays #MemoryGarden #MorganaLefay #PowerMetal #ProgressiveDoomMetal #ProgressiveMetal #QuestingBeast #SelfRelease #StonerDoomMetal
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Wrath of Pele
Originally published May 2018.
In 2018 Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes, put on a big show with activity at Kilauea volcano on Hawaii. Kilauea’s Puu Oo crater had been active since 1983, making it the world’s longest continuously erupting volcano. In quick succession in the first week of May 2018, the lake of lava drained from the top of Kilauea volcano and new fissures opened to the east, emitting dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas. Then, effusive fountains of lava spewed up to 330 feet high.
“Volcanoes give us warning when they’re about to do something,” [Tari] Mattox said. The emptying of the Puu Oo crater’s lava lake, the surge in seismic activity along the East Rift Zone, and weeks of uplift around the crater all signaled that something was bubbling under the surface. [Source]
Residents nearby were urged to evacuate. Increased earthquakes indicated movement of molten rock towards the surface. A large quake measuring magnitude 6.9 occurred on May 4 caused landslides and small tsunamis. The magma had already reached the surface of the East Rift Zone on May 3 in what was the neighborhood called Leilani Estates. Over two dozen homes have been destroyed so far and lava flows are rendering the area increasingly inaccessible. Officials at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have closed the park to visitors. Visiting the eruption area is highly discouraged as crews work to ensure public safety. Currently, the gas emissions are the main problem, as the fumes prevent crews from entering areas and may inhibit rescue attempts.
From Hawaii News Now:
Sam Knox, also of Leilani Estates, said all he can do as he waits to hear if his home will survive is appeal to a higher power.
“If there’s a God out there maybe he can help us out,” he said, adding that seeing the lava soaring into the sky into his own neighborhood was surreal. “It was incredible. It was fuming. It was roaring. It was thundering. Rocks were flying out of the ground,” he said.From the USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory:
A fissure about 150 m (492 ft) long erupted mostly spatter and intermittent bubble bursts for about 2 hours. Lava did not travel more than a few m (yards) from the fissure. Hawaii County Civil Defense is coordinating needed response including evacuation of a portion of the Leilani subdivision. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deployed geologists to the eruption site overnight, and other scientists are monitoring various data streams telemetered to the observatory 24/7.
The lava eruptions may continue for days or weeks, perhaps longer, as new basalt rock obliterates the old landscape, and the island grows. Even though some fissures may cease emission of lava, other new fissures can open. Some residents believe it was Pele’s doing, reclaiming her land.
“The way I kind of look at it is, the land doesn’t really belong to us. It belongs to Pele,” [Jordan] Sonner said, referring to the Hawaiian volcano goddess. “We get to live on it while we can, and if she wants it back, she’ll take it. I have good insurance.”[Source]
The legend of Pele is relatively well known even outside of Hawaii. Her story, told before we had any understanding of geology, traces the age of the islands from north (Kure Atoll) to south (Hawaii island) as the earth’s plates move over the hot spot that creates vulcanism in this famous tropical paradise. The stories about Pele and her family are rich – I cannot adequately reproduce their depth and variety here. In short, Pele was the daughter of the gods but was mortal. She fought with her sister, Namakaokaha‘i who represents the ocean, where Pele is the land. When the two sisters battled, it created explosions and Pele was torn apart, just like when molten rock meets water. Upon her death, Pele became a god and her spirit eventually took up residence on Hawaii island, at the summit of Kilauea, Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Pele is said to have become impatient at times with her brothers and sisters. Then she would destroy their pleasure resorts in the valleys. She would send a flood of lava in her anger and burn everything up. Earthquakes came when Pele stamped the floor of the fire-pit in anger. Flames thrusting themselves through cracks in a breaking lava crust were the fire spears of Pele’s household of au-makuas or ghost-gods. [Source]
There are several more modern legends of Pele. One is that she disapproves of tourists removing parts of the island. Taking pieces of lava rock from the island is discouraged as bad luck will follow you home. Many people who disregard the tale eventually come to believe they have been cursed by their rashness and mail back the rocks to the island.
Another local legend is that Pele appears in human form as a young beautiful woman or an elderly lady in need of assistance. Often, she is accompanied by a dog (solid white or black). If you attempt to help her, you will be rewarded. If you ignore her or are unkind, she will seek revenge. Lately, many people may be wondering who disrespected Pele to spark the current evidence of her anger.
Hawaii island is the only active surface volcanic area in the state. Loihi is a seamount that is growing but will remain submerged off the coast of the island for thousands of years.
We should be grateful to the scientists who risk their lives measuring the pulse of Kilauea and several other volcanoes to warn the rest of us of dangerous hazards.
Pele’s Hair and Tears
As molten rock flies through the air, it forms into substances known as Pele’s hair and tears.
Pele’s hair – Natural History Museum, LondonSo-called Pele’s hair, named after the Goddess of Fire who inhabits Kilauea volcano, is vitrified lava, or threads of glass, that looks very much like golden hair. Millimeters in thickness but sometimes very long, they are lightweight and carried by the wind. Strands of the “hair” blown in the wind collect in clumps on the ground or in vegetation. The fine threads are formed when bubbles of lava burst, blown hot into the wind to stretch and cool. The substance can be found in relation to lava fountains in Hawaii and in Iceland where it’s also called Nornahár meaning Witch’s Hair.
Pele’s hair collects on an antenna (Wikimedia Commons) 2012, Hawaii island. Large swaths of hair collect along a road.Like asbestos and fiberglass (which is what this, essentially, is), these fibers are also hazardous if inhaled and irritating if rubbed into eyes or skin.
The current eruption of Kilauea is producing “hair”. From HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey. Tuesday, May 29, 2018, 7:45 AM HST:Pele’s hair and other lightweight volcanic glass from high fountaining of Fissure 8 are being transported downwind and falling to the west of the fissure. On Monday night, there were reports of Pele’s hair falling in Pāhoa. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.
Drops of molten lava in a spray instantly cool to form tapered black drops of glass called achneliths or Pele’s tears. The “tear” may often be found at the end of a “hair” as the tail is spun from the trail of liquid in motion. Glass has no crystal structure as it solidifies too quickly. Because of the quick freeze, geologists can use the hair and tears to tell something about the magma from the eruption. The shape of the tears can provide an indication of the velocity of the eruption.
As the blobs of lava get bigger, the tears become “bombs” which can damage structures and even cause injury and death as the outside cools but the core remains molten.
“Tears” or tiny cooled drops of volcanic glass.#Hawaii #Kilauea #Pele #PeleSHair #PeleSTears #SpookyGeology #volcanoes
https://sharonahill.com/?p=7735
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Wrath of Pele
Originally published May 2018.
In 2018 Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes, put on a big show with activity at Kilauea volcano on Hawaii. Kilauea’s Puu Oo crater had been active since 1983, making it the world’s longest continuously erupting volcano. In quick succession in the first week of May 2018, the lake of lava drained from the top of Kilauea volcano and new fissures opened to the east, emitting dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas. Then, effusive fountains of lava spewed up to 330 feet high.
“Volcanoes give us warning when they’re about to do something,” [Tari] Mattox said. The emptying of the Puu Oo crater’s lava lake, the surge in seismic activity along the East Rift Zone, and weeks of uplift around the crater all signaled that something was bubbling under the surface. [Source]
Residents nearby were urged to evacuate. Increased earthquakes indicated movement of molten rock towards the surface. A large quake measuring magnitude 6.9 occurred on May 4 caused landslides and small tsunamis. The magma had already reached the surface of the East Rift Zone on May 3 in what was the neighborhood called Leilani Estates. Over two dozen homes have been destroyed so far and lava flows are rendering the area increasingly inaccessible. Officials at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have closed the park to visitors. Visiting the eruption area is highly discouraged as crews work to ensure public safety. Currently, the gas emissions are the main problem, as the fumes prevent crews from entering areas and may inhibit rescue attempts.
From Hawaii News Now:
Sam Knox, also of Leilani Estates, said all he can do as he waits to hear if his home will survive is appeal to a higher power.
“If there’s a God out there maybe he can help us out,” he said, adding that seeing the lava soaring into the sky into his own neighborhood was surreal. “It was incredible. It was fuming. It was roaring. It was thundering. Rocks were flying out of the ground,” he said.From the USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory:
A fissure about 150 m (492 ft) long erupted mostly spatter and intermittent bubble bursts for about 2 hours. Lava did not travel more than a few m (yards) from the fissure. Hawaii County Civil Defense is coordinating needed response including evacuation of a portion of the Leilani subdivision. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deployed geologists to the eruption site overnight, and other scientists are monitoring various data streams telemetered to the observatory 24/7.
The lava eruptions may continue for days or weeks, perhaps longer, as new basalt rock obliterates the old landscape, and the island grows. Even though some fissures may cease emission of lava, other new fissures can open. Some residents believe it was Pele’s doing, reclaiming her land.
“The way I kind of look at it is, the land doesn’t really belong to us. It belongs to Pele,” [Jordan] Sonner said, referring to the Hawaiian volcano goddess. “We get to live on it while we can, and if she wants it back, she’ll take it. I have good insurance.”[Source]
The legend of Pele is relatively well known even outside of Hawaii. Her story, told before we had any understanding of geology, traces the age of the islands from north (Kure Atoll) to south (Hawaii island) as the earth’s plates move over the hot spot that creates vulcanism in this famous tropical paradise. The stories about Pele and her family are rich – I cannot adequately reproduce their depth and variety here. In short, Pele was the daughter of the gods but was mortal. She fought with her sister, Namakaokaha‘i who represents the ocean, where Pele is the land. When the two sisters battled, it created explosions and Pele was torn apart, just like when molten rock meets water. Upon her death, Pele became a god and her spirit eventually took up residence on Hawaii island, at the summit of Kilauea, Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Pele is said to have become impatient at times with her brothers and sisters. Then she would destroy their pleasure resorts in the valleys. She would send a flood of lava in her anger and burn everything up. Earthquakes came when Pele stamped the floor of the fire-pit in anger. Flames thrusting themselves through cracks in a breaking lava crust were the fire spears of Pele’s household of au-makuas or ghost-gods. [Source]
There are several more modern legends of Pele. One is that she disapproves of tourists removing parts of the island. Taking pieces of lava rock from the island is discouraged as bad luck will follow you home. Many people who disregard the tale eventually come to believe they have been cursed by their rashness and mail back the rocks to the island.
Another local legend is that Pele appears in human form as a young beautiful woman or an elderly lady in need of assistance. Often, she is accompanied by a dog (solid white or black). If you attempt to help her, you will be rewarded. If you ignore her or are unkind, she will seek revenge. Lately, many people may be wondering who disrespected Pele to spark the current evidence of her anger.
Hawaii island is the only active surface volcanic area in the state. Loihi is a seamount that is growing but will remain submerged off the coast of the island for thousands of years.
We should be grateful to the scientists who risk their lives measuring the pulse of Kilauea and several other volcanoes to warn the rest of us of dangerous hazards.
Pele’s Hair and Tears
As molten rock flies through the air, it forms into substances known as Pele’s hair and tears.
Pele’s hair – Natural History Museum, LondonSo-called Pele’s hair, named after the Goddess of Fire who inhabits Kilauea volcano, is vitrified lava, or threads of glass, that looks very much like golden hair. Millimeters in thickness but sometimes very long, they are lightweight and carried by the wind. Strands of the “hair” blown in the wind collect in clumps on the ground or in vegetation. The fine threads are formed when bubbles of lava burst, blown hot into the wind to stretch and cool. The substance can be found in relation to lava fountains in Hawaii and in Iceland where it’s also called Nornahár meaning Witch’s Hair.
Pele’s hair collects on an antenna (Wikimedia Commons) 2012, Hawaii island. Large swaths of hair collect along a road.Like asbestos and fiberglass (which is what this, essentially, is), these fibers are also hazardous if inhaled and irritating if rubbed into eyes or skin.
The current eruption of Kilauea is producing “hair”. From HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey. Tuesday, May 29, 2018, 7:45 AM HST:Pele’s hair and other lightweight volcanic glass from high fountaining of Fissure 8 are being transported downwind and falling to the west of the fissure. On Monday night, there were reports of Pele’s hair falling in Pāhoa. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.
Drops of molten lava in a spray instantly cool to form tapered black drops of glass called achneliths or Pele’s tears. The “tear” may often be found at the end of a “hair” as the tail is spun from the trail of liquid in motion. Glass has no crystal structure as it solidifies too quickly. Because of the quick freeze, geologists can use the hair and tears to tell something about the magma from the eruption. The shape of the tears can provide an indication of the velocity of the eruption.
As the blobs of lava get bigger, the tears become “bombs” which can damage structures and even cause injury and death as the outside cools but the core remains molten.
“Tears” or tiny cooled drops of volcanic glass.#Hawaii #Kilauea #Pele #PeleSHair #PeleSTears #SpookyGeology #volcanoes
https://sharonahill.com/?p=7735
-
Wrath of Pele
Originally published May 2018.
In 2018 Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes, put on a big show with activity at Kilauea volcano on Hawaii. Kilauea’s Puu Oo crater had been active since 1983, making it the world’s longest continuously erupting volcano. In quick succession in the first week of May 2018, the lake of lava drained from the top of Kilauea volcano and new fissures opened to the east, emitting dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas. Then, effusive fountains of lava spewed up to 330 feet high.
“Volcanoes give us warning when they’re about to do something,” [Tari] Mattox said. The emptying of the Puu Oo crater’s lava lake, the surge in seismic activity along the East Rift Zone, and weeks of uplift around the crater all signaled that something was bubbling under the surface. [Source]
Residents nearby were urged to evacuate. Increased earthquakes indicated movement of molten rock towards the surface. A large quake measuring magnitude 6.9 occurred on May 4 caused landslides and small tsunamis. The magma had already reached the surface of the East Rift Zone on May 3 in what was the neighborhood called Leilani Estates. Over two dozen homes have been destroyed so far and lava flows are rendering the area increasingly inaccessible. Officials at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have closed the park to visitors. Visiting the eruption area is highly discouraged as crews work to ensure public safety. Currently, the gas emissions are the main problem, as the fumes prevent crews from entering areas and may inhibit rescue attempts.
From Hawaii News Now:
Sam Knox, also of Leilani Estates, said all he can do as he waits to hear if his home will survive is appeal to a higher power.
“If there’s a God out there maybe he can help us out,” he said, adding that seeing the lava soaring into the sky into his own neighborhood was surreal. “It was incredible. It was fuming. It was roaring. It was thundering. Rocks were flying out of the ground,” he said.From the USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory:
A fissure about 150 m (492 ft) long erupted mostly spatter and intermittent bubble bursts for about 2 hours. Lava did not travel more than a few m (yards) from the fissure. Hawaii County Civil Defense is coordinating needed response including evacuation of a portion of the Leilani subdivision. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deployed geologists to the eruption site overnight, and other scientists are monitoring various data streams telemetered to the observatory 24/7.
The lava eruptions may continue for days or weeks, perhaps longer, as new basalt rock obliterates the old landscape, and the island grows. Even though some fissures may cease emission of lava, other new fissures can open. Some residents believe it was Pele’s doing, reclaiming her land.
“The way I kind of look at it is, the land doesn’t really belong to us. It belongs to Pele,” [Jordan] Sonner said, referring to the Hawaiian volcano goddess. “We get to live on it while we can, and if she wants it back, she’ll take it. I have good insurance.”[Source]
The legend of Pele is relatively well known even outside of Hawaii. Her story, told before we had any understanding of geology, traces the age of the islands from north (Kure Atoll) to south (Hawaii island) as the earth’s plates move over the hot spot that creates vulcanism in this famous tropical paradise. The stories about Pele and her family are rich – I cannot adequately reproduce their depth and variety here. In short, Pele was the daughter of the gods but was mortal. She fought with her sister, Namakaokaha‘i who represents the ocean, where Pele is the land. When the two sisters battled, it created explosions and Pele was torn apart, just like when molten rock meets water. Upon her death, Pele became a god and her spirit eventually took up residence on Hawaii island, at the summit of Kilauea, Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Pele is said to have become impatient at times with her brothers and sisters. Then she would destroy their pleasure resorts in the valleys. She would send a flood of lava in her anger and burn everything up. Earthquakes came when Pele stamped the floor of the fire-pit in anger. Flames thrusting themselves through cracks in a breaking lava crust were the fire spears of Pele’s household of au-makuas or ghost-gods. [Source]
There are several more modern legends of Pele. One is that she disapproves of tourists removing parts of the island. Taking pieces of lava rock from the island is discouraged as bad luck will follow you home. Many people who disregard the tale eventually come to believe they have been cursed by their rashness and mail back the rocks to the island.
Another local legend is that Pele appears in human form as a young beautiful woman or an elderly lady in need of assistance. Often, she is accompanied by a dog (solid white or black). If you attempt to help her, you will be rewarded. If you ignore her or are unkind, she will seek revenge. Lately, many people may be wondering who disrespected Pele to spark the current evidence of her anger.
Hawaii island is the only active surface volcanic area in the state. Loihi is a seamount that is growing but will remain submerged off the coast of the island for thousands of years.
We should be grateful to the scientists who risk their lives measuring the pulse of Kilauea and several other volcanoes to warn the rest of us of dangerous hazards.
Pele’s Hair and Tears
As molten rock flies through the air, it forms into substances known as Pele’s hair and tears.
Pele’s hair – Natural History Museum, LondonSo-called Pele’s hair, named after the Goddess of Fire who inhabits Kilauea volcano, is vitrified lava, or threads of glass, that looks very much like golden hair. Millimeters in thickness but sometimes very long, they are lightweight and carried by the wind. Strands of the “hair” blown in the wind collect in clumps on the ground or in vegetation. The fine threads are formed when bubbles of lava burst, blown hot into the wind to stretch and cool. The substance can be found in relation to lava fountains in Hawaii and in Iceland where it’s also called Nornahár meaning Witch’s Hair.
Pele’s hair collects on an antenna (Wikimedia Commons) 2012, Hawaii island. Large swaths of hair collect along a road.Like asbestos and fiberglass (which is what this, essentially, is), these fibers are also hazardous if inhaled and irritating if rubbed into eyes or skin.
The current eruption of Kilauea is producing “hair”. From HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey. Tuesday, May 29, 2018, 7:45 AM HST:Pele’s hair and other lightweight volcanic glass from high fountaining of Fissure 8 are being transported downwind and falling to the west of the fissure. On Monday night, there were reports of Pele’s hair falling in Pāhoa. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.
Drops of molten lava in a spray instantly cool to form tapered black drops of glass called achneliths or Pele’s tears. The “tear” may often be found at the end of a “hair” as the tail is spun from the trail of liquid in motion. Glass has no crystal structure as it solidifies too quickly. Because of the quick freeze, geologists can use the hair and tears to tell something about the magma from the eruption. The shape of the tears can provide an indication of the velocity of the eruption.
As the blobs of lava get bigger, the tears become “bombs” which can damage structures and even cause injury and death as the outside cools but the core remains molten.
“Tears” or tiny cooled drops of volcanic glass.#Hawaii #Kilauea #Pele #PeleSHair #PeleSTears #SpookyGeology #volcanoes
https://sharonahill.com/?p=7735
-
Wrath of Pele
Originally published May 2018.
In 2018 Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes, put on a big show with activity at Kilauea volcano on Hawaii. Kilauea’s Puu Oo crater had been active since 1983, making it the world’s longest continuously erupting volcano. In quick succession in the first week of May 2018, the lake of lava drained from the top of Kilauea volcano and new fissures opened to the east, emitting dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas. Then, effusive fountains of lava spewed up to 330 feet high.
“Volcanoes give us warning when they’re about to do something,” [Tari] Mattox said. The emptying of the Puu Oo crater’s lava lake, the surge in seismic activity along the East Rift Zone, and weeks of uplift around the crater all signaled that something was bubbling under the surface. [Source]
Residents nearby were urged to evacuate. Increased earthquakes indicated movement of molten rock towards the surface. A large quake measuring magnitude 6.9 occurred on May 4 caused landslides and small tsunamis. The magma had already reached the surface of the East Rift Zone on May 3 in what was the neighborhood called Leilani Estates. Over two dozen homes have been destroyed so far and lava flows are rendering the area increasingly inaccessible. Officials at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have closed the park to visitors. Visiting the eruption area is highly discouraged as crews work to ensure public safety. Currently, the gas emissions are the main problem, as the fumes prevent crews from entering areas and may inhibit rescue attempts.
From Hawaii News Now:
Sam Knox, also of Leilani Estates, said all he can do as he waits to hear if his home will survive is appeal to a higher power.
“If there’s a God out there maybe he can help us out,” he said, adding that seeing the lava soaring into the sky into his own neighborhood was surreal. “It was incredible. It was fuming. It was roaring. It was thundering. Rocks were flying out of the ground,” he said.From the USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory:
A fissure about 150 m (492 ft) long erupted mostly spatter and intermittent bubble bursts for about 2 hours. Lava did not travel more than a few m (yards) from the fissure. Hawaii County Civil Defense is coordinating needed response including evacuation of a portion of the Leilani subdivision. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deployed geologists to the eruption site overnight, and other scientists are monitoring various data streams telemetered to the observatory 24/7.
The lava eruptions may continue for days or weeks, perhaps longer, as new basalt rock obliterates the old landscape, and the island grows. Even though some fissures may cease emission of lava, other new fissures can open. Some residents believe it was Pele’s doing, reclaiming her land.
“The way I kind of look at it is, the land doesn’t really belong to us. It belongs to Pele,” [Jordan] Sonner said, referring to the Hawaiian volcano goddess. “We get to live on it while we can, and if she wants it back, she’ll take it. I have good insurance.”[Source]
The legend of Pele is relatively well known even outside of Hawaii. Her story, told before we had any understanding of geology, traces the age of the islands from north (Kure Atoll) to south (Hawaii island) as the earth’s plates move over the hot spot that creates vulcanism in this famous tropical paradise. The stories about Pele and her family are rich – I cannot adequately reproduce their depth and variety here. In short, Pele was the daughter of the gods but was mortal. She fought with her sister, Namakaokaha‘i who represents the ocean, where Pele is the land. When the two sisters battled, it created explosions and Pele was torn apart, just like when molten rock meets water. Upon her death, Pele became a god and her spirit eventually took up residence on Hawaii island, at the summit of Kilauea, Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Pele is said to have become impatient at times with her brothers and sisters. Then she would destroy their pleasure resorts in the valleys. She would send a flood of lava in her anger and burn everything up. Earthquakes came when Pele stamped the floor of the fire-pit in anger. Flames thrusting themselves through cracks in a breaking lava crust were the fire spears of Pele’s household of au-makuas or ghost-gods. [Source]
There are several more modern legends of Pele. One is that she disapproves of tourists removing parts of the island. Taking pieces of lava rock from the island is discouraged as bad luck will follow you home. Many people who disregard the tale eventually come to believe they have been cursed by their rashness and mail back the rocks to the island.
Another local legend is that Pele appears in human form as a young beautiful woman or an elderly lady in need of assistance. Often, she is accompanied by a dog (solid white or black). If you attempt to help her, you will be rewarded. If you ignore her or are unkind, she will seek revenge. Lately, many people may be wondering who disrespected Pele to spark the current evidence of her anger.
Hawaii island is the only active surface volcanic area in the state. Loihi is a seamount that is growing but will remain submerged off the coast of the island for thousands of years.
We should be grateful to the scientists who risk their lives measuring the pulse of Kilauea and several other volcanoes to warn the rest of us of dangerous hazards.
Pele’s Hair and Tears
As molten rock flies through the air, it forms into substances known as Pele’s hair and tears.
Pele’s hair – Natural History Museum, LondonSo-called Pele’s hair, named after the Goddess of Fire who inhabits Kilauea volcano, is vitrified lava, or threads of glass, that looks very much like golden hair. Millimeters in thickness but sometimes very long, they are lightweight and carried by the wind. Strands of the “hair” blown in the wind collect in clumps on the ground or in vegetation. The fine threads are formed when bubbles of lava burst, blown hot into the wind to stretch and cool. The substance can be found in relation to lava fountains in Hawaii and in Iceland where it’s also called Nornahár meaning Witch’s Hair.
Pele’s hair collects on an antenna (Wikimedia Commons) 2012, Hawaii island. Large swaths of hair collect along a road.Like asbestos and fiberglass (which is what this, essentially, is), these fibers are also hazardous if inhaled and irritating if rubbed into eyes or skin.
The current eruption of Kilauea is producing “hair”. From HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey. Tuesday, May 29, 2018, 7:45 AM HST:Pele’s hair and other lightweight volcanic glass from high fountaining of Fissure 8 are being transported downwind and falling to the west of the fissure. On Monday night, there were reports of Pele’s hair falling in Pāhoa. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.
Drops of molten lava in a spray instantly cool to form tapered black drops of glass called achneliths or Pele’s tears. The “tear” may often be found at the end of a “hair” as the tail is spun from the trail of liquid in motion. Glass has no crystal structure as it solidifies too quickly. Because of the quick freeze, geologists can use the hair and tears to tell something about the magma from the eruption. The shape of the tears can provide an indication of the velocity of the eruption.
As the blobs of lava get bigger, the tears become “bombs” which can damage structures and even cause injury and death as the outside cools but the core remains molten.
“Tears” or tiny cooled drops of volcanic glass.#Hawaii #Kilauea #Pele #PeleSHair #PeleSTears #SpookyGeology #volcanoes
https://sharonahill.com/?p=7735
-
Wrath of Pele
Originally published May 2018.
In 2018 Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes, put on a big show with activity at Kilauea volcano on Hawaii. Kilauea’s Puu Oo crater had been active since 1983, making it the world’s longest continuously erupting volcano. In quick succession in the first week of May 2018, the lake of lava drained from the top of Kilauea volcano and new fissures opened to the east, emitting dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide gas. Then, effusive fountains of lava spewed up to 330 feet high.
“Volcanoes give us warning when they’re about to do something,” [Tari] Mattox said. The emptying of the Puu Oo crater’s lava lake, the surge in seismic activity along the East Rift Zone, and weeks of uplift around the crater all signaled that something was bubbling under the surface. [Source]
Residents nearby were urged to evacuate. Increased earthquakes indicated movement of molten rock towards the surface. A large quake measuring magnitude 6.9 occurred on May 4 caused landslides and small tsunamis. The magma had already reached the surface of the East Rift Zone on May 3 in what was the neighborhood called Leilani Estates. Over two dozen homes have been destroyed so far and lava flows are rendering the area increasingly inaccessible. Officials at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have closed the park to visitors. Visiting the eruption area is highly discouraged as crews work to ensure public safety. Currently, the gas emissions are the main problem, as the fumes prevent crews from entering areas and may inhibit rescue attempts.
From Hawaii News Now:
Sam Knox, also of Leilani Estates, said all he can do as he waits to hear if his home will survive is appeal to a higher power.
“If there’s a God out there maybe he can help us out,” he said, adding that seeing the lava soaring into the sky into his own neighborhood was surreal. “It was incredible. It was fuming. It was roaring. It was thundering. Rocks were flying out of the ground,” he said.From the USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory:
A fissure about 150 m (492 ft) long erupted mostly spatter and intermittent bubble bursts for about 2 hours. Lava did not travel more than a few m (yards) from the fissure. Hawaii County Civil Defense is coordinating needed response including evacuation of a portion of the Leilani subdivision. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deployed geologists to the eruption site overnight, and other scientists are monitoring various data streams telemetered to the observatory 24/7.
The lava eruptions may continue for days or weeks, perhaps longer, as new basalt rock obliterates the old landscape, and the island grows. Even though some fissures may cease emission of lava, other new fissures can open. Some residents believe it was Pele’s doing, reclaiming her land.
“The way I kind of look at it is, the land doesn’t really belong to us. It belongs to Pele,” [Jordan] Sonner said, referring to the Hawaiian volcano goddess. “We get to live on it while we can, and if she wants it back, she’ll take it. I have good insurance.”[Source]
The legend of Pele is relatively well known even outside of Hawaii. Her story, told before we had any understanding of geology, traces the age of the islands from north (Kure Atoll) to south (Hawaii island) as the earth’s plates move over the hot spot that creates vulcanism in this famous tropical paradise. The stories about Pele and her family are rich – I cannot adequately reproduce their depth and variety here. In short, Pele was the daughter of the gods but was mortal. She fought with her sister, Namakaokaha‘i who represents the ocean, where Pele is the land. When the two sisters battled, it created explosions and Pele was torn apart, just like when molten rock meets water. Upon her death, Pele became a god and her spirit eventually took up residence on Hawaii island, at the summit of Kilauea, Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Pele is said to have become impatient at times with her brothers and sisters. Then she would destroy their pleasure resorts in the valleys. She would send a flood of lava in her anger and burn everything up. Earthquakes came when Pele stamped the floor of the fire-pit in anger. Flames thrusting themselves through cracks in a breaking lava crust were the fire spears of Pele’s household of au-makuas or ghost-gods. [Source]
There are several more modern legends of Pele. One is that she disapproves of tourists removing parts of the island. Taking pieces of lava rock from the island is discouraged as bad luck will follow you home. Many people who disregard the tale eventually come to believe they have been cursed by their rashness and mail back the rocks to the island.
Another local legend is that Pele appears in human form as a young beautiful woman or an elderly lady in need of assistance. Often, she is accompanied by a dog (solid white or black). If you attempt to help her, you will be rewarded. If you ignore her or are unkind, she will seek revenge. Lately, many people may be wondering who disrespected Pele to spark the current evidence of her anger.
Hawaii island is the only active surface volcanic area in the state. Loihi is a seamount that is growing but will remain submerged off the coast of the island for thousands of years.
We should be grateful to the scientists who risk their lives measuring the pulse of Kilauea and several other volcanoes to warn the rest of us of dangerous hazards.
Pele’s Hair and Tears
As molten rock flies through the air, it forms into substances known as Pele’s hair and tears.
Pele’s hair – Natural History Museum, LondonSo-called Pele’s hair, named after the Goddess of Fire who inhabits Kilauea volcano, is vitrified lava, or threads of glass, that looks very much like golden hair. Millimeters in thickness but sometimes very long, they are lightweight and carried by the wind. Strands of the “hair” blown in the wind collect in clumps on the ground or in vegetation. The fine threads are formed when bubbles of lava burst, blown hot into the wind to stretch and cool. The substance can be found in relation to lava fountains in Hawaii and in Iceland where it’s also called Nornahár meaning Witch’s Hair.
Pele’s hair collects on an antenna (Wikimedia Commons) 2012, Hawaii island. Large swaths of hair collect along a road.Like asbestos and fiberglass (which is what this, essentially, is), these fibers are also hazardous if inhaled and irritating if rubbed into eyes or skin.
The current eruption of Kilauea is producing “hair”. From HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY STATUS REPORT
U.S. Geological Survey. Tuesday, May 29, 2018, 7:45 AM HST:Pele’s hair and other lightweight volcanic glass from high fountaining of Fissure 8 are being transported downwind and falling to the west of the fissure. On Monday night, there were reports of Pele’s hair falling in Pāhoa. Residents are urged to minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation similar to volcanic ash.
Drops of molten lava in a spray instantly cool to form tapered black drops of glass called achneliths or Pele’s tears. The “tear” may often be found at the end of a “hair” as the tail is spun from the trail of liquid in motion. Glass has no crystal structure as it solidifies too quickly. Because of the quick freeze, geologists can use the hair and tears to tell something about the magma from the eruption. The shape of the tears can provide an indication of the velocity of the eruption.
As the blobs of lava get bigger, the tears become “bombs” which can damage structures and even cause injury and death as the outside cools but the core remains molten.
“Tears” or tiny cooled drops of volcanic glass.#Hawaii #Kilauea #Pele #PeleSHair #PeleSTears #SpookyGeology #volcanoes
https://sharonahill.com/?p=7735
-
Philippine Sailfin Lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus
Philippine Sailfin Lizard (Sailfin Water Lizard) Hydrosaurus pustulatus
Extant (resident)
Philippines, West Papua
Stunning bright coloured Philippine sailfin lizards are becoming more and more rare due to #palmoil #deforestation across their range in #WestPapua #Philippines and eastern #Indonesia. They are also threatened by hunting and the illegal pet trade. Males turn a dark violet colour during mating season and flare their extravagant sail-like fins to announce their mating prowess. They have a third eye on the top of their head which enables them to sense sunlight. Help them survive every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Stunning vividly coloured Philippine Sailfin #Lizards 🦎😍 of #WestPapua and #Philippines 🇵🇭 need you to fight for them! Use your wallet as a weapon in the supermarket @palmoildetect #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔🚫🧐 #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/11/12/philippine-sailfin-lizard-hydrosaurus-pustulatus/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAmazing Philippine Sailfin #Lizards of #WestPapua can walk on water and turn purple during the mating season 🧙♂️🪄🦎💜 They are decreasing in number due to multiple threats. Help their survival when you #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🚫 @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/11/12/philippine-sailfin-lizard-hydrosaurus-pustulatus/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAlthough this animal was previously recorded on IUCN Red List as being ‘Least Concern’ 100,000’s of hectares of rainforest in Papua and Philippines have since disappeared for palm oil – so likely, this rating is longer relevant. These lizards are most likely going to be upgraded to ‘vulnerable’ or ‘endangered’ due to massive deforestation throughout their range.
Read moreAppearance & Behaviour
Stunning bright coloured Philippine sailfin lizards are becoming more and more rare from palm oil deforestation across their range in #WestPapua #Philippines and eastern #Indonesia.
The Philippine sailfin lizard is also known by the common names sailfin water lizard, crested lizard, sailfin lizard and the soa-soa water lizard.
Found on the islands that make up the Philippines, New Guinea and Eastern Indonesia.
Known for their dramatic and attractive colouration patterns and sail-like dorsal crests which give them the appearance of a dragon – these lizards are prized on the illegal pet trade.
Philippine Sailfin Lizards belong to the genus Hydrosaurus meaning water lizard. Juvenile lizards have the ability of running on water due to the structure of their feet and toe pads which are flat and enable this.
These fascinating lizards are studied carefully by herpetologists and other sciences as their colouration and form is unique.
Philippine Sailfin Lizard by Kirkamon, WikipediaMale lizards use their impressive sail-like dorsal fins as forms of territorial display between males competing for mates.
These large and brightly coloured lizards can grow anywhere between 06.-1.2 metres in length and weigh between 1.3 – 2.2 kg.
Their sail-like crest helps them with mating territorial displays, and as a way of moderating the body’s temperature, but it’s also used as a ballast for balance when swimming.
Males have a larger crest, bigger head and darker limbs. During the mating season the head and neck of the male lizard becomes a vivid violet colour, whereas only the female’s crest can become violet during the mating season.
Philippine sailfin lizards have dark green and brown skin with yellow patches on the back side of their body and near their heads.
They use their flattened tail like a rudder to propel themselves through the water and quickly evade predators. In the presence of predators they can drop from tree branches and swim to the bottom of a river and stay there for up to 15 minutes holding their breath.
They have a vestigal eye (also known as a parietal or pineal eye) this is at the top of their skull and is thought to be used to give them a sense of direction and light from the sun.
Threats
The threats to the two species of Hydrosaurus in the Philippines are generally very similar. Populations appear to be principally threatened by habitat loss, often the conversion of wooded land to alternative uses (including agriculture), and through logging operations. In addition, animals (especially hatchlings) are heavily collected for both the pet trade (national and possibly international) and local consumption. Because of inter-island trade, there is some possibility of introduced animals mixing with indigenous populations. In some parts of is range it is additionally threatened by water pollution resulting from the use of agrochemicals and increased sedimentation.
IUCN RED LISTPhilippine sailfin lizards face a number of human-related threats, including:
- Palm oil, meat and timber deforestation: Habitat loss is a major threat.
- Collection for the illegal pet trade: Despite collection being legally limited in Philippines these lizards are still collected in the illegal pet trade and exported to the USA, especially in Indonesia.
- Hunting and poaching
- Industrial agriculture pollution and run-off: Pollution and agrochemicals from palm oil plantations
Habitat
The Philippine sailfin lizard is found in tropical wooded habitats, mangroves, rice-fields, riverine environments and near bodies of freshwater. They are found on several islands in the Philippines including Guimaras, Romblon, Negros, and Cebu, New Guinea, West Papua and some of eastern Indonesia.
Diet
These lizards are omnivores and will eat a varied diet of plants including leaves and fruits in addition to insects and crustaceans.
Mating and breeding
Philippine sailfin lizards are completely reliant upon access to a river or stream in order to mate and reproduce.
Female Philippine sailfin lizards are able to lay several clutches of eggs a year that each can contain anywhere between 2 and 8 eggs. These eggs are nestled into the soil near a river or stream for an incubation period of two months and then hatchlings emerge.
As hatchlings the lizards are born with natural agility and swiftness, including being able to run along the surface of water to evade predators.
Support Philippine Sailfin Lizard by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Ledesma, M., Brown, R., Sy, E. & Rico, E.L. 2009. Hydrosaurus pustulatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009: e.T10335A3194587. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T10335A3194587.en. Accessed on 31 October 2022.
Sailfin Water Lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus on Wikipedia
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Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
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Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
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Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
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5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #animals #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #deforestation #ForgottenAnimals #illegalPetTrade #Indonesia #lizards #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #PhilippineSailfinLizardHydrosaurusPustulatus #Philippines #poachers #poaching #Reptile #SouthEastAsia #VulnerableSpecies #WestPapua #WestPapua -
CW: 14 more boxes of upgraded Clutterfly items released; CW: long post (almost 49,000 characters due to extremely long image descriptions, but the main post text itself is 770 characters long), eye contact (technically invisible, but present), food (berries and candy canes, technically invisible, but present and mentioned)
Good news: I have made another 14 boxes with Clutterfly furniture upgraded to SFposer available. Altogether, I have 19 boxes of these now.
One of the new boxes actually contains an absolute rarity, the full Christmas Firepit Set. As far as I know, the original is not available anywhere anymore, and the copy at the various Clutterfly stores is broken. So the only chance to get it is by obtaining my upgraded version.
All 19 boxes, along with some more things created or modified by me, can be obtained in two places:- Alpha Quadrant, DropBox, OSgrid
hop://hg.osgrid.org:80/DropBox - Kaufrausch Mega-Store, Santiago, Dorenas World
hop://dorenas-world.de:8002/Santiago
As usual for me, you can either copy the boxes or buy their contents without having to unpack them.
Image descriptions:
The pictures in this post are digital 3-D renderings created using shaders, but without ray-tracing, as they were taken inside a virtual world based on OpenSimulator. They show shelves with boxes containing various different items which I have either created or modified, offered for free.
OpenSimulator (official website and wiki), OpenSim in short, is a free and open-source platform for 3-D virtual worlds that uses largely the same technology as the commercial virtual world Second Life. It was launched as early as 2007, and it mostly became a network of federated, interconnected worlds when the Hypergrid was introduced in 2008. It is accessed through client software running on desktop or laptop computers, so-called "viewers". It doesn't require a virtual reality headset, and it actually doesn't support virtual reality headsets.
Just like Second Life's virtual world, worlds based on OpenSim are referred to as "grids" because they are separated into square fields of 256 by 256 metres, so-called "regions". These regions can be empty and inaccessible, or there can be a "simulator" or "sim" running in them. Only these sims count a the actual land area of a grid. It is possible to both look into neighbouring sims and move your avatar across sim borders unless access limitations prevent this.
The first picture:
The first image shows a public shelf unit on the sim DropBox in OSgrid. OSgrid is the largest OpenSim grid and the oldest one, launched in 2007. DropBox is a sim on which everyone can offer items of almost all kinds for free as long as they are legal. It was created by Neovo Geesink, formerly tech specialist in Metropolis, once the first and biggest German-speaking grid, launched in 2008, which was shut down in July 2022. He has also built the 66 identical shelf units in the Alpha Quadrant, the triangular northern quarter of the sim. The other three quadrants do not have shelves; they are for offering items that are too large for the shelves.
These contraptions have four shelves each. The shelves are supported by one cylindrical column in each edge. The pair of columns on each end is connected at the top with a horizontal cylindrical rod of the same diameter which is arranged in such a way that it appears to be resting on top of the columns which, in turn, would have to have semi-circular cutouts for the rod. The rods itself do not protrude beyond the columns. A third, much longer rod is installed between them and connects them, reminiscent of a giant handle. All parts show the same texture in various shades of grey on all faces. This texture imitates the look of stainless steel brushed in a circle or, due to being stretched on all surfaces, rather an oval. The constructions are about twelve metres wide, two metres deep and four and a half metres high. The shelves are one metre apart.
One of the shelves is in the foreground of the image and the only one carrying items or rather mostly boxes with items in them with only one exception. The boxes are cubes with an edge length of 50 centimetres.
The top shelf carries three boxes, centred precisely on it and 50 centimetres apart. The boxes will be described from left to right.
First comes a box with a sky blue front face. The only visible side, like the other three sides bordering on the front, has small strips of sky blue to the left and the right and eight different skin tones with black lines separating them in-between. The skin tones are ordered darkest to lightest from the front to the back. The three lightest skin tones are displayed twice. The box is oriented this way because the rear side which is the actual front is not quite safe for work.
The sides symbolise the content of the box which is eleven more boxes which, in turn, contain either twelve or eighteen classic female human avatar skins. They were created by Eloh Eliot in 2009, and I have taken them and "remixed" them into something more useful and versatile in 2021 because I was dissatisfied with what was already available. The eleven skin tone variants are snow, snow with baked-on clown red lipstick, pale, pale with baked-on freckles, fair, fair with baked-on freckles, tan, bronze, chestnut, coffee and mahogany.
The skins are available in not-safe-for-work variants with textured-on nipples and a textured-on hairless vulva, semi-safe-for-work variants like which omits the vulva and fully safe-for-work variants which also lack nipples. Each one of these is available with or without Eloh Eliot's original dark eyebrows and with or without Eloh Eliot's original black eyeliner. In addition, the snow skins with red lipstick are also available in variants with black eyeliner and blue eyeshadow.
Back to the box itself: Only the front has writing on it, practically entirely done in a Helvetica-like typeface. Right below the top front edge of the box, there is a writing in regular all-caps, "Eliot" and a midpoint in white and "Rowland" in gold, all with two blank spaces between the characters. It it almost as long as the box is wide. Underneath it, written in a taller, bold and condensed font and in all-caps again, "Starlight" is written in white, and "Remix" is written in gold. The writing stretches over the same width as that of the line above. The next line, in a font that is still bold, but not condensed and smaller, also still in all-caps and entirely white, is "The complete set". It aligns with the two lines above on the left, but it is shorter on the right.
The other lines are written in a regular font, in white and without all-caps, and most of them are written in the same size.
Below the three top lines, at roughly twice the distance between the three top lines, follows a bullet-point list. It sits significantly further to the left so that the letters after the bullet points start slightly further left than the three top lines. The list items are "classic skins, no applier", "high-res body textures", "11 skin tones with up to 18 variants each", "3 modesty levels with optional eyebrows and eyeliner" and "Free – MIT-licensed".
Some more writing is shoved into the bottom left corner. The first two lines are "Made in OpenSim for OpenSim" and "Recommended for Ruth2 v2" which is a typo and should read "Ruth2 v4". Below, in a much smaller font, is one more line that starts with an all-caps "Warning:" and continues with "These skins do not work properly on Athena 6."
Ruth2 v4 and Athena 6 are so-called mesh bodies. They are 3-D models of female human bodies which can be rigged onto avatars in Second Life and OpenSim. Their purpose is to replace the original standard system body which is not really good-looking even for the standards of 2003 when Second Life was launched. Both of these bodies use a technology called Bakes-on-Mesh which was introduced in 2019 and makes the texturing methods for the system body available to mesh bodies. However, there are slight differences between the implementations on these two bodies, hence the warning.
The other two boxes on the shelf have six identical mostly white faces, and they look almost the same. They contain special nail polish which I have made for Ruth2 v4 in 2022 when there was practically no nail polish available for this body.
The middle box contains 24 different nail polishes. 22 of them come in colours which I have taken from the configuration nail polish applier for Ruth 2.0. I have named the originally nameless colours colours rose, cerise, crimson, hot pink, magenta, violet, light lilac, purple, cornflower, bright blue, Prussian blue, French blue, royal blue, emerald, forest green, olive, caramel, mocha, smoke, carbon, Tuscan red and thunder. I found the 23rd, mint, as a default custom setting on one of these appliers. The 24th is white and is intended as a basic user-tintable nail polish although the tints of the other ones can be modified, too.
The right box contains nine different nail polishes. Eight of them come from the nail control on the so-called HUD which is normally short for heads-up display but stands for a graphical controller that can be attached to the user viewport. I have named them pink, magenta, fuchsia, bright red, medium red, dark red, very dark red and vantablack. The ninth one is white again.
Both boxes have four rather relaxed female hands with nail polish on the nails on them. In fact, it is four times the same hand. It reaches into the box art twice from the left and, mirrored around the vertical axis, twice from the right. If I recall correctly, the nail polish colours on the middle box are crimson red on the top left hand, Prussian blue on the top right hand, emerald green on the bottom left hand and mocha brown on the bottom right hand, but don't take my word for it. On the right box, they are fuchsia on the top left hand, medium red on the top right hand, pink on the bottom left hand and bright red on the bottom right hand. The sides of the nails that are oriented towards the on-lookers show a light stripe of shininess.
The styling of the boxes is identical otherwise except for individual writing. Centred at the top, "Nail Polish" is written in large, medium red letters in the Lobster Two typeface with a smaller "for Ruth2 v4" in otherwise the same style below. The only difference in labelling between the boxes is in the black writing in the middle. Still between the top hands and still in the Lobster Two typeface, a bit smaller than the top line, the number of main nail polishes is indicated which is "22" on the middle box, not counting the white nail polish and the bonus nail polish, and "8" on the right box, not counting the white nail polish again. On the middle box, "colours from the Ruth 2.0 nail polish applier" in a small, bold Helvetica clone stretches across the width of the box between the top and the bottom hands with "+1 bonus colour" below. The same writing in the same style and at the same size on the right box is "colours from the Ruth2 v4 HUD".
The writing at the bottom is identical on both boxes again, still in a bold Helvetica-like typeface. It starts with a medium red line the same size of the previous line, "Caution:". The other three lines are smaller. Two are black and read, "Requires OpenSimulator 0.9.1.1 or higher and Bakes-on-Mesh" and "Compatibility only guaranteed for Ruth2 v4". The third and last one is medium red again and reads, "Not compatible with Athena and other SL bodies" where SL is short for Second Life.
With one exception, the boxes on the two shelves below contain scripted furniture and similar items, all made in mesh by Linda Kellie in the mid-2010s and released under her Clutterfly brand. I have upgraded them with the more modern, more versatile and more lightweight SFposer sit animation controller developed by Satyr Aeon while still keeping the same animations and largely the same features.
On the outside, the boxes have several things in common. Again, all six faces look identical. The top of each face is covered by a semi-transparent grey stripe with centred, opaque white writing on it. The top line is fairly small and reads, "Clutterfly Upgraded". The line below is larger and tells what kinds of items are inside the box. Optionally, there is another line below with the same font size as the top line which tells the particular style of the items if necessary. In this case, the grey stripe is a bit wider. In the bottom right corner, at a small distance from the edges of the box, there is the SFposer logo with yellow letters, the "SF" in a stencil typeface, with thick medium green outlines on a medium blue background. A semi-transparent grey rectangle sits on top of it with the opaque white writing "Now powered by" on it. All lettering except for the SFposer logo is done in a bold Bookman-like typeface.
So, the second shelf from the top carries nine boxes, centred precisely on it and 50 centimetres apart. The boxes will be described from left to right again.
The first box, labelled "Bathtubs", contains eleven bathtubs in different colours: black, blue, brown, cream, gold, green, pink, purple, red, teal and white. The box art shows them in this order in two rows of four and one row of three, all oriented horizontally with the faucet at the top. The ground was custom-made for the box art with small, fancy white bathroom-style tiles. All bathtubs are only coloured on the outside while the inside is still white. They are currently the only items on the shelves that can make additional objects appear and disappear when choosing animations.
A close-up picture in the bottom left corner, roughly the size of the SFposer logo plus the grey rectangle on top, shows the only modification on the outward appearance I've done on the bathtubs: The faucet knobs are colour-coded, red on the left, blue on the right. For purists, the box still contains the original texture for the faucet knobs. The close-up picture has the black writing "Colour-coded faucet knobs" right above itself.
The second box, labelled "Bean Bag Chairs", contains ten bean-bag chairs in different colours: berry, black, blue, brown, green, pink, purple, red, teal and white. The box art shows them in this order in one row of three, one row of four and another row of three, all oriented with the back to the top. The ground shows a brownish, blurry sand texture. All bean-bag chairs have a rhombically-shaped fabric structure textured on and the same blanket with colourful stripes thrown over the right side of the back. The shadows around the chairs indicates the sun standing right above them.
The third box, labelled "Beach Towels", contains four beach towels to be laid on the ground. They come in two shapes with two decorations each. From left to right, they are as follows:
The one referred to as "orange" is mostly orange with a white fringe that is thicker at the ends than on the sides. In the middle, there is a stylised white starfish with three dash-like ovals between its arms, one at the top, two on the sides. Five somewhat irregular white curves surround it like a circle. Shape-wise, it only has one large crease towards the bottom right.
The one referred to as "pink" has a background that is very light pastel teal on about the middle 40%, lined by thick vertical stripes in light teal and edges in pastel pink. It is decorated with stylised tropical flowers in magenta. It is messier than the first towel.
The one referred to as "teal" uses the same mesh as the "pink" one. It has only got thick horizontal stripes on it in darker teal, lighter teal, pastel teal, pastel lime green, pastel green and medium green. The pattern repeats a bit more than one half time, ending in another pastel lime green stripe that is about 35% the width of the others.
The one referred to as "yellow" uses the same mesh as the "orange" one. It is mostly yellow with some white print on it. At the top and the bottom, there are narrow vertical lines. Most of the rest has widely-spaced white polka dots on it.
The background of the box art is a beige sand texture.
The fourth box, labelled "Innertubes", contains seven inner tube floaties. The box art shows them in a two-and-three-and-two arrangement on a greyish beige sand texture. They all have a basic colour and three thick and thin stripes each.
The top left one is referred to as "purple"; it is light purple with thick dark purple and thin magenta stripes. The top right one is referred to as "red/yellow"; it is white with thick red and thin yellow stripes. The left one is referred to as "pink"; it is pink with thick red and thin orange stripes. The middle one is referred to as "red"; it is red with thick dark orange and thin lighter orange stripes. The right one is referred to as "yellow"; it is lemon yellow with thick dark yellow and thin orange stripes. The bottom left one referred to as "purple/teal"; it is white with thick teal and thin purple stripes. Finally, the bottom right one is referred to as "teal"; it is the same as the previous one, but light teal instead of white.
According to the shadows cast by the floaties, the sun is standing high up to the upper left.
The fifth box, labelled "Pool Floaties", contains ten air mattress floaties in different colours: black, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red, teal, white and yellow. The box art shows them in two rows of five on a ground texture similar to that on the "Beach Towels" box.
What follows are fourteen boxes with the same ground texture as the "Bean Bag Chairs" box. Thirteen of them contain three different sets of items in different themes.
The six "Cuddle Lounge Chairs" boxes contain four lounge chairs each, shown on the box art in one row. All lounge chairs have a bottom part that's slightly curved upward and a cylindrical pillow pushed against the backrest. The one on the left is plain otherwise. The next one has a blanket draped over the backrest and the pillow. The third one has one diagonally draped over the right front corner. The one on the right has one transversally draped over the bottom, but lifted so that the front left corner is free. The sun is always shining from above.
Three boxes are labelled "Firepit Set". Each one shows a firepit with animated flames in the middle, a tree stump below, two tree stumps with reddish-brown wood surrounded by a greyish-brown bark and one blanket draped over half of each one on the sides and two hollow pieces of tree trunk with the same greyish-brown bark at the top. The piece of trunk above the firepit has a blanket over its left end and two differently-sized square pillows and one round pillow in front of it. The piece of trunk on the right has one blanket pushed against it on the ground, another blanket draped over the first blanket and the right end of the trunk, four differently-sized square pillows on the second blanket and a fifth one lying next to the left end of the trunk which happens to be always lime green with a faint vine motif on it. Only the fire pit casts a shadow, but it indicates the sun shining from right above again.
Four boxes are labelled "Cuddle Blankets". They contain three times the same blanket with the right front corner pushed inward and three times the same two rectangular pillows and one round pillow with a knob in the middle on it and show them on the box art. The one in the middle has the blanket tucked under a hollow piece of tree trunk with a dark bark, referred to as "Forest Log". The one on the right is the same, but usually with a lighter, bleached tree bark and known as "Beach Log". On the left, there is the "No Log" variant which has one more rectangular pillow and one more round pillow, both with a knob in the middle, in the place of the log.
So numbers six, seven and eight on the second shelf from above are all "Cuddle Lounge Chairs" boxes. Number six is the "Tropical" variant with dull green loungers. The blankets have different arrangements of tropical colours on them like yellow, orange, lime green, magenta and teal. Number seven is the "Contemporary" variant with dull dark blue loungers. The second lounger has a medium blue blanket with white lines in a slightly chaotic, but roughly rectangular pattern on it. The third lounger has a dark yellow blanket with a heavily stylised white and grey flower print in a somewhat 60s style. The fourth lounger has a dark yellow blanket again, but with a different white pattern and some blue elements in-between. Number eight is the "Gothic" variant with black loungers. The blanket is red on the second lounger, purple on the third and striped red and purple on the fourth.
The ninth and last box on this shelf is the only different one. It is labelled "Lesbian Furniture", and it contains one armchair and one couch with lesbian animations. Both are black with light pink cushions, and this is also the colour scheme of the whole box. There is also a black round coffee table with two levels which the box art shows towards the left with the couch above and the armchair to the right of it. On top of the coffee table, oriented towards the armchair, there is a pink laptop with a black keyboard, a black touchpad and black hinges and an OpenSim viewer running on the screen. In the corner between the couch and the armchair, there is a black round end table which has two levels, too. It has a mostly black table lamp with a pink lampshade standing in the middle of it. Of course, all six items are in the box. Once again, the shadows indicate the sun shining from above.
One shelf further below, the objects on it start with a square blue sign resting against the left rear column. It is a copy of the "No Stairway To Heaven" sign from the film Wayne's World which was a jab against Led Zeppelin not authorising the use of their songs in films. Thus, it has a thin white line with rounded corners along its edges. In the middle, there is "No" written in all-caps and what appears to be a very big and heavy Helvetica-style typeface, and "Stairway To Heaven" in three lines right below in a smaller but even heavier slanted sans-serif typeface and still in all-caps. It is mostly intended for guitar departments in music stores.
Otherwise, there are another ten boxes on the shelf as partially described above. This time, they are grouped not by type, but by style. The boxes in groups are only 25 centimetres apart whereas the distance between boxes stays 50 centimetres otherwise.
The first box is the Christmas-themed "Cuddle Blankets" box. The blankets have a texture with a medium red and grey pattern on cream that is vaguely reminiscent of stereotypically ugly winter sweaters with trotting reindeer, strips with snowflakes on them and what could be described as very course pixel art of poinsettias. The rectangular pillow to the left is cream with a detailed red print of vines and blooms. The round pillow to the right is green with a darker green vine motif in the background plus large stylised snowflakes in different pastel yellow and green tones. The rectangular pillow underneath the round one is white with eight different kinds of stylised decorated Christmas baubles hanging on red threads.
One thing that is unique about this box is that it does not have a beach variant of the trunk. Instead, there is another blanket with a "Forest"-style trunk which is covered with snow. The variant without a trunk has a rectangular red and a round green pillow behind the other pillows, both with darker vines on them.
The second box is the Christmas-themed "Firepit Set" box. The blanket on the stump to the left is cream with a red and green Paisley print. The one on the stump to the right is chequered with four different squares. Two are red with black borders slightly darker red prints on them, one with what appears to be a snowflake, one with what could be vines. The other two are white with green borders. One is partially light green in the background with white six-point stars on it and a green twig with five leaves in the middle. The other one shows a green and red holly twig.
As for the trunks, the blankets on the ground have got roughly the same pattern based around the same "pixel poinsettias" as in the "Cuddle Blankets" set. On the blanket to the left, it's green, on that to the right, it's red and a bit bigger. Both have a rather low resolution and a whole lot of visible JPEG artifacts, though, as if they weren't available at full resolution anymore. The trunk on the left also has a medium-sized white buttoned rectangular pillow on the blanket with a mostly red and green Christmas print, including baubles, candy canes, both green and red conifers and Santa Claus in his sleigh. To its right, resting directly against the trunk, there is a larger rectangular pillow with a pattern in red and various shades of light brown that is a mixture of a tartan and Gingham. The smaller buttoned round pillow leaning against it is red with thin beige vines and stars.
The second blanket on the trunk to the right is mostly a darker cream with Christmas plant motifs on it such as pinecones, holly or a poinsettia, separated by red borders. The same cream rectangular pillow with red vines as in the "Cuddle Blankets" box is leaning against it. In front of it, there are a copy of the small lime green pillow at the left end of the trunk, a small dark green rectangular pillow with holly print and, half behind it, the same small white pillow with baubles as in the "Cuddle Blankets" box.
The two Christmas-themed boxes are followed by three Country-themed boxes, starting with a "Cuddle Lounge Chairs" box with dark brown cuddle lounge chairs. The second chair has a simple beige and red Gingham-patterned blanket. The third one has five cute pictures involving tiny teddy bears with cups, plates and the like in front of a background of vertically installed white wooden planks, separated by dark brick red borders. The picture at the top has a beige banner below it with the writing "Home Sweet Home" in a rather irregular serif typeface, all-caps and letters in red, blue, yellow and green. The blanket on the fourth chair appears to be a mostly white quilt with a dark grey border and some pieces in plain or printed red, green and different shades of light brown. Some of them appear to stand for autumn leaves.
The second box in the Country group is the "Cuddle Blankets" box. This time, the blanket shows a very coarse fabric pattern with a tartan with broad red and thin dark grey lines on cream. The rectangular pillow to the left is the same "Gingham tartan" pillow as in the Christmas-themed box. The buttoned round pillow to the right is various shades of brown with large leaves printed on it. The rectangular pillow under it is cream with green vines and leaves and red blooms. Of the pillows behind them in the trunkless version, the buttoned rectangular one is off-white with a cock, various chickens and a few eggs printed on it, and the buttoned round one is red with a tiny, hard to recognise pattern in cream on it.
The third box in the Country group is the "Firepit Set" box. The blanket on the stump on the left is mostly a light tan. Medium brown curves composed of circular arcs divide the texture into fields with two kinds of mostly brick red stylised blooms in them, a small and rather simple one with eight "petals", a slightly larger and more elaborate one with two layers of eight "petals". The blanket on the stump on the right is textured with a tartan which I consider purely fictional after having failed to identify it. It is mostly green and beige with one thin Bordeaux red and thicker Burgundy red line each.
The blanket on the trunk on the left shows a texture which is somewhat reminiscent of patchwork while clearly being a print because some of the sections aren't square or rectangular. Interspersed with blocks with chequered or chevron patterns or solid colours, various wildlife is depicted such as deer, waterfowl or a bear. There are also depictions of conifers and their cones. The smaller buttoned rectangular pillow on the blanket is the same cock-chickens-and-eggs pillow as at the back of the trunkless cuddle blanket in the previous box. Next to it, leaning directly on the trunk, the "Gingham tartan" pillow re-appears again. The buttoned round pillow leaning against it is mostly covered by a beige and gold texture with a crinkled appearance; the knob in the middle is honey yellow.
The trunk on the right has the same arrangement with two blankets and five pillows as in the other "Firepit Set" boxes again. The blanket on the ground is striped horizontally in peach and brick red. The blanket cast over the trunk has a mostly white texture which indicates a very coarse fabric with horizontal brown and mustard yellow stripes and vertical dark orange and dark brown stripes woven in. The large rectangular pillow leaning against it is a darker cream with slightly stylised plants in shaded yellowish green and a few red berries and mostly red blooms with five petals each, all with black outlines. The small rectangular pillow a bit further to the right, leaning against this pillow, is mostly beige with an apparently abstract pattern in various tones of blue, red, green and yellow. The pattern is technically symmetrical around both the vertical and the horizontal axis, but the symmetry is ruined by the pattern being slightly misoriented and not being seamless. The small rectangular pillow behind it is cream with a rather elaborate and detailed hand-painted plant print that is mostly green with large blooms in rose and Bordeaux red tones and smaller ones in different shades of aqua blue. The two small lime green pillows are in the same places as in the Christmas variant.
Following the three-box Country group, the Shabby Chic group has the same three boxes in the same order, only with a different visual style and thus mostly different textures. So again, it starts with a "Cuddle Lounge Chairs" box. This time, the chairs are light grey. And again, the first chair does not have a blanket on it.
The blanket on the second chair, draped the same way as on all the other second chairs, has an appearance much like a quilt with the seams covered in white fabric, only that this is clearly supposed to be a print. The colour theme is cream, green and pink otherwise. There are twelve unique rectangular patches on the upper side of the blanket, six of which are largely or fully visible on the box art along with tiny bits of a seventh and maybe an eighth patch. Three of the largely or fully visible patches show roses against a cream, pastel green or pastel pink background. One has an elaborate cream and pink vertical stripe pattern. One is cream with pastel green vertical stripes with darker outlines, interspersed with rose decorations. One is simply pink with white or cream polka dots. The one that is barely visible is white with dark pink polka dots, and the one whose visibility is unclear repeats the elaborate stripe pattern, but in green.
The blanket on the third chair is white with a printed pattern of pastel pea green vines with leaves and blooms mostly or entirely in pastel rose and in various shapes and sizes. The blanket on the fourth chair is baby blue and has hand-painted plants printed on it with quite a variety of blooms on them, different songbirds sitting on them and butterflies flying in-between them; all the visible butterflies are light blue. The aspect ratio of this texture is off, it is stretched vertically.
The second box in the Shabby Chic group is the "Cuddle Blankets" box again. Also again, it has the same blanket in all three variants. The blanket is white with yet another different hand-painted plant print which is mostly khaki apart from the blooms which are either white or various shades of pastel pink. The rectangular pillow to the left is sand-coloured with horizontal stripes in old rose in a pattern of three wide stripes surrounded by two stripes as narrow as the gaps between the stripes. The round buttoned pillow to the right is a faint pastel pea green with a very light faint pastel green and faint pastel old rose print of what might be supposed to be simplified roses with vines and leaves in-between, some of the leaves only being outlines. The rectangular pillow lying under it has the same lime green texture as the two identical small pillows in each of the two previously described "Firepit Set" boxes. As for the two buttoned pillows in the back of the trunkless variant supporting the other pillows, the rectangular one is sand-coloured with a vertical pattern of jagged stripes in two shades of pea green and one shade of rose. The round pillow is lime green with an olive green square pattern consisting of octogonal shapes, each made of four hexagons, interspersed by thick circles.
The third box in the Shabby Chic group is the "Firepit Set" box again. This time, the blanket on the stump to the left is off-white with a pastel violet and green flower pattern that is different from all previously mentioned prints yet again and three semi-transparent stripes, two light brick red and one pastel green, slightly diagonally across it. The blanket on the stump to the right shows another different rose print in pastel old rose and pea green on a bluish grey background with white dots, an irregular rectangular grid in semi-transparent somewhat darker bluish grey layered over it.
The blanket draped over the end of the trunk on the left is a faint greyish pastel blue with yet another different flower print, this time in pastel shades from white to dark rose and centred around roses. The three pillows in front of this trunk have all appeared before. The buttoned rectangular pillow on the blanket is the same one as at the back of the trunkless Shabby Chic cuddle blanket, the one with the jagged vertical pattern. The large rectangular pillow to the right of it is the same horizontally-striped sand and old rose pillow as on all three Shabby Chic cuddle blankets. And the round buttoned pillow is the same crinkled-textured beige and gold pillow as in the equivalent Country-style set.
Both blankets around the trunk on the right have new patterns again. The blanket on the ground has a horizontal stripe pattern that looks like lifted from a 1970s deck chair. Thick stripes of cream and pea green have thinner, semi-transparent stripes in various shades of pastel blue, pink and purple on top. The other blanket is lightly sand-coloured with another plant print, this time with branches and twigs in shades from white to tan. Leaves, vines and flower stems in various shades of green grow from them. Different blooms in white, various shades of pink and shades from white to sky blue are part of this vegetation, too. At least one bird of paradise is sitting on a branch, its head turned to the right, mostly two shades of yellow with shades of sky blue in the wing and tail feathers while the outer ends of the wings are salmon-coloured. The bird is actually looking away from a nearby butterfly with a pink body, khaki fore wings and aqua aft wings. The pattern repeats one third of a time vertically.
The large rectangular pillow leaning against the blanket is light pastel steel blue with fairly large ivory polka dots. The small square pillow lying in front of it is not a copy of the lime green pillow at the left end of the trunk for a change; it is light pastel pink with fabric structure, but no printed or woven pattern. The small rectangular pillow on top if it, leaning against the rightmost parts of the blue polka dot pillow, is white with a pattern of cerise and teal flowers in large, rounded, almost circular cerise frames. Finally, the small rectangular pillow behind it is the same cream and flower-printed pillow as in the same spot in the Country-styled firepit set.
The last group is the Modern group with only two boxes, for there is no "Firepit Set" box in this group.
The first box is the sixth and last "Cuddle Lounge Chairs" box on the shelves. The lounge chairs are beige this time, still with the first chair lacking a blanket and the other three chairs having blankets draped the same way as in the previous boxes. The blanket on the second chair shows a horizontal gradient from white on the left-hand edge to pastel blue to a wide area of pastel lime green to pastel terracotta all the way to the right. Shading on the texture simulates an embossed longitudinal structure in the fabric.
The blanket on the second chair is greyish blue with a longitudinal stripe pattern. The stripes are rather broad with wavy edges and blurry enough to actually be gradients from light taupe in the middle to pastel slate grey to the greyish blue that makes up most of the texture. Between these stripes, there appear to be thinner, fainter stripes with a slightly greyer or browner tint and small light spots at a regular interval.
The blanket on the third chair is a tone of beige similar to that of the chairs themselves with another longitudinal stripe pattern. Two different stripes with fairly blurry edges alternate. One is pastel petrol blue with wavy edges. The other one is pastel pea green with shorter "notches" in the sides, lined by dark shading on both sides.
Finally, the second and last box in the Modern group and the tenth and last box on the shelf is the fourth and last "Cuddle Blankets" box. The three blankets themselves are identical again. They are white with a rough fabric texture and horizontal stripes which itself contain different black-and-white patterns, some involving lines in long zig-zags, some too small to identify due to the limited resolution of the texture.
The rectangular pillow to the left is beige with a horizontal fabric structure on the texture. It is printed with a petrol blue pattern of branches and rounded leaves and another similar pattern in taupe on top. The round buttoned pillow to the right is pastel teal with a pattern of five white roughly horizontal lines. These lines repeatedly spread out until the two outer lines touch those of the instance of the pattern above or below. The rectangular pillow which it is placed on has an unusual texture. It looks like it was stitched together from different fabrics with different structures and different shades of brown or grey. At least 16 wedge-shaped pieces each, always in two alternating styles, form circular shapes which are arranged in a very large square pattern in such a way that they touch each other. Some of these wedges are divided into an inner part and an outer part. The gaps between the circles are filled with similar wedge-like pieces of fabric with small circular pieces at the centre.
In the trunkless version, there are two buttoned pillows behind these three again. The rectangular one is dark petrol and plain except for a strong fabric texture; the knob in the middle is terracotta-coloured, making the embossed edge more easily visible. The round pillow shows a wild, abstract pattern in sand, taupe, light tan, grey and black. The sand and grey areas show horizontal fabric structures.
The bottom shelf of the unit returns to a unified pattern of eight boxes, centred precisely on it and 50 centimetres apart. Each one of these boxes contains four wooden box shelf units. I have built them myself when I needed one for a shop. The units are one and a half metre wide, 70 centimetres deep, and they come in four sizes, namely two, three, four or five shelves which are always 80 centimetres apart. They come in eight different sorts of wood, using wood textures from FleepGrid. However, the rear panel is always plywood and tinted to match the rest of the unit if necessary. Care has been taken to keep the original aspect ratios of all textures.
Each box also contains the textures used for easier modification, signs that can be be mounted on the front sides of the shelves and a positioning aid for several sizes of boxes which makes positioning them easier, especially on shelf units which are installed diagonally.
All eight boxes are decorated largely the same. The four sides are identical. The box art shows all four sizes next to each other, the smallest one on the left, the tallest one on the right and a bit farther from the point of view which is slightly rotated into a diagonal position towards the shelves. The sun shines on them from ahead and above, making them cast shadows behind themselves onto the plain ground which appears roughly cream-coloured due to how low the sun is standing.
The upper third of the sides, as well as the top, are black. In the black are of the sides, the product line is named in golden letters: Centred at the top, "Jupiter's" is written in a medium-sized regular font. Below it, larger and in bold type, "Basic Shelves" is written. Further below, in the top left corner of the product image, the used wood is mentioned in a smaller but still bold font. Finally, "Wood textures, shelf signs and positioning aid included" is written along the bottom edges, aligned towards the right, in a rather small regular font. The typeface always mimicks Bookman.
On the shelf, the boxes are ordered alphabetically from left to right: beech, birch, cherry, dark oak, hickory, maple, pine and stained oak.
All boxes described above are switched to what is called "full bright". This means they have their shading turned off. Neither lighting or the lack thereof nor cast shadows have an effect on their appearance.
The textures on the contents of the boxes are too small to be visible in the picture itself. Also, the picture shows all text on the boxes so small that it cannot be read in the picture.
In the background, there are multiple shelf units identical to the one in the foreground, but they are all empty. The background is limited by a light brown brick wall. It is about ten metres high, and the point of view is chosen so that its top edge is aligned with the top shelf of the unit in the foreground.
The floor texture shows some light wood grain; the wood is not separated into planks. The shadows underneath and around the shelf units indicate that the sun is shining down on the scene vertically. The sky is blue, but except for to the right and farther in the distance, it is covered by a large, cirrus-like cloud.
The second picture:
The second picture shows the inside of the Kaufrausch Mega-Store, a department store on the sim Santiago in Dorenas World. Launched in several home-hosted iterations in December 2009 and finally re-launched on rented Web space in January 2010, Dorenas World has been the oldest surviving German-speaking grid since Metropolis shut down.
In the foreground, eight wooden shelf units with three shelves each are lined up. They were made by me, and they can be found in the shelves boxes which have already been described as part of the first picture. Each sort of wood is present once as a demonstration, and each shelf unit carries the corresponding shelves box on the top shelf. The boxes are still the same, but they are larger with an edge length of 70 centimetres.
Also, the order is different. The row of shelves starts with the lightest wood, beech, on the left. Darker woods follow, namely cherry, pine, birch, maple and hickory. To the right, there are the two darkest woods, stained oak and dark oak.
The shelves are used to offer my upgraded Clutterfly items boxes as well. Except for the dark oak shelves all the way to the right, all units contain one or multiple of these boxes. From left to right, they are filled as follows:
The beech shelf unit all the way to the left has the Pool Floaties and the Tropical-style Cuddle Lounge Chairs on the middle shelf and the Beach Towels and the Innertubes on the bottom shelf.
The cherry shelf unit has the Lesbian Furniture and the Contemporary-style Cuddle Lounge Chairs on the middle shelf and the Bean Bag Chairs and the Bathtubs on the bottom shelf.
The pine shelf unit is for the Christmas style: It has the Cuddle Blankets and the Firepit Set on the bottom shelf.
The birch shelf unit is for the Modern style: It has the Cuddle Lounge Chairs on the middle shelf and the Cuddle Blankets on the bottom shelf.
The maple shelf unit is for the Shabby Chic style: It has the Cuddle Lounge Chairs on the middle shelf and the Cuddle Blankets and the Firepit Set on the bottom shelf.
The hickory shelf unit is for the Country style: It has the Cuddle Lounge Chairs on the middle shelf and the Cuddle Blankets and the Firepit Set on the bottom shelf.
The stained oak shelf unit has the Gothic-style Cuddle Lounge Chairs on the middle shelf.
Behind the hickory shelves and partly behind the maple shelves, a plain shiny bluish grey piece of wall from the floor to the ceiling separates a very large window to its left to a smaller one to its right. Another similar piece of wall is on the right, extending into the building and beyond the border of the image. One of the building's three revolving doors is behind it. A shadow appears to be cast from the ground up to about 28% of the height of this piece of wall. It is actually a side-effect of the shininess as OpenSim's graphics engine is incapable of raytracing.
The small window consists of one pane which appears to be framed in metal. In the larger one, two wider panes are visible. They extend from the floor to about 80% ceiling height. Above them, the gaps between the walls are filled with additional horizontal pieces of wall. These are a faint dark purple and decorated with lighter rectangular frames corners curved towards the inside. Two of these frames are above the small window, six can be seen above the larger one. The glass in the windows is tinted grey which makes the outside appear darker than it actually is.
The ceiling is plain grey and appears darker than the walls. Towards the right, it has a slight yellow tint which comes from a light source.
A pattern of five tiles makes up the floor. Four of them are large grey squares with one corner cut off; they become more or less slightly darker towards the corner opposite the cut-off corner. They are oriented with the cut-off corners turned towards one another. The fifth one is a small, dark red square that fits in the gap created by the cut-off corners.
The department store building is a one-off custom design by grid co-founder Anachron Young.
Behind the shelves with the boxes and through the windows, the outside can be seen. Right outside the department store building, there is a street with yellow centre lines and sidewalks with concrete pavement on both sides.
On the other side of the street, mostly left of centre, the ruins of an unfinished two-floor building, probably a residential one, can be made out. Its walls and columns are covered with cracked and weathered plaster. Doors and windows are missing. However, the building appears to be occupied by hobos. Someone has installed not only primitive wooden railings where the upstairs windows, but a makeshift trellis on the side oriented towards the department store and two more on the left around the corner. Green plants are growing up all three. Also, old and shabby furniture is strewn about both floors. Due to design limitations, the roof shingles can partly be seen from underneath. Various trees with green foliage can be seen behind the ruins.
The grey single-floor building to the right of the ruins is commercial, but unused. Only little of it is visible through the small window to the right. It, too, is labelled as a department store although it is much smaller than the Kaufrausch. So says the dark brown writing above the windows and the boarded-up door, none of which is actually visible in the image except for the uppermost bit of the "D" in the all-caps "department store" writing. Above it, a dirty and damaged yellow sign advertises "housewares & small appliances" in black all-caps. To the left of both, there is another dirty and damaged sign, a white one with "clothing" and "sportswear" written in two lines of red letters.
Directly to the left of the beech shelf unit, on the other side of the street, one of the three posts of a triple road sign can be seen.
Farther to the left and in the distance, there is another one-off custom building created by Anachron for this sim. The two-floor Prim-Air School has walls covered in vertical panels of an unknown material. Between the windows of the ground floor and the first floor, one of each of which is visible, the walls are painted brown, otherwise they are orange. The corners are a darker orange, but glossy which is why the one visible corner appears to be painted in a dark pastel tone. The school yard in front of the building is separated from the sidewalk by a black iron fence. The two large white rectangles on the ground of the school yard which are for various sports activities can just barely be seen.
What little of the sky above is not blocked by buildings or vegetation is blue and cloudless. No shadows can be made out outside, so the position of the sun remains unclear.
#OpenSim #OpenSimulator #Metaverse #VirtualWorlds #Upcycling #AltText #ImageDescription #ImageDescriptions #Long #LongPost #CWLong #CWLongPost #EyeContact #CWEyeContact #Food #CWFood - Alpha Quadrant, DropBox, OSgrid
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CW: Classic creations by Arcadia Asylum a.k.a. Lora Lemon/Aley at OpenSimFest 2023; CW: long (post text: 258 characters, first image description: 38,650 characters, second image description: 26,213 characters, third image description: 9,687 characters, full net length: 76,780 characters), eye contact
OpenSimFest 2023 doesn't only offer the latest and greatest in OpenSim creativity. It also shows some classics made by Arcadia Asylum in Second Life and legally preserved in OpenSim. This includes her space themes which are exhibited on three large displays.
The pictures in this post are digital 3-D renderings of exhibition displays at the annual OpenSimFest (official website) which has started on September 15th and will continue until September 30th. They were created using shaders, but without ray-tracing, as they were taken inside a virtual world based on OpenSimulator.
OpenSimulator (official website and wiki), OpenSim in short, is a free and open-source platform for 3-D virtual worlds that uses largely the same technology as the commercial virtual world Second Life. It was launched as early as 2007, and it mostly became a network of federated, interconnected worlds when the Hypergrid was introduced in 2008. It is accessed through client software running on desktop or laptop computers, so-called "viewers". It doesn't require a virtual reality headset, and it actually doesn't support virtual reality headsets.
Just like Second Life's virtual world, worlds based on OpenSim are referred to as "grids" because they are separated into square fields of 256 by 256 metres, so-called "regions". These regions can be empty and inaccessible, or there can be a "simulator" or "sim" running in them. Only these sims count a the actual land area of a grid. It is possible to both look into neighbouring sims and move your avatar across sim borders unless access limitations prevent this.
OpenSimFest takes place on its own grid. It is connected to the Hypergrid, so it isn't necessary to have an avatar on the OpenSimFest grid because you can visit it with an avatar that you have on another grid. It features a schedule of 12 hours each day, starting at 9 a.m. PDT. PDT is the standard time zone both in Second Life and on all OpenSim grids. On most days, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., there are live performances or DJ events on one of the four neighbouring event sims. Most of the other sims are much larger. They are so-called "varsims", something specific to OpenSim that doesn't exist in Second Life. They stretch across multiple regions arranged in a square without borders between the regions. Two of them are merchant sims where OpenSim creators offer mostly payware, but also a few freebies. Others are, for example, exhibition sims.
The motto of OpenSimFest 2023 is the Jazz/Blues Era.
These pictures were all taken on Sulfur, one of the two merchant sims. What they show, however, are displays of creations by the famous Second Life creator Arcadia Asylum. She started around 2006, and she was banned from Second Life several times, likely because she refused to charge money for her creations. Instead, she offered them for free, under a free, non-commercial copyleft license and with full permissions. Due to always being banned after a while, she went through several names. Arcadia Asylum was the first, followed by names such as Aley Arai, Lora Lemon and finally, when Second Life had removed the last names feature for new users, Aley Resident or simply Aley.
Her creations were mostly preserved by exporting them from Second Life and importing them into OpenSim. She wasn't opposed to this, she actually eventually gave her own official permission to do so. But she was never in OpenSim herself.
What is shown here are the preserved creations from her Space Pirates and Galactic Trade Union themes which she created from 2008 to 2011 under the guise of Lora Lemon except for a few items which she had to release through her Aley avatar. Most of them are static, unscripted objects. The displays are mostly surrounded by cubes which she had made, too, and which are amongst the items which she released as Aley. These cubes show space pictures on the inside, and they are fully transparent from the outside. Normally, they are the size of a whole region, but they were resized for OpenSimFest to work as display backdrops. The sides show various nebula while the top and the bottom only show a star field.
In the foreground, there is always a small bit of the broad walkways that connect the displays on Sulfur. Their textures give the impression of polished tannish stone tiles cut into two rectangular sizes, one wider, one narrower, but both with the same length. Between the walkways and the space cubes, there is always a very slightly sloped "ramp" with a medium grey texture that shows a stylised moon landscape covered in craters of various sizes.
The direction of view in the first picture is not perpendicular to the edge of the walkways; it is rotated to the left by about 10°.
The space cube in the first picture shows a photograph of otherwise nameless IC 434, as it is designated in the Index Catalogue, on the left-hand side. It is a part of the Orion B molecular cloud, a star-forming region in the constellation of Orion. However, the image seems to be altered. For starters, it is mirrored with the north to the right and the east to the bottom.
IC 434 itself is shown as a rose-coloured nebula extending mostly horizontally with an almost sharp lower edge below its long and thin brightest part, but flaring upwards from there with its brightness increasing in a number of steps. These flares increase in height, the farther to the right they are. In front of it, almost in the middle, there is the dark shape of the Horsehead Nebula, also known by its designations Barnard 33 and LDN 1630 in Lynds' Catalogue of Dark Nebulae.
Below and to the right of the Horsehead Nebula, the star HD 37903 can be seen shining with a faint lavender tint, but not so much the reflection nebula NGC 2023 which it would normally illuminate. What is even stranger is that Alnitak or Zeta Orionis which should be a very bright star to the right of IC 434 in this picture is missing; there is another, smaller purple nebula in its place. The Flame Nebula, also known by its designations NGC 2024 and Sharpless 277, is in its usual place below where Alnitak would be, glowing orange-red while being partially obscured by a darker cloud in the middle.
The texture in the back is a photograph of the Crab Nebula, also known by the designations Messier 1, NGC 1952 in the New General Catalogue, Taurus A and Sharpless 244. It is the remnant of the supernova SN 1054 that was observed on Earth from July 4th, 1054 on, and it is in the constellation of Taurus.
The Crab Nebula generally consists of two components. The remains of the supernova explosion have formed thin, thread-like and chaotic structures that glow from lime green near the upper right limits above the edge of the image to yellow slightly closer to the centre already to orange farther to the lower left to a deep red on the lower left limits. In addition, there is a diffuse, faint aqua blue cloud of glowing gas created by the Crab Pulsar which is what is left of the exploded star. It is smaller than the supernova remnants, and it doesn't reach nearly as far to the lower left.
The texture on the right-hand side is a photograph of otherwise nameless NGC 604, the ninth-largest known nebula. It is a star-forming region that resides in the Triangulum Galaxy which in turn is in the constellation of Triangulum.
The gases that make up the nebula are slowly contracting under their own gravitation to chaotic fibrous structures which might eventually form stars. The brightest parts are in the middle of the nebula, in the upper right corner of the image, where a cluster of about 200 young and massive stars are making the nebula glow by ionising it. Close to these stars, it is shown glowing in a cream or champagne tone. With no gradient in-between, the outer parts are glowing in a much less bright Burgundy red.
On the edge of the walkways towards the ramp, way to the right of the picture, stands a sign-like structure. It is actually a scripted teleporter on which destinations all over OpenSimFest can be chosen, but not outside OpenSimFest. Its basic structure is a flat, rectangular, upright box with a texture that roughly mimicks stainless steel brushed in an elliptical pattern. At the very top, still on the stainless steel texture, there is the name of the device or most of it in vantablack in an unidentified monospace typeface: "MD Teleport System".
Apart from the wide margin, the rest of the front is occupied by various rectangular panels, most of which share the same full width which is about 90% of the width of the whole device. Also, most of these panels are vantablack with yellow writing in the DejaVu Sans Mono monospace typeface on them. The top panel names the destination chosen for teleporting, "Steam Fair by Aley c.2015".
Below it is an image that shows a preview of the destination. The centre of this is a semi-elliptical arch construction that serves as the entrance of a Victorian-age amusement area on a wooden boardwalk. The structure itself is fairly elaborate with a texture that resembles slightly yellowish light wood.
At its front, there is a partially transparent sign that gives the impression of being three-dimensional through highlights and shading, implying light falling in from the left. It shows a light grey silhouette of a boardwalk with four different buildings in various sizes and shapes on it, two of them with one triangular pennant standing off a small flagpole on the roof towards the left, one with two of these. To the right of the left-most building, there is a silhouette of a ferris wheel that bears a strong resemblance to a ship's steering wheel with its eight spokes and no visible cabins.
The boardwalk silhouette is standing on a medium grey horizontal rod. Above it and connected to the rod at its end, there is a semi-elliptical double arch in the same medium grey. This double arch carries the writing "SEAVIEW" in sky blue letters in a very ornate but unidentified serif font which follows the shape of the arch. There is a light grey cartoon crab with big googly eyes and a happy expression with an open mouth and pincers spread wide wearing a white bowtie and a black top hat with a white hatband below the left-hand end of the "SEAVIEW" writing. Likewise, there is a light grey kraken with curled tentacles on the right.
Between the "SEAVIEW" writing and the boardwalk silhouette, there is the horizontal writing "Amusement Park" in a less ornate, Western-style typeface with small capitals, seemingly held in place by two horizontal rods that connect to the inner medium grey arch, one at the bottom and another one at the top only holding the actual capitals. In the same typeface, also in medium grey and with small capitals, but in front of the boardwalk silhouette and only slightly above the horizontal rod that carries it, there is another writing, "Est. 1869".
The floor of the entire structure is textured to resemble longitudinal and transversal wooden beams made of darker wood with diagonal planks made of even darker but still medium brown wood filling the large spaces between them, held in place with one large blue nail at each of their ends.
The point of view is above the bridge that leads to the boardwalk, going slightly uphill. It is lined with fence-like guards on both side, the same as those which surround the whole boardwalk, with a wooden texture that is about as light as that of the wooden "beams" in the ground texture, but more yellowish. These mostly consist of four long planks, the top one being oriented horizontally and mounted against the tops of the support poles, the other three being oriented vertially and mounted against the boardwalk sides of the support poles.
The sides of the bridge are also lined by two strings of small pennants that lead past the on-looker and end on the arch. The one on the left shows eight pennants in, from front to back, green, blue, yellow, blue again, yellow again, red, green again and blue again. The one on the right shows six pennants in, from front to back, green, this one is barely visible, red, green again, blue, yellow and red again.
To the left of the arch, there is a lamp on a lamppost. Both the lamp and the post seem to be made from the same wood as the fence except for the lamp glass which shows a yellow glow. To the right of the arch, there is one dark wooden booth. Behind that booth, there is another different arch with the same wooden texture as the one that is the centrepiece of the preview image.
In extension of the bridge, a wheelbarrow with a market stand with six boxes textured like they contain various unidentified items is standing on the boardwalk. Various other structures are on the boardwalk, mostly in the background, like tents with tarpaulins striped in beige and red or cream and brown as well as a target and another string of pennants.
All objects in this preview image so far were made by Arcadia Asylum.
Above the whole scene, there is a "ceiling" with a transparent texture that refracts the dark purple night sky. Farther in the background, barely identifiable through the "ceiling", two structures can be made out. To the left, there is the semi-transparent, black, box-shaped display booth of the Focus virtual art magazine. The fourth nebula texture of Arcadia Asylum's space cube can be seen through it; it is part of the third Arcadia Asylum space display which will be described along with its image. To the right, there is an enormous static wave with a constantly moving aqua blue texture on it.
Back to the teleporter itself: This image also triggers the actual teleport. If you click it, you are taken to the chosen destination.
The ten vantablack panels below list ten possible destinations. They show these destination labels in yellow writing: "A Whale of a Tale", "Diamond Queen - Ruth 2.4" which refers to the free, open-source mesh body Ruth2 v4, "Fashion Temple", "Kimberley's Fashion Lab", "FOCUS Magazine of Virtual Art", "Galactic Truckstop", "Space Pirates by Aley Arai", "More spaceships by Aley Arai" which is where this teleporter is standing, "Steam Fair by Aley c.2015" which is what is currently selected and "Chez Faire Beach display". Clicking them will select them as the teleport destination. These ten destinations are all on this sim, so they can also be reached by walking which would take a while due to the size of the sim, though.
At the bottom, there are four square vantablack buttons with yellow labels on them. The leftmost one has a question mark in the middle and "(DE)" in the bottom left corner. It gives you a notecard with a manual for the teleporter in German. The rightmost one is similar, only that "(EN)" is written in the bottom left corner. It also works the same, only that it provides an English manual. The buttons in-between are labelled "Pg Up" and "Pg Dn" respectively. With these two buttons, several pages with up to ten teleport destinations each can be flipped through.
On the far edge of the grey ramp, a few metres to the left from where the teleporter is standing, there is a vantablack sign that names and describes the display. In the same yellow DejaVu Sans Mono as the teleporter, it reads, "Name: More spaceships by Aley Arai | Owner: Ada.Radius | Description: Assets from the Arcadia/Aley library owned by New Media Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation. Complete Opensim collection in Kitely grid." Kitely is the third-largest OpenSim grid and one of the oldest, launched in 2011 after preparations had started as early as 2008. The pipes in this transcription, the vertical lines, mark line breaks in the original.
While the sign is actually hovering above the ground, it is seemingly held by two more of Arcadia's creations, two robots facing the sign from the sides, both of which were released through her Aley avatar.
On the left, it is Rosie the Robot Maid which can also be used as an avatar. She is mostly a darker sky blue. Her head is "cylindrical" with a horizontal, transversal axis. On each side, along the extension of the head axis, sits one horizontal, conical antenna which is about 60% as long as the head is wide and ends in a bright red, double-conical knob. The sockets of the antenna consist of a short cylinder a bit more than 20% the diametre of the head and a slightly longer cone with about 20% the diametre of the head. Two red cylinders are the eyes. On top of each eye, there is one black protrusion in a shape roughly resembling a much-widened obelisk turned slightly outwards, mimicking eyelashes. A red box serves as the mouth with a sky blue box below it serving as the lower lip and another sky blue feature in a harder-to-describe shape above it serving as the upper lip and the tip of the nose.
The upper body is a trapezoid with separate rounded sides that widens more at the front and the back than to the sides. It has three small, cylindrical, bright red buttons at the front. Both arms consist of an upper and a lower arm with separate joints. The shoulder joints are held together and in place with one big bright red slotted pan head screw each. The elbow joints only have one sky blue cylindrical pin each. The hands are two-part clamps with cylindrical pins.
The lower body is shorter, black and can best be described as two trapezoids with rounded sides on top of each other. The top one is rather low and widens downward; the upper body protrudes through the rounded sides. The bottom one is basically of the same shape, but turned upside-down and stretched to about three and a half times the same height. The only foot is sky blue again. It consists of a cylindrical leg, an elliptical, conical upper part, an elliptical, but non-conical lower part and two simple black cylinders as wheels.
Rosie wears multiple white objects shaped like something between half an eight-point star and half a bloom with eight petals. One is standing on top of her head. Two are surrounding each of her wrists. Another two, arranged in an angle of 60 degrees, resemble an apron. Finally, there is a white bow made of two flattened cones on her lower back, right above where her upper and lower body meet.
Due to the low resolution of the meshes, everything that is supposed to be round is actually octogonal.
The robot on the right of the sign is Asteroid Al. He is much more humanoid and uses fewer, but more complex shapes. He also makes more use of complex textures, especially for his body and his head which are mostly covered in detailed metal-like textures. The head is stretched upwards and backwards with large deep cavities for eye sockets and where the ears would be. The mouth is a grille and part of the head texture. The eyes are almost completely baby blue and more reminiscent of two headlights, but they aren't glowing. They're textured onto the ends of what roughly appears like two black cylinders bending into the head towards the back with several golden rings around them.
He is wearing a brick red sleeveless shirt which is textured on rather than a separate object. On the front and the back, there is a picture of a "galactic truck stop" which looks completely different from what Arcadia had built and given the same name and rather resembles that in the Mel Brooks film Spaceballs. From what can be seen in the very-low-resolution image, it seems to have been built on top of an artificially flattened asteroid with the debris from the flattening still around it, and it has three circular landing pads with spaceships on it and structures both above and below landing pad level. The highest point is a purple "GALACTIC TRUCK STOP" sign. The same writing is on the shirt as well, "GALACTIC" above the image, "TRUCK STOP" below it.
Another robot is floating above and behind the image, closer to Asteroid Al than to Rosie: the tiny maintenance bot Widget. Widget is basically a sphere with things attached to it. These are two short clamp arms, three jointless legs with suction-cup-like feet, two eyes similar to Al's, but with silver rings around the cylinders, two tool-like hexagonal attachments on the upper sides, a structure on the back built around an elliptical orb glowing teal and two cylindrical red protrusions, one at the top, one at the bottom. The one at the top serves as the attachment point for a small "satellite dish" that is oriented more forward than upward.
Most of Widget's textures have too low a resolution to be able to identify them. The full-resolution textures might never have made it over from Second Life. But the dominant texture for the attachments is black with diagonal yellow stripes. And the texture of the cylindrical body, probably mostly black with diagonal yellow stripes, too, shows circular blue signs on the left and the right, each surrounded by a silver rim and showing two crossed white tools which may be a pickaxe and a hammer.
Behind the sign and the three robots, slightly to the left again, there is a vortex-like object that is not textured onto the space cube. It looks like the accretion disc of a black hole. The inner half is mostly white, lavender and baby blue whereas the outer half is rose and brick red. It implies a clockwise rotation, but it is static. In order to appear blurrier, it was made of two semi-transparent objects with similar textures. The one up front has a texture that is blurred more, and it has a higher transparency. The object is labelled as a wormhole, but non-functional.
As for spaceships, this display shows tens of them, three of which are parked on the grey ramp in front of the space cube.
The leftmost ship in the foreground, oriented with its bow to the right, is named Retro Rocket Ship. Its fuselage is cylindrical in the middle with slightly elongate spherical ends. It has five fins with a curved, back-swept shape reminiscent of Buck Rogers aesthetics, but with a rectangular cross-section. Two of them are mounted on the sides of the cylindrical part like wings. The other three are mounted on the rear, one on top, the other two rotated slightly downward from the sides. The ship has a short nose that ends in a sphere. Fuselage, nose and fins have textures that suggest that they're riveted together from steel plates with no surface treatment. The ship has no visible landing gear.
The interior of the ship can be seen through 15 portholes which are riveted into the fuselage. The spherical bow contains the cockpit with two padded seats and eight portholes. Behind it, in the fore half of the cylindrical section, there is the crew compartment with a double bunk bed. It has two portholes on each side and more control panels like those in the cockpit below them. The other half of the ship is the engine room with a "rocket engine" that leads to a dark grey rocket nozzle on the back of the ship. It has one porthole and the ship's only door on the port side, two portholes on the starboard site and even more control panels below the portholes. The compartments are separated by double sliding doors which are closed.
While this ship was only inspired by Buck Rogers, the tiny ship in front of its nose, bow oriented roughly towards the front, had its design lifted from actual 1930s Buck Rogers toys. It is one out of only two ships on this display with no visible interior, and it is one out of only two with a glossy surface. Unlike the toys, but following Arcadia's style, it still looks like it's riveted.
Its front contains the cockpit. It is spherical with a strongly semi-elliptical cross-section. On top, there are six roughly rectangular windows in side-by-side pairs of two with light blue panes. Farther back, there are two short, stubby wings, one on each side, with partly elliptical fore edges and straight aft edges. Above each wing, there is one porthole with a light blue pane in it. There is a partly cylindrical, partly conical tube on the nose from which a structure made out of two long, thin, very slight cones protrudes.
Right behind the cockpit, nine elliptical pipe-like objects are arranged in such a way that they appear like 18 small thrust or exhaust nozzles, judging from the soot on their ends and the fuselage aft of them. The soot also covers the door with porthole on each side. The longer aft section of the fuselage is semi-elliptic in shape again, but stretched more than the cockpit section. Four semi-elliptical fins are mounted on it, one on the top, one on each side, one on the bottom. Between these fins, there are four slightly larger and much longer nozzles. Unlike those behind the cockpit, they aren't straight but protruding from the fuselage in a curve. A small normal rocket nozzle sits on the rear end between the fins.
This ship has landing gear. Two wheels are located under the cockpit at the same length as the portholes and the wings. Dark patches in the fuselage texture suggest that they can be retracted; actually, they are static. The third wheel is mounted on the bottom fin slightly aft of the larger nozzles. All three wheels sit in streamlined shrouds which add to its 1930s-style looks, tying in neatly with the motto of OpenSimFest 2023. None of the wheels touch the ground, though.
The ship behind these two is near the ground of the space cube, facing out of the cube, but rotated about 20 degrees clockwise away from standing perpendicularly to the walkways. It is labelled as the Retropolis retro future spaceship. At first glance, it is very similar to the Retro Rocket Ship, but shinier, neater and less grubby. It has a more elaborate nose which ends in a cone. Instead of the two wings, it has three fins around the cylindrical section. These wings are more simple in shape than those on the Retro Rocket Ship. They have multi-part, largely conical insertions vaguely reminiscent of early aircraft jet engines, one sitting on the outer edge. Between the outermost two, the wings are extended towards the back. The stern is surrounded by four diagonally-mounted fins now, similar in shape, but each with only one two-cone construct on the outer edge. The rocket nozzle was replaced with a different, more obviously octogonal and non-conical one, surrounded by four "cylindrical" objects above and below it as well as on its sides which could have been booster nozzles earlier. It's rather obvious that not all original textures have come from Second Life to OpenSim with this ship. Arcadia's space themes are rather problematic in this regard.
The interior is easier to access, also because the single door is open; it opens downwards. The engine compartment has some additional handles and pipes and a larger rocket engine. The other two compartments can be access through the sliding doors, one of each is open now. In fact, one of the cockpit doors is misplaced and clips through the fuselage on the port side. The crew compartment has a small round table, a chair, four cargo shelves, eleven wooden crates all over the port side place and a third bunk. The four shelves even extend into the cockpit where they hold another five crates. Also, the cockpit not only has one handwheel in front of each seat, but it also has a ship's steering wheel in the middle and, for some reason, even a periscope above it.
Another vessel is half-hidden behind the retro future spaceship. The Centurion cargofighter of the Galactic Trade Union has a strong resemblance to post-war jet fighters. It doesn't have a modelled interior; the glass of the cockpit cupola is completely opaque and black. The long nose is slightly curved from the sides, but hexagonal in its cross-section. The two wide wings have winglets on their ends, slightly tilted outward. They also carry what appears to be four hexagonal ray weapons on their weapon mounts.
Most of the rest of the ship is more rounded except for the four square engine nacelles, one mounted into each of the four fins arranged in an X. The nozzles at the ends of the nacelles are round again. Most other details are drawn onto the textures. These include 14 "portholes" similar to those on vintage Buicks, four behind the cockpit and above the wings and three below the wings on each side, as well as several safety markings with black and yellow diagonal stripes, different safety markings with black and red diagonal stripes on the rayguns and a painted-on "shark maw" on the underside below the cockpit.
The "landing gear" consists of three rather elaborate, but unarticulated vertical legs. They suggest or rather require vertical take-off and landing capabilities of which the rest of the Centurion doesn't show any traces.
Right above and farther to the back hovers another, larger, less elegant ship: the Behemoth Freighter of the Galactic Trade Union, facing to the left and slightly to the front. This ship was a cooperation with Jim Carter. It is covered almost entirely in a texture that looks like a wild and chaotic "patchwork" of rectangular metal panels, only that these aren't riveted.
The centre-piece of this ship is its boxy main cargo hold. On each side, two massive cylindrical engines are mounted with intakes at the front which make them partially seem more like turbofan engines. On top of the cargo hold, there is an empty dome which can be accessed via a ladder. The trapezoid stern features the loading ramp which is the only access to the ship's interior. The ramp is lowered almost completely. Above the ramp sits a third engine which is as big as the other two, but of a different type. Invisible from the on-looker's point of view, there are also twelve cube-shaped crates of different kinds in the cargo hold.
Forward from the cargo hold, the fuselage not only narrows, but also rises both at the bottom and at the top towards the elevated cockpit. This section two crew seats, a bed, a touch panel, a microwave and a "Mr. Coffee" coffee maker from Spaceballs. The cockpit has only got one seat which is surrounded by control panels. It is also the only part of the ship with windows. Two rows of ten rectangular windows with rounded corners each are wrapped around the semi-elliptical cockpit section.
The landing gear is lowered again. It consists of four legs, each with four feet with four extending pads each, connected to the upper struts via double shock absorbers. One pair is installed under the rear end of the cargo hold, the other one under the rear end of the "neck" between the cockpit and the cargo hold.
To the right and farther above, there is a ship simply named Saucer that looks the part. It is basically the stereotypical flying saucer. Most of its details are painted onto the texture again. It is oriented in such a way that the open hatch which doubles as a ramp faces the on-looker. The improperly installed double sliding door behind it grants a glimpse into the interior of the ship which, however, lacks any notable details except for the ladder up to the cockpit.
As usually for flying saucers, the cockpit is under a cupola on top and in the middle of the vessel. It shows a great deal of part recycling by Arcadia: Not only are the textures for the control panels standard, but the textures for the 16 windows surrounding the cockpit are the same as on the Behemoth, and the three black padded seats are the same as those in the cockpit of the Retro Rocket. On top of the cupola, there is a structure which is identical to the Retro Rocket's nose except for the texture and the pulsating blue glow around the narrow part below the sphere at the top.
Three partly diagonal, partly vertical struts with round feet make up the extracted landing gear. Also, glowing, translucent purple rings are slowly descending from the bottom of the ship to where the ground would be. Normally, four of them are visible at the same time.
Another much smaller flying saucer is hovering to the right of the Buck Rogers ship. It is simply named the Small Saucer. The very detailed texture on the main fuselage gives it a worn-out apperance. Above it, there is an egg-like cupola with the now-well-known window texture and 32 panes altogether, but the tiny vessel lacks an interior. It emits similar purple rings from the bottom as the Saucer, but they widen on their way down, and only two are visible most of the time.
The light-grey ship seen from behind below the Saucer is the Orion Jump Freighter, another cargo ship. Its rear is facing the on-looker with its rather inconveniently installed cargo hatch open, showing an arch-shaped black and yellow safety marking around its outer edge and granting an easy view into the cargo hold. The surface is mostly covered in identical rectangular texture panels which have rectangular safety markings with diagonal black and yellow stripes and rounded corners in two corners and slightly darker patches with one large circular structure between two smaller ones in the other two corners. The seams are shown as being covered with silver metal stripes.
Its fuselage mostly consists of two half-spheres, connected by a half-cylinder. The bottom halves of all three are actually flattened. The rear half-sphere contains the cargo hold. It also carries four fins with cylindrical engine nacelles at their end, two sloping sharply upward, two sloping slightly downward. The engines have white and orange textures on their rear ends. Between the upper nacelles, there is a rear wing much like on a sports car. The cargo hold contains the usual cube boxes, this time in various sizes. Together with the rear wing, they suggest that the ship has been made in jest.
The front section contains the spacious cockpit with three brown seats with black padding. It is half-surrounded by four rows of ten rectangular windows, re-using the same window texture yet again. In the middle of both the cockpit and the cargo hold, there is one column each carrying what might be a holoprojector. A semi-translucent cube is rotating slowly and clockwise above the one in the cockpit, but showing an animated standard plywood texture because the original texture is lost. Three dark grey ranged weapons are mounted next to each other under the cockpit.
The landing gear consists of three legs of the same kind as under the Behemoth, one under the cockpit, two under the cargo hold, but with different textures.
A rather unusual vessel, created in cooperation with Jim Carter again. is located in the background to the right of the Orion in the image. The Dromedary Super Freighter of the Galactic Trade Union is basically a space-going big rig. It doesn't have a fuselage in the traditional sense. Instead, it has a structure to which six standardised, octogonal cargo containers can be attached, two on each side and two on top. This structure also carries the six landing legs like those on the other two freighters which don't look like they can be retracted here. Three big drive engines are attached to the rear end, the middle one being mounted higher than the other two by a bit more than half its diametre. All four have the same white and orange textures inside their nozzles as also seen on the Orion.
The front, mostly obscured by the Orion and shaped like two joined trapezoids, looks more like the driver's cabin of a lorry. It is mostly red with one wide and two narrow stripes on the sides, the front and the roof. Said front is also adorned by two double headlights and a chrome-plated grille, all of which are part of the texture. There are several hatches and even two stainless-steel fuel tanks textured on the sides.
Access to the cockpit is granted by a door on the port side which leads into a room clad in red artifical leather padding except for the inside of the door and the ceiling which are covered in structured stainless steel. Other than the ladder that leads up to the actual cockpit, it only contains a bed. Likewise, the cockpit is mostly clad in the same padding except for the stainless steel floor. The single seat is the same brown seat as in the Orion's cockpit. The window texture has been re-used, too, but tinted red. On the roof, there is a communications dish aiming forward and slightly upward.
All six container bays are occupied. The front left container is orange. It shows a white label with the black writing "TITAN SHIPPING" and "UNIT 14 ANDROMEDA SPACE DOCK" on it. It is the only one without graffiti. The rear left container is dark red. Any writing it might have is covered in graffiti. The front top container is green with lots of graffiti on it and labelled "GRIDLAG SHIPPING INC." in a white stencil typeface. Grid lag refers to a phenomenon that might happen if a server running an OpenSim grid cannot keep up with its tasks. The rear top container is yellow; any labels on it are covered in graffiti again. The front right container is brown with lots of graffiti and "GREY GOO INTERSIM TRANSPORT" written on it in a yellow military stencil typeface. The rear right container is grey and unlabelled except for the number 3669 and the usual lot of graffiti.
Finally, standing on the grey ramp all the way to the right, the tenth and last spaceship is also the most unusual one. Its shape is mostly defined by a seemingly wild arrangement of ellipsoids, and its glossy surface texture is separated into panels with a large variety of "greebles" on them. Even electric wires appear to be strapped openly across the dome-like shape that makes up the top. The nose object from the Retro Rocket re-appears yet again with the same flashing blue light as on the Saucer, but since the object is much smaller now, the flashing is more easily visible.
The cockpit is almost entirely surrounded by black control panels with mostly white, red and blue buttons on them. It features a single medium grey, dark grey and dark blue seat. It cannot be accessed because the bottom hatch is too small; ironically, the open lid is way too big for the hatch. It can only be seen through the windscreen which is covered in a pattern of ellipses. One ranged weapon is installed on each side. Radiation warning signs on them suggest that they use something radioactive at least internally. The ship is standing on three strangely shaped and actually asymmetrical legs.
To the left, behind the rear end of the Retro Rocket, a bit of natural ground can be seen with the default diffuse green texture with irregular patches of light brown. It ends at a somewhat irregular and steep shoreline. Beyond it and all along the left-hand edge of the image, the ocean is stretching up to the horizon. It is mostly a bluish lilac with slightly less saturated reflections of clouds on the lower parts and a gradient towards purple near the horizon. The sky above it shows a gradient from a faint rose on the horizon to purple near the top left corner.
Close to the horizon, right next to the left-hand edge of the space cube, a single star is glowing.
The scene is illuminated by ambient light and by "sunlight" coming in from a low position opposite the display. There is no actual sun in the scene.
The second picture shows the second display of space-themed Arcadia Asylum creations. It has a direction of view which is straightly eastward and perpendicular to the walkways. These and the grey ramp area between the walkways and the space cube are basically identical to the first image.
The space cube is pushed back by about a metre and a half, uncovering the ground below which has the same mostly green default texture as the ground described in the first picture. It is the same space cube as in the first picture, but rotated counter-clockwise by 90 degrees. The Crab Nebula is on the left-hand side now, and NGC 604 is in the back.
On the right-hand side, there is a photograph of the Lagoon Nebula, also known by the designations Messier 8, Sharpless 25, RCW 146 in the Rodgers, Campbell & Whiteoak Catalogue and Gum 72 in the Gum catalogue of emission nebulae. It is a star-forming region in the constellation of Sagittarius. The nebula itself is greatly shifted to the left on the texture and thereby towards the background from the on-looker's point-of-view.
In comparison with NGC 604, the Lagoon Nebula appears much more as an actual nebula. The gases are more diffuse and spread more homogenously. The brightest spot is also known as the Hourglass Nebula or NGC 6523. On its left-hand edge, hardly separatable from the Hourglass Nebula itself, there is the very young star Herschel 36 which ionises the gases in the nebula and makes them glow, is left of centre in the picture, but far to the right in the nebula. The Hourglass Nebula shows a light teal glow. In turn, it is surrounded by darker clouds through which some more young stars manage shine, including smaller, very dark and dense clouds which are slowly collapsing under their own gravity and may eventually turn into stars themselves. Immediately to the right of the Hourglass Nebula and below it in a dark cloud, there are a few bits of nebula glowing purple.
To the left of the large dark cloud to the left of the bright centre, there is NGC 6530, a particularly striking open cluster of young giant and hypergiant stars which contribute to the brighter glow extending farther to the left than to the right. The cluster extends to the top left of the bright centre behind a very large dark cloud, contributing to the unbalanced spread of the glow some more. Towards the edges, the nebula fades through a faint taupe to Bordeaux red. The faint glow to the left of the star cluster NGC 6523 is designated as an individual nebula, IC 4678; a small part of it is cut off at the texture edge.
Outside the Lagoon Nebula, way to the right and above the bright spot that is the Hourglass Nebula, on the bottom right edge of a Bordeaux red nebula cloud, there is a bright star designated as HD 164385 in the Henry Draper Catalogue. Farther in the same direction are two more, less luminous stars. The brighter one is HD 314895; I couldn't find a designation for the one nearby to its upper left.
In front of NGC 604 on the rear side of the space cube, what appears to be an image of Earth edited into the texture towards its top left corner is an actual sphere with an Earth texture on it. It is oriented so that open international waters east or northeast of French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean way to the west of South America are facing the on-looker.
On the edge between the walkways, a few metres right of centre, there is a teleporter that is identical to the one in the first picture. I myself have set it to the same teleport target as the one in the first picture so that I wouldn't have to write another description for an image within an image with over 4,000 characters.
On the far edge of the grey ramp, right in the middle, there is a vantablack info sign with yellow writing in the DejaVu sans Mono typeface on it which is similar to the one in the first place. This one reads, "Name: Space pirates by Aley Arai | Owner: Ada.Radius | Description: Astonishing artwork created in Second Life by the avatar known as Arcadia Asylum, Aley Arai, Lora Lemon, Aley and other alts, exported with the artist's permission by many volunteers to OpenSim." "Alts" are short for alternate avatars, avatars which users may have in addition to their primary avatar. In both Second Life and OpenSim, it is possible to have multiple avatars. The pipes in this transcription, the vertical lines, mark line breaks in the original.
To the left of the info sign, there is an info kiosk built by Arcadia Asylum and, like most other displays, published under the guise of Lora Lemon. It has a square footprint, and all four sides are identical. The uppermost part is a symmetrical trapezoid that narrows downward. Its top surface has a science-fiction-style "structured" grey texture which is also used on the sides of the lowermost part with vertical edges. Its sides show a trapeze-shaped image of a dense field of small asteroids in front of a star field, surrounded by frame in very light and medium grey, again, with a "structured", relief-like appearance. On the image, there is a writing in teal letters in a science-fiction-style, unidentified typeface: "The EXCITING History of Asteroid Mining!"
Right below is a semi-translucent cube that serves as an image display. It circles through 16 pictures and changes them every two seconds. All four sides always show the same image. Here it currently shows a picture of what appears to be a small mining vessel in an asteroid field. The latter is shown as about a hundred big and small rocks before a grey "haze" which is tilted from horizontal orientation to the left by about 30 degrees. The ship appears mostly black, so details are hard or impossible to make out. It has a vaguely egg-shaped main fuselage with a single ignited rocket engine nozzle at the back. It also has two probably cylindrical nacelles on the sides with rounded ends and position lights on their rear undersides, red on the left, green on the right. It is located way to the left within the asteroid field and aligned with it, the rear end facing the left, but it is rotated around its own longitudinal axis to the left by almost 90 degrees. It also appears to have made contact with an asteroid slightly smaller than itself on its bow, and the active rocket engine suggests that it is pushing the asteroid.
Between the screen cube and the lowermost box, there is another trapezoid of the same size and shape as the one on the top, but turned around with the small side up. On its top, it has a fairly abstract black and green science-fiction texture which can be seen through the screen cube and which is the same as on the bottom of the upper trapezoid. All four sides show a science-fiction-style control panel which is way too elaborate for an info kiosk with 45 square buttons, three round buttons, nine dial knobs, 34 rocker switches, a 3.5-inch socket and four black-and-mostly-green displays, including at least one radar. All displays are static.
The large display in the centre has a writing on it in the same typeface as on the trapeze-shaped picture on the uppermost part, but it is green and much smaller now. It reads, "80 years ago asteroid minng (sic!) was still a vibrent (sic!) buisness (sic!), With the advent of more advanced atomic fules (sic!) and subsequent improvements in intersteller (sic!) drive engines the need to refule (sic!) from asteroid minning (sic!) pased (sic!) into the glorious annels (sic!) of galactic hstory (sic!)... Blah blah."
The vantablack display info sign is also surrounded by altogether four robots. A worker robot labelled Sculpty Robot (Industrial Model) is standing between the display info sign and the info kiosk, facing the latter. It is similar to Asteroid Al in the first picture, but in a more simple posture, without the sleeveless shirt and with silver rings around the "eye apparatus" instead of golden ones. It seems to be the basic version of these robots. Apparently, it was released by Arcadia under the name Aley Arai.
The same applies to another derivative of this robot which is standing to the right of the display info sign, facing the on-looker. It is called the Bell hop bot (Bellbot). It is identical to the robot looking at the info kiosk except for a red cylindrical bell-hop cap with black and golden trim, a red bell-hop jacket with black and golden trim and many golden buttons, a white button-down shirt underneath and a black bowtie.
Another robot creation released under the Aley Arai guise is still in its original package and lying on its right side underneath the display info sign. It has a much more humanoid and actually female look. Its face is that of a human. She has the same eyes as the two other robots, only that they are elliptical now instead of circular. She has an ellipsoid on her head that stands in for hair; it has an angular cutout for the face all the way back to the ears which are built into the head. She has a more pronounced chest with two round features on the texture that suggest a pair of breasts, a slimmer waist below and a skirt-like attachment around her waist farther below. Also, her arms and legs are somewhat more human-like.
The package box has metal grey science-fiction outer textures all around except for the mostly transparent front where it re-uses the spaceship window texture. The inside is completely textured in what looks like aqua blue padding. There is an opaque, light blue rectangle extending from the left-hand edge of the window about 70% across and from right below the robot's knees to about a third of the way up to its thighs. It has the product name of the robot written on it in black letters in the same science-fiction typeface as used on the asteroid mining info kiosk. The upper line reads, "ROBOMAID-3000", and the lower line reads, "ROBOT DOMESTIC".
The gap between this rectangle and the right-hand edge of the window is closed by another, upright rectangle in the same tone of blue which extends beyond the upper and lower edges of the first rectangle by 75% of the latter's height. It shows the logo of the manufacturer. In the middle, there is a black rectangle with rounded edges surrounded by a thin black line with a light blue robotic hand modelled after a human's left hand in front of a background of zeroes and ones in dark grey digits in an unidentified monospace typeface. "Positronic" is written above the rectangle in what appears to be a bold, italic and condensed Helvetica variant except for the quite stylised, science-fiction-style capital P. Below the rectangle, "ROBOTICS" is written in a different, unidentified sans-serif title typeface. All this writing is in black again.
Below the first rectangle, there are two barcodes. The one to the left appears to follow the Universal Product Code standard as per International Standard ISO/IEC 15420. The code number is 1-33023-81220-0. To my best knowledge, it is either a fantasy code, or it has expired years ago. The barcode to the left is a fantasy code that makes use of what appears to be a 16-colour scheme in three rows with various heights.
At both the top and the bottom of the window, "CAUTION HANDLE WITH CARE" is written in a stencil typeface which can also be seen on one of the containers on the Dromedary Super Freighter in the first picture, but in yellow with thick black outlines. On both sides of each writing, there is a triangular caution sign with rounded corners, a red frame and a black exclamation mark in front of a yellow centre.
The fourth robot in the group, released under the Aley guise again, is another female robot and much more well-known. It is modelled after the robot Maria from Fritz Lang's 1928 silent movie Metropolis. Unlike the other robots, it looks like it was entirely made from brass. It has also got a very detailed body instead of details drawn onto the textures. It is standing to the right of the Bell hop bot on a trapezoid pedestal which has the official logo of the film on the front, surrounded by a golden rectangular frame. The pedestal is partially sunk into the grey ramp below, however. This robot was actually made to be used as an avatar. The avatar variant can be acquired for free elsewhere, and yet another place which I've described several months ago uses it as an automated non-player character.
Above Maria and slightly to the right, a spherical contraption called Confederation Police Drone is hovering, another product by Aley. It is mostly spherical with bright yellow-orange cylindrical extensions at the top and the bottom, similar to the red ones on Widget in the first picture. Again, only a low-quality version of its main body texture seems to have been preserved. It is mostly Prussian blue. Two stripes full of technological "greebles" with dark grey trim along both edges surround the body below the top and above the bottom. One night blue stripe each goes around its vertical axis and its longitudinal axis with black, silver and black again trim along both edges. The "greeble" stripes cut through the blue stripe around the longitudinal axis, but their dark grey trim doesn't.
On both sides, where the blue stripes meet, there is a circular police badge with medium blue as its basic colour. It has a multi-layer frame around its edge which starts with a thin silver grey or bright golden circle, followed inward by a gradient from what appears to be dark grey to medium grey, followed again by a thick golden inner frame which appears to be elevated due to the shading on its edges. The same applies to the other golden elements in the badge. There is a star with four points at the top, at the bottom and on the sides which connect to the thin outer ring of the surrounding frame and cut through the elevated golden ring and four less-than-half-sized points between them. In the middle of the star, the outlines of the number 42 are cut into it. "Confederation" is written across the top of the badge and "Police" across its bottom, both cutting through both the inner frame and the star. "SECURITY DRONE" is written in two lines on the blue stripe to the left and to the right of each badge. All writing uses the previously seen science-fiction typeface again.
It has three horizontally arranged identical weapons at the front. What kinds of weapons they are remains unclear. Otherwise, it doesn't have any farther attachments.
Farther up and fully inside the space cube, there are also four different spaceships. The highest up, right in front of the nebula NGC 604 in the background and the farthest back in the space cube, hovers the Pirate Shark Ship which belongs to the Galactic Trade Union theme. It is pointing past the on-looker to the left. Its fuselage is mostly cylindrical with semi-spherical ends. On the top and slightly below the middles of the sides, three fins are mounted, backswept like those of a shark. Each one of them has an engine installed near its end. The engines have ellipsoid, hollowed out casings with a funnel on each end. The funnels have both the same chaotic blue and teal texture which might originally have been made for water surfaces. Here, however, it is animated. At the front of the engine, it moves inward, at the end, it moves outward. Also, each lateral fin has three dark grey ranged weapons mounted on its front edge.
The name is justified by the front design. From the upper half of the frontal semi-sphere protrudes an ellipsoid that emulates the nose of a shark. On each side of the nose, there is one bulgy, menacing eye with a red iris on a black eyeball mounted on the seam between the cylindrical mid-section and the sphere. Below the nose, on the frontal semi-sphere, there is a shark maw with two rows of pointy teeth on a dark red background which is shaded in order to appear like it's actually built into the ship rather than painted on. And on both sides of the maw, there is a dark grey structure that resembles a cogwheel with no hub which might even imply that the shark maw can be opened. In spite of the many "greebles" on the grey texture that covers almost the whole ship, it doesn't seem to have any hatches or other openings.
Also, it doesn't have an interior. The cockpit is not much more than a cupola on top of the ship, mostly on the nose, with four opaque black panes, one at the front, one at the back, one on each side. Right behind the cupola and in front of the top fin with its engine intake, a small communications dish is rotating clockwise, about once every three seconds, slightly tilted upward.
Both sides of the cylindrical mid-section are labelled. In the middle, there is a white human skill in front of two crossed sabers with black outlines in front of a black playing card spade with a white outline. Next to it, towards the bow, there is a sign made of three black chevrons with cream outlines, one from the top, two slightly tilted from the sides. On the other side, towards the stern, there is a hexagonal badge with black and yellow chevrons and a black outline which has previously appeared on the Orion Jump Freighter in the first image. The chevrons point towards the bow in the usual direction of movement. "PRIVATEER SPACE PIRATES" is written above these three emblems and "RESISTANCE IS FUN!" below them, both in the now usual science-fiction typeface and in black with beige outlines.
The tail consists of a cylindrical cone with a circular cross-section that is mounted against the middle of the rear semi-sphere plus two thin backswept hollow fins with two pointy ends each, one at the top, one at the bottom. Each fin has another one of the same engines installed as the fins on the middle fuselage section. On each side, there are two yellow lightning bolts pointing backwards; the lower one is a mirrored variant of the upper one.
There is no landing gear on the ship.
The ship below the middle that appears to be almost immediately below the Pirate Shark ship is actually a lot closer to the front. It is the Sloth Armored Transport, another ship from the Galactic Trade Union theme.
Its main fuselage section is about three and a half times as long as it is wide or high. It is octogonal from all sides, but differently from ahead or astern than from above or below and from the sides where it has the longest stretches of diagonal shape. It carries two large brackets on each side, consisting of a thick vertical connector plate and two thinner fins protruding from them diagonally which carry the actual turbine-like drive nacelles with the same white and orange rear nozzle textures as the Orion and the Dromedary, one from the top, one from the bottom. The fins also cut through one curved shield-like plate on each side which seems to be part of the brackets, and which seems to imply that the drives are not to be trusted. Most of the outside shows a texture that emulates slightly rusty steel plates with sometimes widening gaps between them.
The rectangular cargo hatch at the end is open, and since the ship is seen from behind, it reveals the interior which mostly shows a different, lighter, embossed texture. The same arrangement of twelve cargo boxes shaped like slightly flattened cubes is standing on each side, but rotated by 180 degrees towards each other. Only the boxes on the port side are visible in the image. Towards the stern, there are four stacks of four boxes each. Farther ahead, there are only two boxes. There are four different boxes, all with the same texture on all sides, arranged in alternating pairs in all directions.
Within the rearmost stack, the box at the top and the second one from the bottom have lids with a picture of a planet apparently made of melting cheese below the centre, slightly cut off at the bottom. A sleek, dark golden flying saucer comes dashing around it from the left, leaving a golden trail behind. Another mostly green flying saucer is in the top right corner, surrounded by a magenta halo and with a beige trail behind it. The planet is surrounded by an arch of golden embossed letters in a serif typeface which spell out, "PLANET CHEESE".
The other two boxes in the stack seem to be held shut with two yellow rectangular brackets riveted around each corner. In their middle, there is a rectangular logo with a medium blue background and a frame with diagonal black and yellow warning stripes around it. Towards the top right corner, there is a somewhat large grey cogwheel with six spokes and black outlines. Another slightly smaller and lighter cogwheel connects to it from the opposite corner. In the top left corner, there is the capital letter "C"; in the bottom right corner, there is the capital letter "G". Below the logo, "CAPITAL GOODS" is written. All writing is yellow and in a stencil typeface.
The boxes ahead of each Planet Cheese box have lime green corner reinforcements. Most of each side shows black and yellow diagonal warning stripes. In the middle, there is a circular logo with a faint golden frame around it and a crossed shovel and pickaxe together with three identical cream-coloured dodecahedra standing in for rock pieces on it. In black letters in the usual science-fiction typeface, "PROCESSED" is written above the logo and "ASTEROID ORE" below it.
The remaining boxes ahead of each Capital Goods box and above and below each processed asteroid ore box appear like they've got internal cooling systems and bolted-on lids. In the middle, there appears to be a window surrounded by black and yellow diagonal warning stripes through which various food items inside the box can be seen; this is of course only part of the texture. On each side of this window, "REFRIGERATED FOOD STORAGE" is written in yellow stencil letters. The writing is always vertical; to the left of the window, it is rotated clockwise, to the right, it is rotated counter-clockwise.
Ahead of the cargo hold, there is a box-shaped "neck" with the cockpit in a structure that can be described as a transversally-mounted barrel. Across the front, two rows of eleven windows using the standard space ship window texture allow for views inside or outside. The cockpit itself has two seats. The control panel ahead of them and below the front window is animated. Underneath the cockpit, there is the ship's only landing leg which is identical to those of the freighters in the first picture. Apparently, the ship uses the lower engines and the curved shields as rear landing gear.
Towards the right, below the Lagoon Nebula as seen in the picture, there is a smaller freighter with a quite angular fuselage whose most striking features are the four big engines protruding from the stern, each again with the white and orange textures. It is called the Tarsus II Tramp Freighter, another Galactic Trade Union ship, the smallest one of the cargo ships and the only one with an elaborate interior, but no access from outside. Its outside texture has lots of hatches, black and yellow safety markings, vents and other "greebles", but it does not have any door or hatch.
Most of the trapezoid bottom of the fuselage is used as the cargo hold which contains six boxes, two Capital Goods and refrigerated food storage boxes each and one Planet Cheese and processed asteroid ore box each. The top part is a bit more complex in shape. At its front, there are two rows of five windows for the cockpit; the usual window textures had to be modified for this use-case. On each side, a ranged weapon is mounted on the angular seam between top and bottom. A static dish is mounted on top of the ship.
The upper level, connected to the cargo hold via a ladder, has to be the most comfortable one on all ships. Apart from lots of control panels and the same brown seats with white seams and black padding seen on other ships before, it has a double bunk bed, and it is also equipped with the column of touch panel, microwave oven and Mr. Coffee also found inside the Behemoth freighter in the first picture. Camming through the ship would reveal a bathroom with a sink, a toilet and a bathtub filled with a slowly rotating bubble bath. Outside the bathroom, the upper has even got a patterned green carpet on the floor.
Last but not least, there is what may be the most unusual vessel of all. Fairly down low and a bit to the left, seen mostly from behind again, the Slee Banana Cruiser 2 is tagged as published by Aley again. Its main fuselage is yellow and actually shaped like a banana, riveted together from steel plates. At the rear end, there is a rocket nozzle which consists of three riveted funnels nested inside one another. The fin shape from the Retro Rocket in the first picture is re-used for one single fin on top of the nozzle, but with a simple brushed metal texture now. The front is decorated with a rusty figurehead shaped like a stylised bald female human.
The wings re-use both the rear fins from the Pirate Shark Ship and, like most of the ship, the riveted steel textures from the Retropolis retro future spaceship in the first picture. Each one holds a hexagonal vertical pod through its leading edge. From each one of these pods, a pair of double-bladed fans like on a gyrocopter protrude upward on a long shaft, and what gives the impression of a machine gun is mounted underneath. The guns seem to also double as landing gear.
The cockpit is inside a yellow sphere which holds onto the banana below with two humanoid arms. The lower half is made of riveted steel on the outside and covered in control panels on the inside. The upper half uses the window texture for a strangely asymmetrical arrangement of 15 windows. Inside, there is a padded red seat behind a hooded yellow instrument panel with a yoke.
To the left of the space cube, a bit of the neighbouring space cube from the first picture can be seen with a small part of its Crab Nebula texture. To the right, there is another bit of land, sea and sky as already described in the first picture. In the top right corner, there is a bit of a cloud. One particular bright star is shining right below the cloud and a smaller one farther below on the edge of the space cube.
Again, the scene is illuminated by ambient light and by "sunlight" coming in from a low position opposite the display. There is no actual sun in the scene.
The third picture shows the third and last display of space-themed Arcadia Asylum creations. Its direction of view has turned southward, but it is perpendicular to the walkways again. These and the grey ramp area between the walkways and the space cube are basically identical to the other two images.
Unlike in the second picture, but like in the first one, the space cube aligns with the ramp. It is placed with the same orientation as in the second picture, but it is being looked at from a different side now, thus showing NGC 604 on the left, the Lagoon Nebula in the back and the mirrored and edited picture of IC 434 with the Horsehead Nebula on the right.
On the edge between the walkways, a few metres right of centre, there is the same teleporter as in the other two pictures again. And once again, I have taken care that it also shows the same teleport destination.
To the left of it, there is a white sign which can also be found between the other two displays, but which cannot be seen in the other two pictures. It is white with black writing on it. It counts down Arcadia Asylum's main avatar names in Second Life and the themes associated with them: "Arcadia Asylum 2006-2007 | Slum City/Urban Blight, Hobos, Street Urchins, Subway System, Modular Sewer System, Greenies, Loli Caverns", a blank line following, "Aley Arai 2008-2011 | Space Pirates, Robots, Space stations, asteroids and wormholes", another blank line following, "Aley 2011 - 2015 | Flotsam Pirate Town, Pirate ships, The Abyss, Nemo's world and submarine, Mer, sunken ruins, Clockworks, Mad Scientist, Aquatics, Steam Fair". Again, the pipes in this transcription, the vertical lines, mark line breaks in the original.
The vantablack display info sign is in its usual place in the middle near the far edge of the grey ramp. This time, it reads, "Galactic Truckstop and Honest Zorg's by Aley | Owner: Ada.Radius | Description: Astonishing artwork created in Second Life by the avatar known as Arcadia Asylum, Aley Arai, Lora Lemon, Aley and other alts, exported with the artist's permission by many volunteers to OpenSim.." Once again, the pipes in this transcription mark line breaks in the original.
The centre-piece of this display is the Galactic Truck Stop in the back and almost in the middle. Its most striking feature is the two-level cupola on top. It uses the same texture for its ten rows of windows as some of the ships in the first two pictures use for their cockpit windows. The top level is a social area with eight dark grey armchairs. The level below has eight sleeping compartments, each with a double bunk bed, a hard-to-define piece of furniture and a scripted sliding door. Still, all these rooms have "glass walls" to the outside all the way to the floor, no curtains and illuminated ceilings.
The structure extends downward in a cylinder with a smaller diametre than the cupola. Directly below the cupola, there are four structures which appear to be fuel storages. They have a label on the side which consists of the Shell logo, a white rectangle below with a red and yellow logo that might be original and "FUEL" written under it in yellow letters with red outlines in a previously unseen science-fiction-style typeface and finally another upside-down Shell logo below that. There is a large porthole divided into 25 panes below each fuel storage.
Between the portholes, there are cylindrical airlocks protruding with two sets of doors. Each airlock leads to a landing pad shaped like a section of a circle. On the edges and towards the airlocks, these pads show striped black and yellow safety marking. The landing areas themselves are marked with white circles from which short white lines protrude into four directions. Inside the white circles, each landing pad has a label with an individual number, always written in red narrow and stencil-like characters with the number at the top, "PAD" below and a horizontal line between the number and the word. The landing pads on this level have even numbers; the ones towards the fronts are numbers 2 on the left and 4 on the right whereas the ones in the back are numbers 8 on the left and 6 on the right.
On the inside, this level contains a diner with a robot similar to Asteroid Al and two tables with four seats each. By default, when trying to enter any of the airlocks by clicking on them, one ends up sitting on one of these chairs.
The bottom level has its own set of four shorter landing pads. These, the corresponding air locks and the portholes between them are offset from those one floor up by 45 degrees. They have odd numbers; number 7 is oriented towards the on-looker. The portholes even have fuel storages above them again which are hanging underneath the upper landing pads. The airlocks appear to be standing wide open because the doors are misaligned; the outer door for airlock number 5 to the left even lacks textures. They are scripted nonetheless.
On the inside, the bottom level holds a big souvenir and duty-free shop with Asteroid Al himself behind the counter as the shopkeep.
All levels inside the station have brownish metal panels with lots of small slot-like holes in them on the ground. They are connected via a lift with red buttons inside which is actually a set of teleporters in disguise.
Above each airlock, the writing "GALACTIC TRUCK STOP" in the same fashion as on Asteroid Al's shirt in the first picture re-appears, but without the picture. In the typical science-fiction typeface from the second picture and the same tone of purple, "Last fule (sic!) n Restrooms for 20,000 Lightyears" is written below. The writing is not connected to anything.
Way to the right and near the front, there is the other part of this display: Honest Zorg's Used Spaceships. It is located on a small, slightly irregular round asteroid with a brown, crater-littered surface and an almost flat top. Interestingly, even the flat top has craters on it, so it came to exist naturally rather than through mining.
Four riveted steel poles are holding up two strings of pennants that surround the dealership. It's a pattern of 16 pennants in five colours: blue, white, red, yellow, green in this order. The 16th pennant to fill the number up after three repetitions is red again. The front left and rear right poles also carry signs painted onto riveted steel plates with the same structure texture as on the Dromedary on the back. The larger part of the sign with a slanted right-hand edge and a pointy upper right corner is painted denim blue with "HONEST ZORG'S" written on it in a heavy stretched Futura typeface and a thick yellow arrow pointing downward on its left-hand side; both are yellow. To the right of the arrow, there is an additional red and rectangular panel with the red writing "USED SPACESHIPS" on it which is made to appear like neon lights.
Within the strings of pennants, there are six small vessels which appear to be personal spacecraft, three on each side, most of which have rather odd shapes. In the back to the left, there is the only ship with transparent windows, another small flying saucer, which doesn't have any cockpit interior, though. Opposite of it, a rocket-style ship stands vertically on eight rear fins. It doesn't even have a cockpit, and with the sleeve around more than half its length, it rather resembles a big turbojet engine with a long pointy nose. The almost white ship to the left in the front has a chubby, mostly ellipsoid fuselage, a "collar" behind its small cockpit and eight tail fins. The oddly shaped one opposite of it in various tones of grey with a cockpit cupola similar to that on the Pirate Shark Ship has even got 16 tail fins. All these ships have in common that they lack visible drive components; this only doesn't matter for the flying saucer. But they all lack landing gear as well. Except for the upright rocket, they are sitting on their bellies.
The office in the back is basically a Retro Rocket Ship as seen in the first picture. However, its wings were cut off with no traces of their whereabouts. The rocket engine was removed; it is standing in front of the ship in two parts with a picnic table in front of the engine. The door is not only open, but dislodged and lying on the ground. The separation wall towards the cockpit including the doors is missing, as is one of the doors to the former crew compartment where the bunk beds have been removed, too. The former engine room is the office with the sales counter now. Honest Zorg turns out to be a grimy worker robot based on the same shape as Asteroid Al again. And the whole ship is slightly tilted forward because it seems to have dug itself into the ground, somewhat like in a crash landing.
There is a sign above the door which is completely obstructed by the dealership sign at the front. Through the porthole ahead of the open door, the bright teal sign on the counter is partially visible. In the same slightly stretched Futura as on the sign on the pole, but in blue, it reads, "Welcome to Honest Zorg's! We sell the finest in used and reconditioned Spacecraft". Below, in red and a bit smaller, there is added, "This is NOT the complaints office!!!" On top of the counter, the dark grey cash register can partially be made out.
This time, the image was taken in such a way that nothing is visible to the sides of the space cube. The scene is illuminated by ambient light and by "sunlight" coming in from the right. Due to the space cube not having visible outside textures, the directed "sunlight" can fall in through it, so, for example, parts of the Galactic Truck Stop or the ships at Honest Zorg's cast shadows. There is no actual sun in the scene.
#OpenSim #OpenSimulator #OpenSimFest #OSFest #OSFest2023 #ArcadiaAsylum #SecondLife #Metaverse #VirtualWorlds #VirtualPhotography #ScienceFiction #Spaceships #Long #LongPost #EyeContact #AltText #ImageDescription #ImageDescriptions -
Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Extant (resident): Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; Indonesia; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam
Presence Uncertain: China
Sunda #pangolins, also known as the Malayan or Javan pangolins, possess quirky traits that make them truly intriguing. They are capable swimmers and have a remarkable defense mechanism of curling into a protective ball, walk in an upside-down manner, and communicate through scale vibrations. As consummate insectivores, they rely on their long, sticky tongues to extract ants and termites from mounds. These pangolins have a slow metabolism, lack teeth but have a gizzard-like structure, and feature a specialised digestive system. To protect these unique creatures and their habitat, it’s crucial to take action. Join the movement and raise awareness about their primary threat #poaching and also by boycotting palm oil, which is also contributing towards their demise and putting them at risk of extinction. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket
Sunda #Pangolins have no teeth and their scales vibrate to help them communicate. They’re critically #endangered due to #palmoil #deforestation 🌴🔥🙊🚫 and #poaching in #Indonesia and #Malaysia. Help them when you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/07/16/tbc-sunda-pangolin-manis-javanica/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkyFascinating #Sunda #Pangolins curl up like #pokemons 🏀🤯 to evade predators. They’re facing #extinction due to rampant #palmoil #deforestation and #poaching in South East Asia. Fight for them! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🩸💀⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/07/16/tbc-sunda-pangolin-manis-javanica/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkySunda pangolins use a fascinating behaviour called “scale vibrations” to communicate with each other. By contracting and relaxing their muscles, they create subtle vibrations that can be sensed by other pangolins through their scales. These vibrations likely play a role in social interactions and mate selection.
Appearance & Behaviour
Here are some quirky facts about Sunda Pangolins which demonstrate their reign as one of the most fascinating creatures in the entire animal kingdom:
- Walking on the ceiling: Sunda pangolins have an interesting way of moving about. When they are on the ground, they walk on their hind legs with their forelimbs curled upwards. This peculiar method of locomotion is commonly referred to as the “upside-down walk.”
- Defensive and protective curl: When Sunda pangolins feel threatened, they have a unique defense mechanism. They curl up into a tight ball, using their scales as a protective armor. This posture makes it incredibly challenging for predators to attack them effectively.
- Consummate Insectivores: Sunda pangolins have an exceptionally specialised diet. They are insectivores, primarily feeding on ants and termites. Their long, sticky tongues, which can be longer than their body length, allow them to probe deep into termite mounds and anthills to extract their prey.
- Their scales vibrate: Sunda pangolins use a fascinating behaviour called “scale vibrations” to communicate with each other. By contracting and relaxing their muscles, they create subtle vibrations that can be sensed by other pangolins through their scales. These vibrations likely play a role in social interactions and mate selection.
- They have no teeth: Unlike most #mammals, Sunda pangolins lack teeth. However, they possess a muscular stomach and a unique adaptation known as a gizzard-like structure. They swallow small stones or grit, which aids in grinding up their insect prey within the digestive system.
- They have a slow Metabolism: Sunda pangolins have a relatively slow metabolism, which contributes to their low energy requirements. This metabolic trait allows them to survive on a diet consisting mainly of insects, which provide them with the necessary nutrients and energy.
- Their unusual digestive system: The digestive system of Sunda pangolins is adapted to handle their specialised diet. It features a long and complex intestine to maximize nutrient absorption, enabling them to extract as many nutrients as possible from the insects they consume.
Threats
Sunda Pangolins are heavily threatened and are now critically endangered. Their main threat is from hunting and poaching for local and international use. Their secondary threat is habitat destruction across their range for palm oil, timber and other crops.
- Demand comes from China and Vietnam: this drives the illegal trade in poaching, involving large quantities of live and dead animals, meat, and scales. Sophisticated trade routes exist over land and sea, contributing to the decline of Sunda Pangolin populations.
- Palm oil deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia: accelerates poaching with increased access to animals from deforestation activities.
- Indonesia is a major source of illegal exports: involving live pangolins and meat, especially since 2000.
- Pangolin meat is consumed as a luxury product: in high-end urban restaurants, and scales are used in traditional medicine.
- Illegal trade is supported by insufficient legal protection in SE Asia.
- Snaring, accidental mortality, and injuries pose risks due to pervasive hunting practices in South East Asia.
Take action to protect the Sunda Pangolin and their habitat and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket.
Habitat
Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) are found across Southeast Asia. Their range includes countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the islands of Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.
In terms of habitat, Sunda pangolins prefer forested environments, including primary, secondary, and scrub forests. They can also be found in plantations such as rubber and palm oil plantations. These pangolins have adapted to spend a significant portion of their lives in trees, making use of their prehensile tails for climbing.
Diet
Sunda pangolins primarily feed on ants and termites, making them insectivores. Their diet consists mainly of these small invertebrates. They use their long, sticky tongues to probe into termite mounds and ant hills, collecting the insects as their main source of sustenance. The lack of teeth in pangolins is compensated by their specialised tongues and digestive system, which are well-adapted to consuming large amounts of ants and termites. This diet of ants and termites provides the necessary nutrients and energy for Sunda pangolins to thrive in their natural habitats.
Mating and breeding
Pangolins are fascinating creatures that give birth to one or two offspring annually. Their breeding season takes place in autumn, and females carefully select winter burrows where they give birth. They prefer mature forest tree hollows for added fortification and stability during the birthing and nurturing process.
Parental care lasts for about three months, during which the mother’s range significantly decreases as she travels and forages alongside her young. Only in the weeks before the offspring becomes independent, brief bursts of diurnal activity may be observed. Pangolins are typically solitary and nocturnal, using their ability to roll into protective balls to safeguard their vulnerable underparts when feeling threatened.
They are skilled diggers, creating burrows lined with vegetation near termite mounds and ant nests for insulation. Sunda pangolins are believed to engage in polygynous breeding, with males mating with multiple females.
The gestation period lasts around 130 days, and newborn pangolins have soft scales that harden shortly after birth. Weighing between 100 to 500 grams, the young are nursed by the females for three months, who display strong protective behaviour. During their travels and foraging, the baby pangolins often ride on their mother’s tail, and when danger looms, the mother instinctively curls up into a tight ball, providing a secure haven for her young.
Support Sunda Pangolins by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Challender, D., Willcox, D.H.A., Panjang, E., Lim, N., Nash, H., Heinrich, S. & Chong, J. 2019. Manis javanica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12763A123584856. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T12763A123584856.en. Accessed on 02 June 2023.
Sunda Pangolin on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunda_pangolin
Sunda Pangolin on Animalia.bio – https://animalia.bio/sunda-pangolin
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Pledge your support#animals #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brunei #Cambodia #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #hunting #Indonesia #Laos #Malaysia #Mammal #mammals #mining #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #Pangolins #poaching #pokemon #pokemons #singapore #Sunda #SundaPangolinManisJavanica #TemminckSPangolinSmutsiaTemminckii #Thailand #vegan #Vietnam
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Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Extant (resident): Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; Indonesia; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam
Presence Uncertain: China
Sunda #pangolins, also known as the Malayan or Javan pangolins, possess quirky traits that make them truly intriguing. They are capable swimmers and have a remarkable defense mechanism of curling into a protective ball, walk in an upside-down manner, and communicate through scale vibrations. As consummate insectivores, they rely on their long, sticky tongues to extract ants and termites from mounds. These pangolins have a slow metabolism, lack teeth but have a gizzard-like structure, and feature a specialised digestive system. To protect these unique creatures and their habitat, it’s crucial to take action. Join the movement and raise awareness about their primary threat #poaching and also by boycotting palm oil, which is also contributing towards their demise and putting them at risk of extinction. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket
Sunda #Pangolins have no teeth and their scales vibrate to help them communicate. They’re critically #endangered due to #palmoil #deforestation 🌴🔥🙊🚫 and #poaching in #Indonesia and #Malaysia. Help them when you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/07/16/tbc-sunda-pangolin-manis-javanica/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkyFascinating #Sunda #Pangolins curl up like #pokemons 🏀🤯 to evade predators. They’re facing #extinction due to rampant #palmoil #deforestation and #poaching in South East Asia. Fight for them! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🩸💀⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/07/16/tbc-sunda-pangolin-manis-javanica/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkySunda pangolins use a fascinating behaviour called “scale vibrations” to communicate with each other. By contracting and relaxing their muscles, they create subtle vibrations that can be sensed by other pangolins through their scales. These vibrations likely play a role in social interactions and mate selection.
Appearance & Behaviour
Here are some quirky facts about Sunda Pangolins which demonstrate their reign as one of the most fascinating creatures in the entire animal kingdom:
- Walking on the ceiling: Sunda pangolins have an interesting way of moving about. When they are on the ground, they walk on their hind legs with their forelimbs curled upwards. This peculiar method of locomotion is commonly referred to as the “upside-down walk.”
- Defensive and protective curl: When Sunda pangolins feel threatened, they have a unique defense mechanism. They curl up into a tight ball, using their scales as a protective armor. This posture makes it incredibly challenging for predators to attack them effectively.
- Consummate Insectivores: Sunda pangolins have an exceptionally specialised diet. They are insectivores, primarily feeding on ants and termites. Their long, sticky tongues, which can be longer than their body length, allow them to probe deep into termite mounds and anthills to extract their prey.
- Their scales vibrate: Sunda pangolins use a fascinating behaviour called “scale vibrations” to communicate with each other. By contracting and relaxing their muscles, they create subtle vibrations that can be sensed by other pangolins through their scales. These vibrations likely play a role in social interactions and mate selection.
- They have no teeth: Unlike most #mammals, Sunda pangolins lack teeth. However, they possess a muscular stomach and a unique adaptation known as a gizzard-like structure. They swallow small stones or grit, which aids in grinding up their insect prey within the digestive system.
- They have a slow Metabolism: Sunda pangolins have a relatively slow metabolism, which contributes to their low energy requirements. This metabolic trait allows them to survive on a diet consisting mainly of insects, which provide them with the necessary nutrients and energy.
- Their unusual digestive system: The digestive system of Sunda pangolins is adapted to handle their specialised diet. It features a long and complex intestine to maximize nutrient absorption, enabling them to extract as many nutrients as possible from the insects they consume.
Threats
Sunda Pangolins are heavily threatened and are now critically endangered. Their main threat is from hunting and poaching for local and international use. Their secondary threat is habitat destruction across their range for palm oil, timber and other crops.
- Demand comes from China and Vietnam: this drives the illegal trade in poaching, involving large quantities of live and dead animals, meat, and scales. Sophisticated trade routes exist over land and sea, contributing to the decline of Sunda Pangolin populations.
- Palm oil deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia: accelerates poaching with increased access to animals from deforestation activities.
- Indonesia is a major source of illegal exports: involving live pangolins and meat, especially since 2000.
- Pangolin meat is consumed as a luxury product: in high-end urban restaurants, and scales are used in traditional medicine.
- Illegal trade is supported by insufficient legal protection in SE Asia.
- Snaring, accidental mortality, and injuries pose risks due to pervasive hunting practices in South East Asia.
Take action to protect the Sunda Pangolin and their habitat and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket.
Habitat
Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) are found across Southeast Asia. Their range includes countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the islands of Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.
In terms of habitat, Sunda pangolins prefer forested environments, including primary, secondary, and scrub forests. They can also be found in plantations such as rubber and palm oil plantations. These pangolins have adapted to spend a significant portion of their lives in trees, making use of their prehensile tails for climbing.
Diet
Sunda pangolins primarily feed on ants and termites, making them insectivores. Their diet consists mainly of these small invertebrates. They use their long, sticky tongues to probe into termite mounds and ant hills, collecting the insects as their main source of sustenance. The lack of teeth in pangolins is compensated by their specialised tongues and digestive system, which are well-adapted to consuming large amounts of ants and termites. This diet of ants and termites provides the necessary nutrients and energy for Sunda pangolins to thrive in their natural habitats.
Mating and breeding
Pangolins are fascinating creatures that give birth to one or two offspring annually. Their breeding season takes place in autumn, and females carefully select winter burrows where they give birth. They prefer mature forest tree hollows for added fortification and stability during the birthing and nurturing process.
Parental care lasts for about three months, during which the mother’s range significantly decreases as she travels and forages alongside her young. Only in the weeks before the offspring becomes independent, brief bursts of diurnal activity may be observed. Pangolins are typically solitary and nocturnal, using their ability to roll into protective balls to safeguard their vulnerable underparts when feeling threatened.
They are skilled diggers, creating burrows lined with vegetation near termite mounds and ant nests for insulation. Sunda pangolins are believed to engage in polygynous breeding, with males mating with multiple females.
The gestation period lasts around 130 days, and newborn pangolins have soft scales that harden shortly after birth. Weighing between 100 to 500 grams, the young are nursed by the females for three months, who display strong protective behaviour. During their travels and foraging, the baby pangolins often ride on their mother’s tail, and when danger looms, the mother instinctively curls up into a tight ball, providing a secure haven for her young.
Support Sunda Pangolins by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Challender, D., Willcox, D.H.A., Panjang, E., Lim, N., Nash, H., Heinrich, S. & Chong, J. 2019. Manis javanica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12763A123584856. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T12763A123584856.en. Accessed on 02 June 2023.
Sunda Pangolin on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunda_pangolin
Sunda Pangolin on Animalia.bio – https://animalia.bio/sunda-pangolin
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,528 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#animals #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brunei #Cambodia #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #hunting #Indonesia #Laos #Malaysia #Mammal #mammals #mining #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #Pangolins #poaching #pokemon #pokemons #singapore #Sunda #SundaPangolinManisJavanica #TemminckSPangolinSmutsiaTemminckii #Thailand #vegan #Vietnam
-
Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Extant (resident): Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; Indonesia; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam
Presence Uncertain: China
Sunda #pangolins, also known as the Malayan or Javan pangolins, possess quirky traits that make them truly intriguing. They are capable swimmers and have a remarkable defense mechanism of curling into a protective ball, walk in an upside-down manner, and communicate through scale vibrations. As consummate insectivores, they rely on their long, sticky tongues to extract ants and termites from mounds. These pangolins have a slow metabolism, lack teeth but have a gizzard-like structure, and feature a specialised digestive system. To protect these unique creatures and their habitat, it’s crucial to take action. Join the movement and raise awareness about their primary threat #poaching and also by boycotting palm oil, which is also contributing towards their demise and putting them at risk of extinction. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket
Sunda #Pangolins have no teeth and their scales vibrate to help them communicate. They’re critically #endangered due to #palmoil #deforestation 🌴🔥🙊🚫 and #poaching in #Indonesia and #Malaysia. Help them when you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/07/16/tbc-sunda-pangolin-manis-javanica/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkyFascinating #Sunda #Pangolins curl up like #pokemons 🏀🤯 to evade predators. They’re facing #extinction due to rampant #palmoil #deforestation and #poaching in South East Asia. Fight for them! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🩸💀⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/07/16/tbc-sunda-pangolin-manis-javanica/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkySunda pangolins use a fascinating behaviour called “scale vibrations” to communicate with each other. By contracting and relaxing their muscles, they create subtle vibrations that can be sensed by other pangolins through their scales. These vibrations likely play a role in social interactions and mate selection.
Appearance & Behaviour
Here are some quirky facts about Sunda Pangolins which demonstrate their reign as one of the most fascinating creatures in the entire animal kingdom:
- Walking on the ceiling: Sunda pangolins have an interesting way of moving about. When they are on the ground, they walk on their hind legs with their forelimbs curled upwards. This peculiar method of locomotion is commonly referred to as the “upside-down walk.”
- Defensive and protective curl: When Sunda pangolins feel threatened, they have a unique defense mechanism. They curl up into a tight ball, using their scales as a protective armor. This posture makes it incredibly challenging for predators to attack them effectively.
- Consummate Insectivores: Sunda pangolins have an exceptionally specialised diet. They are insectivores, primarily feeding on ants and termites. Their long, sticky tongues, which can be longer than their body length, allow them to probe deep into termite mounds and anthills to extract their prey.
- Their scales vibrate: Sunda pangolins use a fascinating behaviour called “scale vibrations” to communicate with each other. By contracting and relaxing their muscles, they create subtle vibrations that can be sensed by other pangolins through their scales. These vibrations likely play a role in social interactions and mate selection.
- They have no teeth: Unlike most #mammals, Sunda pangolins lack teeth. However, they possess a muscular stomach and a unique adaptation known as a gizzard-like structure. They swallow small stones or grit, which aids in grinding up their insect prey within the digestive system.
- They have a slow Metabolism: Sunda pangolins have a relatively slow metabolism, which contributes to their low energy requirements. This metabolic trait allows them to survive on a diet consisting mainly of insects, which provide them with the necessary nutrients and energy.
- Their unusual digestive system: The digestive system of Sunda pangolins is adapted to handle their specialised diet. It features a long and complex intestine to maximize nutrient absorption, enabling them to extract as many nutrients as possible from the insects they consume.
Threats
Sunda Pangolins are heavily threatened and are now critically endangered. Their main threat is from hunting and poaching for local and international use. Their secondary threat is habitat destruction across their range for palm oil, timber and other crops.
- Demand comes from China and Vietnam: this drives the illegal trade in poaching, involving large quantities of live and dead animals, meat, and scales. Sophisticated trade routes exist over land and sea, contributing to the decline of Sunda Pangolin populations.
- Palm oil deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia: accelerates poaching with increased access to animals from deforestation activities.
- Indonesia is a major source of illegal exports: involving live pangolins and meat, especially since 2000.
- Pangolin meat is consumed as a luxury product: in high-end urban restaurants, and scales are used in traditional medicine.
- Illegal trade is supported by insufficient legal protection in SE Asia.
- Snaring, accidental mortality, and injuries pose risks due to pervasive hunting practices in South East Asia.
Take action to protect the Sunda Pangolin and their habitat and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket.
Habitat
Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) are found across Southeast Asia. Their range includes countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the islands of Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.
In terms of habitat, Sunda pangolins prefer forested environments, including primary, secondary, and scrub forests. They can also be found in plantations such as rubber and palm oil plantations. These pangolins have adapted to spend a significant portion of their lives in trees, making use of their prehensile tails for climbing.
Diet
Sunda pangolins primarily feed on ants and termites, making them insectivores. Their diet consists mainly of these small invertebrates. They use their long, sticky tongues to probe into termite mounds and ant hills, collecting the insects as their main source of sustenance. The lack of teeth in pangolins is compensated by their specialised tongues and digestive system, which are well-adapted to consuming large amounts of ants and termites. This diet of ants and termites provides the necessary nutrients and energy for Sunda pangolins to thrive in their natural habitats.
Mating and breeding
Pangolins are fascinating creatures that give birth to one or two offspring annually. Their breeding season takes place in autumn, and females carefully select winter burrows where they give birth. They prefer mature forest tree hollows for added fortification and stability during the birthing and nurturing process.
Parental care lasts for about three months, during which the mother’s range significantly decreases as she travels and forages alongside her young. Only in the weeks before the offspring becomes independent, brief bursts of diurnal activity may be observed. Pangolins are typically solitary and nocturnal, using their ability to roll into protective balls to safeguard their vulnerable underparts when feeling threatened.
They are skilled diggers, creating burrows lined with vegetation near termite mounds and ant nests for insulation. Sunda pangolins are believed to engage in polygynous breeding, with males mating with multiple females.
The gestation period lasts around 130 days, and newborn pangolins have soft scales that harden shortly after birth. Weighing between 100 to 500 grams, the young are nursed by the females for three months, who display strong protective behaviour. During their travels and foraging, the baby pangolins often ride on their mother’s tail, and when danger looms, the mother instinctively curls up into a tight ball, providing a secure haven for her young.
Support Sunda Pangolins by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Challender, D., Willcox, D.H.A., Panjang, E., Lim, N., Nash, H., Heinrich, S. & Chong, J. 2019. Manis javanica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12763A123584856. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T12763A123584856.en. Accessed on 02 June 2023.
Sunda Pangolin on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunda_pangolin
Sunda Pangolin on Animalia.bio – https://animalia.bio/sunda-pangolin
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,528 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#animals #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brunei #Cambodia #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #hunting #Indonesia #Laos #Malaysia #Mammal #mammals #mining #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #Pangolins #poaching #pokemon #pokemons #singapore #Sunda #SundaPangolinManisJavanica #TemminckSPangolinSmutsiaTemminckii #Thailand #vegan #Vietnam
-
Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Extant (resident): Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; Indonesia; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam
Presence Uncertain: China
Sunda #pangolins, also known as the Malayan or Javan pangolins, possess quirky traits that make them truly intriguing. They are capable swimmers and have a remarkable defense mechanism of curling into a protective ball, walk in an upside-down manner, and communicate through scale vibrations. As consummate insectivores, they rely on their long, sticky tongues to extract ants and termites from mounds. These pangolins have a slow metabolism, lack teeth but have a gizzard-like structure, and feature a specialised digestive system. To protect these unique creatures and their habitat, it’s crucial to take action. Join the movement and raise awareness about their primary threat #poaching and also by boycotting palm oil, which is also contributing towards their demise and putting them at risk of extinction. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket
Sunda #Pangolins have no teeth and their scales vibrate to help them communicate. They’re critically #endangered due to #palmoil #deforestation 🌴🔥🙊🚫 and #poaching in #Indonesia and #Malaysia. Help them when you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/07/16/tbc-sunda-pangolin-manis-javanica/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkyFascinating #Sunda #Pangolins curl up like #pokemons 🏀🤯 to evade predators. They’re facing #extinction due to rampant #palmoil #deforestation and #poaching in South East Asia. Fight for them! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🩸💀⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/07/16/tbc-sunda-pangolin-manis-javanica/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkySunda pangolins use a fascinating behaviour called “scale vibrations” to communicate with each other. By contracting and relaxing their muscles, they create subtle vibrations that can be sensed by other pangolins through their scales. These vibrations likely play a role in social interactions and mate selection.
Appearance & Behaviour
Here are some quirky facts about Sunda Pangolins which demonstrate their reign as one of the most fascinating creatures in the entire animal kingdom:
- Walking on the ceiling: Sunda pangolins have an interesting way of moving about. When they are on the ground, they walk on their hind legs with their forelimbs curled upwards. This peculiar method of locomotion is commonly referred to as the “upside-down walk.”
- Defensive and protective curl: When Sunda pangolins feel threatened, they have a unique defense mechanism. They curl up into a tight ball, using their scales as a protective armor. This posture makes it incredibly challenging for predators to attack them effectively.
- Consummate Insectivores: Sunda pangolins have an exceptionally specialised diet. They are insectivores, primarily feeding on ants and termites. Their long, sticky tongues, which can be longer than their body length, allow them to probe deep into termite mounds and anthills to extract their prey.
- Their scales vibrate: Sunda pangolins use a fascinating behaviour called “scale vibrations” to communicate with each other. By contracting and relaxing their muscles, they create subtle vibrations that can be sensed by other pangolins through their scales. These vibrations likely play a role in social interactions and mate selection.
- They have no teeth: Unlike most #mammals, Sunda pangolins lack teeth. However, they possess a muscular stomach and a unique adaptation known as a gizzard-like structure. They swallow small stones or grit, which aids in grinding up their insect prey within the digestive system.
- They have a slow Metabolism: Sunda pangolins have a relatively slow metabolism, which contributes to their low energy requirements. This metabolic trait allows them to survive on a diet consisting mainly of insects, which provide them with the necessary nutrients and energy.
- Their unusual digestive system: The digestive system of Sunda pangolins is adapted to handle their specialised diet. It features a long and complex intestine to maximize nutrient absorption, enabling them to extract as many nutrients as possible from the insects they consume.
Threats
Sunda Pangolins are heavily threatened and are now critically endangered. Their main threat is from hunting and poaching for local and international use. Their secondary threat is habitat destruction across their range for palm oil, timber and other crops.
- Demand comes from China and Vietnam: this drives the illegal trade in poaching, involving large quantities of live and dead animals, meat, and scales. Sophisticated trade routes exist over land and sea, contributing to the decline of Sunda Pangolin populations.
- Palm oil deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia: accelerates poaching with increased access to animals from deforestation activities.
- Indonesia is a major source of illegal exports: involving live pangolins and meat, especially since 2000.
- Pangolin meat is consumed as a luxury product: in high-end urban restaurants, and scales are used in traditional medicine.
- Illegal trade is supported by insufficient legal protection in SE Asia.
- Snaring, accidental mortality, and injuries pose risks due to pervasive hunting practices in South East Asia.
Take action to protect the Sunda Pangolin and their habitat and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket.
Habitat
Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) are found across Southeast Asia. Their range includes countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the islands of Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.
In terms of habitat, Sunda pangolins prefer forested environments, including primary, secondary, and scrub forests. They can also be found in plantations such as rubber and palm oil plantations. These pangolins have adapted to spend a significant portion of their lives in trees, making use of their prehensile tails for climbing.
Diet
Sunda pangolins primarily feed on ants and termites, making them insectivores. Their diet consists mainly of these small invertebrates. They use their long, sticky tongues to probe into termite mounds and ant hills, collecting the insects as their main source of sustenance. The lack of teeth in pangolins is compensated by their specialised tongues and digestive system, which are well-adapted to consuming large amounts of ants and termites. This diet of ants and termites provides the necessary nutrients and energy for Sunda pangolins to thrive in their natural habitats.
Mating and breeding
Pangolins are fascinating creatures that give birth to one or two offspring annually. Their breeding season takes place in autumn, and females carefully select winter burrows where they give birth. They prefer mature forest tree hollows for added fortification and stability during the birthing and nurturing process.
Parental care lasts for about three months, during which the mother’s range significantly decreases as she travels and forages alongside her young. Only in the weeks before the offspring becomes independent, brief bursts of diurnal activity may be observed. Pangolins are typically solitary and nocturnal, using their ability to roll into protective balls to safeguard their vulnerable underparts when feeling threatened.
They are skilled diggers, creating burrows lined with vegetation near termite mounds and ant nests for insulation. Sunda pangolins are believed to engage in polygynous breeding, with males mating with multiple females.
The gestation period lasts around 130 days, and newborn pangolins have soft scales that harden shortly after birth. Weighing between 100 to 500 grams, the young are nursed by the females for three months, who display strong protective behaviour. During their travels and foraging, the baby pangolins often ride on their mother’s tail, and when danger looms, the mother instinctively curls up into a tight ball, providing a secure haven for her young.
Support Sunda Pangolins by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Challender, D., Willcox, D.H.A., Panjang, E., Lim, N., Nash, H., Heinrich, S. & Chong, J. 2019. Manis javanica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12763A123584856. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T12763A123584856.en. Accessed on 02 June 2023.
Sunda Pangolin on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunda_pangolin
Sunda Pangolin on Animalia.bio – https://animalia.bio/sunda-pangolin
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,528 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#animals #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brunei #Cambodia #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #hunting #Indonesia #Laos #Malaysia #Mammal #mammals #mining #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #Pangolins #poaching #pokemon #pokemons #singapore #Sunda #SundaPangolinManisJavanica #TemminckSPangolinSmutsiaTemminckii #Thailand #vegan #Vietnam
-
Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Extant (resident): Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; Indonesia; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam
Presence Uncertain: China
Sunda #pangolins, also known as the Malayan or Javan pangolins, possess quirky traits that make them truly intriguing. They are capable swimmers and have a remarkable defense mechanism of curling into a protective ball, walk in an upside-down manner, and communicate through scale vibrations. As consummate insectivores, they rely on their long, sticky tongues to extract ants and termites from mounds. These pangolins have a slow metabolism, lack teeth but have a gizzard-like structure, and feature a specialised digestive system. To protect these unique creatures and their habitat, it’s crucial to take action. Join the movement and raise awareness about their primary threat #poaching and also by boycotting palm oil, which is also contributing towards their demise and putting them at risk of extinction. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket
Sunda #Pangolins have no teeth and their scales vibrate to help them communicate. They’re critically #endangered due to #palmoil #deforestation 🌴🔥🙊🚫 and #poaching in #Indonesia and #Malaysia. Help them when you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/07/16/tbc-sunda-pangolin-manis-javanica/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkyFascinating #Sunda #Pangolins curl up like #pokemons 🏀🤯 to evade predators. They’re facing #extinction due to rampant #palmoil #deforestation and #poaching in South East Asia. Fight for them! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🩸💀⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/07/16/tbc-sunda-pangolin-manis-javanica/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkySunda pangolins use a fascinating behaviour called “scale vibrations” to communicate with each other. By contracting and relaxing their muscles, they create subtle vibrations that can be sensed by other pangolins through their scales. These vibrations likely play a role in social interactions and mate selection.
Appearance & Behaviour
Here are some quirky facts about Sunda Pangolins which demonstrate their reign as one of the most fascinating creatures in the entire animal kingdom:
- Walking on the ceiling: Sunda pangolins have an interesting way of moving about. When they are on the ground, they walk on their hind legs with their forelimbs curled upwards. This peculiar method of locomotion is commonly referred to as the “upside-down walk.”
- Defensive and protective curl: When Sunda pangolins feel threatened, they have a unique defense mechanism. They curl up into a tight ball, using their scales as a protective armor. This posture makes it incredibly challenging for predators to attack them effectively.
- Consummate Insectivores: Sunda pangolins have an exceptionally specialised diet. They are insectivores, primarily feeding on ants and termites. Their long, sticky tongues, which can be longer than their body length, allow them to probe deep into termite mounds and anthills to extract their prey.
- Their scales vibrate: Sunda pangolins use a fascinating behaviour called “scale vibrations” to communicate with each other. By contracting and relaxing their muscles, they create subtle vibrations that can be sensed by other pangolins through their scales. These vibrations likely play a role in social interactions and mate selection.
- They have no teeth: Unlike most #mammals, Sunda pangolins lack teeth. However, they possess a muscular stomach and a unique adaptation known as a gizzard-like structure. They swallow small stones or grit, which aids in grinding up their insect prey within the digestive system.
- They have a slow Metabolism: Sunda pangolins have a relatively slow metabolism, which contributes to their low energy requirements. This metabolic trait allows them to survive on a diet consisting mainly of insects, which provide them with the necessary nutrients and energy.
- Their unusual digestive system: The digestive system of Sunda pangolins is adapted to handle their specialised diet. It features a long and complex intestine to maximize nutrient absorption, enabling them to extract as many nutrients as possible from the insects they consume.
Threats
Sunda Pangolins are heavily threatened and are now critically endangered. Their main threat is from hunting and poaching for local and international use. Their secondary threat is habitat destruction across their range for palm oil, timber and other crops.
- Demand comes from China and Vietnam: this drives the illegal trade in poaching, involving large quantities of live and dead animals, meat, and scales. Sophisticated trade routes exist over land and sea, contributing to the decline of Sunda Pangolin populations.
- Palm oil deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia: accelerates poaching with increased access to animals from deforestation activities.
- Indonesia is a major source of illegal exports: involving live pangolins and meat, especially since 2000.
- Pangolin meat is consumed as a luxury product: in high-end urban restaurants, and scales are used in traditional medicine.
- Illegal trade is supported by insufficient legal protection in SE Asia.
- Snaring, accidental mortality, and injuries pose risks due to pervasive hunting practices in South East Asia.
Take action to protect the Sunda Pangolin and their habitat and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket.
Habitat
Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) are found across Southeast Asia. Their range includes countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the islands of Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.
In terms of habitat, Sunda pangolins prefer forested environments, including primary, secondary, and scrub forests. They can also be found in plantations such as rubber and palm oil plantations. These pangolins have adapted to spend a significant portion of their lives in trees, making use of their prehensile tails for climbing.
Diet
Sunda pangolins primarily feed on ants and termites, making them insectivores. Their diet consists mainly of these small invertebrates. They use their long, sticky tongues to probe into termite mounds and ant hills, collecting the insects as their main source of sustenance. The lack of teeth in pangolins is compensated by their specialised tongues and digestive system, which are well-adapted to consuming large amounts of ants and termites. This diet of ants and termites provides the necessary nutrients and energy for Sunda pangolins to thrive in their natural habitats.
Mating and breeding
Pangolins are fascinating creatures that give birth to one or two offspring annually. Their breeding season takes place in autumn, and females carefully select winter burrows where they give birth. They prefer mature forest tree hollows for added fortification and stability during the birthing and nurturing process.
Parental care lasts for about three months, during which the mother’s range significantly decreases as she travels and forages alongside her young. Only in the weeks before the offspring becomes independent, brief bursts of diurnal activity may be observed. Pangolins are typically solitary and nocturnal, using their ability to roll into protective balls to safeguard their vulnerable underparts when feeling threatened.
They are skilled diggers, creating burrows lined with vegetation near termite mounds and ant nests for insulation. Sunda pangolins are believed to engage in polygynous breeding, with males mating with multiple females.
The gestation period lasts around 130 days, and newborn pangolins have soft scales that harden shortly after birth. Weighing between 100 to 500 grams, the young are nursed by the females for three months, who display strong protective behaviour. During their travels and foraging, the baby pangolins often ride on their mother’s tail, and when danger looms, the mother instinctively curls up into a tight ball, providing a secure haven for her young.
Support Sunda Pangolins by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Challender, D., Willcox, D.H.A., Panjang, E., Lim, N., Nash, H., Heinrich, S. & Chong, J. 2019. Manis javanica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12763A123584856. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T12763A123584856.en. Accessed on 02 June 2023.
Sunda Pangolin on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunda_pangolin
Sunda Pangolin on Animalia.bio – https://animalia.bio/sunda-pangolin
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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Join 3,528 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#animals #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brunei #Cambodia #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #hunting #Indonesia #Laos #Malaysia #Mammal #mammals #mining #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #Pangolins #poaching #pokemon #pokemons #singapore #Sunda #SundaPangolinManisJavanica #TemminckSPangolinSmutsiaTemminckii #Thailand #vegan #Vietnam
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The thread about the “Dick Vet” and why its name is nothing to be giggled about
This thread was originally written and published in July 2023.
A Freudian slip where a taxi was mistakenly ordered for the “Small Dick Animal Hospital” instead of the “Royal Dick Small Animal Hospital” is not the first, and certainly won’t be the last, occasion where Edinburgh’s Dick Vet institution has found its name to be the source of some amusement.
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, at the Easter Bush campus of Edinburgh University. CC-by-SA 3.0 Norrie RussellThis name goes back to William Dick, founder of the city’s first veterinary college, which he ran with his sister Mary Dick. Dick, a form of Dickson from the diminutive for Richard, is an old Scottish and northeast English family name going back to medieval times. Dick Place (no sniggering at the back) in the Grange is named for the landowning Lauder Dick baronets. Dick’s Close (I said stop it!) in the Cowgate was for the Dick family of brewers.
William and Mary Dick’s family came from Aberdeenshire, but they were born in the Canongate in White Horse Close at the tail end of the 18th century. Their father was a blacksmith and farrier, so they grew up around horses.
White Horse Close in the 1850s, by Thomas Keith 1827-95.When William Dick was 22, the family moved from the Canongate to the New Town, at 15 Clyde Street.
Extract from the 1821-22 Post Office Directory for Edinburgh showing John Dick at 15 Clyde StreetWilliam was studying anatomy at this time under John Barclay, having done well in his boyhood education. Barclay, satirised below in a John Kay caricature as trying to enter the University atop an elephant’s skeleton as its new anatomy professor, was the son of a farmer and specialised in comparative anatomy (i.e. the study of differences and similarities of anatomy between species). He was also a director of the Highland Society of Edinburgh (now the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland) and he influenced and supported William to pursue his boyhood interest in horses (from his father’s occupation) and head to London to study veterinary medicine.
“The Craft in Danger”. John Barclay attempts to unsuccessfully enter the University of Edinburgh as its new professor of anatomy on top of an elephant skeleton, opposed by his contemporaries.That was 1817, and it took William only 3 months to complete his certificate in London. He returned to Edinburgh in 1818 and in 1819 set up a small vet school of his own in the family premises on Clyde Street. The Highland Society both sponsored the qualification and provided financial support and his sister ran the administrative side.
Professor William Dick, 1793 – 1866. Founder of the Dick Veterinary College. Watercolour by Elizabeth Olden. Cc-by-NC National Galleries Scotland.By 1823, regular classes were being run, financed both by student fees and the Highland Society. The institution flourished and in 1830 it took on the name Edinburgh Veterinary College. Soon, larger, dedicated premises were needed and in 1833 it moved across the road on Clyde Street, to a purpose-built Vet School, largely financed by William himself. The grand pediment was crowned by a large statue of a horse. This building (and Clyde Street itself) was long ago demolished to make way for Edinburgh’s bus station.
Drawing of the Clyde Street College in 1877, from “Veterinary History”, vol. 17, no. 1. by Alistair A. MacdonaldIn 1838, Dick became Veterinarian by Appointment to the Queen and the word “Royal” was added to the name of the college, with the royal coat of arms installed within the inner courtyard at Clyde Street. In 1840, Dick’s students wrote to the Highland Society requesting that he be made professor, and the readily agreed to this demand. William Dick died in 1866, with the college being run afterwards by his protégés. When one of the latter set up a rival institution, the “Royal” status of his college was questioned and his sister lobbied for it to be instead called the Dick Veterinary College.
Professor William Dick, veterinary surgeon, in later life. Wellcome Collection, 12638iIt was around this time that the institution locally began to be known as just the Dick Vet or The Dick. The trustees had the name altered to Dick’s Royal Veterinary College in 1876, and the following year it was rearranged to the Royal (Dick’s) Veterinary College. The apostrophe was lost 10 years later. In 1911, the awarding of degrees in Veterinary Medicine began under the umbrella of the University of Edinburgh. By now the school was out-growing its 80 year old premises at Clyde Street and the construction of new buildings on the site of the Summerhall commenced. The completion of these was delayed by the onset of WW1 and they were not entered into until 1916.
The (then) new “Dick Vet” at the SummerhallThe Dick Vet as an independent college ceased to be in 1951, when the University of Edinburgh (Royal (Dick) Veterinary College) Order Confirmation Act was passed, formally incorporating the college as a school within the university, now known as the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, a name it maintains to this day. A further move, out to the Easter Bush campus in Midlothian, took place in 2011. A stained glass window commemorating William Dick was removed from to the new location at this time. The former student bar at the Summerhall, now an arts venue of that name, is still called the Royal Dick.
Stained Glass window showing William Dick, removed from the Summerhall to Easter Bush in 2011.The equestrian statue that once topped the 1833 vet school was relocated to the Summerhall site in 1916, and moved again in 2011. It is still in existence, having been placed outside the equine buildings at Easter Bush, and was renovated in 2019.
The 1833 equine statue at Easter Bush in 2020. Photograph from the Dick Vet Equine Hospital.The site of the 1833 school is commemorated by a plaque at the bus station.
Plaque at Edinburgh Bus station commemorating the old Royal Dick veterinary college. CC-by-SA 2.0 Jim BartonIt was converted to a cinema – the St. Andrew Square Picture House – in 1923 and burned down in 1952. The fire gutted the building within 20 mins, not before the projectionists saved the precious lenses.
Fire destroys the St. Andrew Square cinema, converted from the old Dick Vet, in 1952Note to readers: unfortunately in April 2026, a third-party plug-in more than exceeded its authority and broke many of the image links on this site. No images were lost but I will have to restore them page-by-page, which may take some time. In the meantime please bear with me while I go about rectifying this issue.
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#Lochend #Logan #Restalrig #StMargaret -
Quince Monitor (Banggai Island Monitor) Varanus melinus
Quince Monitor (Banggai Island Monitor) Varanus melinus
Red List Ranking: Endangered
Extant (resident): Indonesia (Maluku).
The Quince Monitor Varanus melinus get their name from the spectacular bright yellow of their skin. This is a rare and elusive species of #monitor #lizard that lives in only one location in #Indonesia – the #Maluku Islands. Their muscular, wide stance and ancient dragon-like looks make them fascinating to behold. They are endangered primarily from #palmoil #deforestation throughout their range along with collection for the illegal #pettrade. They have no known protections in place. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket and don’t buy these lizards as exotic pets as this is sending them extinct!
Quince Monitor #Lizards are named for their bright yellow skin and muscular bodies💛🍋🦎. They are #endangered 😿😭 by #palmoil #deforestation in #Indonesia 🇮🇩 Help them when you #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect 🌴🩸☠️🚜🔥🧐🙊⛔️ https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/05/28/quince-monitor-banggai-island-monitor-varanus-melinus/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterHelp fight for the #endangered Quince #Monitor #Lizard of #Indonesia 🇮🇩, a majestic yellow #reptile. 💛🍋✨🌟🦎Major threats are #palmoil #deforestation and the pet trade. Help them and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🩸🤮☠️🚫 @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/05/28/quince-monitor-banggai-island-monitor-varanus-melinus/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance & Behaviour
Quince monitors gain their names from their bright colouring reminiscent of the quince fruit.
These large and impressive lizards have a yellow head, back and tail along with striking contrasting bands of yellow and black across their limbs, face and neck. Juvenile quince monitors are darker and they get brighter yellow with age. They average around 80-120cm in total body length.
Threats
This species of lizard appears to be threatened through over-collection for the international pet trade, and also degradation and clearance of forested areas within their range (for both timber and agricultural expansion for palm oil). An additional potential threat is the introduction of the non-native toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, which may be toxic to this predatory monitor lizard (Koch et al. 2013, Weijola and Sweet 2010).
IUCN RED LISTThe Quince Monitor faces a range of anthropogenic threats:
- Palm oil deforestation: This is their main threat on the islands of Maluku, Indonesia.
- Timber deforestation
- Collection for the pet trade
- An introduced, non-native toad, which is toxic to the lizards
Habitat
Far more research is needed to understand the ecological needs of the Quince Monitor. They seem to have a preference for swamps, wetlands and forests. These large reptiles are also found close to human settlements.
They are endemic to the Sula Islands of Indonesia, however their range has been destroyed by palm oil and reduced significantly. This along with overzealous collection for the pet trade has led them to now be classified as endangered on IUCN Red List.
Diet
In captivity, Quince monitors are known to eat crickets, mealworms, waxworms, roaches, frogs and eggs.
Mating and breeding
The generation length for this species requires further research. The reproductive age of this lizard, as revealed from captive breeding, may exceed seven years. A clutch consists of 2–12 eggs, with up to three clutches being laid per year and a minimum of 77 days between two clutches. The lizards reach reach 37–39.5 cm in length by 5.5 months and reach sexual maturity at 120 cm (male) or 90 cm (female).
Support Quince Monitors by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Shea, G., Stubbs, A. & Arida, E. 2021. Varanus melinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T83778224A83778231. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T83778224A83778231.en. Accessed on 14 November 2022.
Quince Monitor (Banggai Island Monitor) Varanus melinus on Wikipedia
Quince Monitor (Banggai Island Monitor) Varanus melinus – threatsHow can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your supportForgotten Species on Palm Oil Detectives
These species have no known conservation actions in place and are silently disappearing before we can save them. Do something about it by boycotting supermarket brands linked to tropical deforestation. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife
Santa Catarina’s Guinea Pig Cavia intermedia
Read moreKeel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus
Read moreAsian Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus
Read moreMarsupials thought extinct for 6,000 years found in West Papua
Read moreGursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae
Read moreSunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus
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The thread about the problems of sewage disposal in 19th century Edinburgh and Leith, and how something was done about it
Are we sitting comfortably? The first part of Edinburgh’s sewage history was the Thread About the East Foul Burn and the Irrigated Meadows. Let us now turn to Chapter 2 of that story;the drainage and sewage problems of Victorian Edinburgh and how to fix them.
The Silent Highwayman. A satirical cartoon from Punch magazine in London in 1850 on the fatal costs of having a polluted river running through a metropolis.Our story starts with a little revision of the topography of the city; without it what follows just doesn’t make sense for the simple and important reason that sewage will only run downhill. So here is a topographically coloured map of central Edinburgh. White is highest, then red, orange, yellow, green, light blue; and then dark blue is lowest. Simple physics dictates that a liquid – and therefore sewage – will flow downhill from the red areas via the other colours of the rainbow to dark blue – and cannot go the other way. It will continue to do so until it either collects somewhere on the way from where it cannot escape, or finds an outflow to the sea. The dark blue channel in the top left is the Water of Leith valley. The Castle Rock and long tail of the High Street and Canongate can be seen in the middle. Calton Hill to the top and Arthur’s Seat is the red and white promontory on the right.
Topographical map of Central Edinburgh, indigo is the lowest, rising up through blue, green, yellow, orange, red and then white to the highest point.And here is a 1784 town plan overlaid on that. The First New Town has only just really begun to be built; the black blocks show the completed buildings and most are just plans at this point, and there is very little built to the north of George Street, so the starting point of what is happening to Edinburgh’s sewage during this time is that little of it is draining away towards the north and the Water of Leith.
Topographical map of Edinburgh overlaid with Kincaid’s 1784 Town Plan, latter reproduced with the permission of the National Library of ScotlandNo, the vast majority from old Edinburgh (and the southern part of the First New Town) ends up draining east (orange) into what is known as the East Foul Burn. The Southside is relatively lightly populated and its waste (yellow) cannot proceed east but instead goes west into the Boroughloch (now drained as The Meadows), where it slowly winds its way west into the Water of Leith via the Lochrin Burn. The north part of the First New Town (pink) has a relatively small contribution to make towards the city’s waste and goes downhill and north to the Water of Leith by one route or another.
The sewage flows of Edinburgh in 1784. Base map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of ScotlandUp until the mid-late 18th century, it is the orange lines where most of the waste is; just look at the density (black) of housing in the Old Town, Canongate and Grassmarket and then reflect that most of it is 4 or 5 storeys tall or more! Layers and layers of people living cheek-by-jowl and not a flushing toilet or underground sewer to share amongst them. Notice also that much less of the sewage heads into the Nor’ Loch than you might expect from the popular tale of it being the city’s sewer (the Nor’ Loch is that ancient, man made loch to the north of the castle that was part of the city’s defences, and while it was foul and polluted it was not the main sewer).
“The Flowers of Edinburgh”, a satirical 18th century print on the traditional manner of “flushing the toilet” in Old Town Edinburgh. © The Trustees of the British MuseumAt this point most of the city’s sewage is simply cast directly from pisspot and chamber pot into the simple gutters that ran down the closes, where it mixed and collected with all the animal dung, food waste and industrial detritus of life and found its way into open sewers . These were little more than ditches, covered with stone capping slabs in places to allow them to be crossed, and of which there were 3 principal routes:
- The first is into the Nor’ Loch valley, via the North Back of Canongate (Calton Road) and Abbeyhill
- The second is via the Cowgate and South Back of Canongate (Holyrood Road) and into the King’s Park and joins with number 1 near the Clockmill House in the park
- The third is from the Southside and the St. Leonard’s and Dumbiedykes areas where it enters the King’s Park and then joins with number 2
The flow was then east towards the Firth of Forth.
Principal open sewers of late 18th century Edinburgh. Overlay map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of ScotlandThe route to the Firth of Forth via the East Foul Burn was the remarkable piece of aquatic engineering of the Irrigated Meadows. In a time before artificial fertilisers, human as well as animal manure was vitally important for food production. These meadows, constantly replenished by controlled inundation by fertilising sewage, could grow multiple crops of fodder each year which fed the city’s horses and dairy cows. The important point being made here is that the sewage system of the city back then was much more complicated and managed than we might give it credit for – as soon as the waste left the centre of population – but it was nothing to do with public health and everything to do with the practicalities and economics of food production. And private profit for the landowners!
The East Foul Burn at Craigentinny, W. S. Reid, 1860. Looking towards Craigentinny House. Notice the bridge across the river and that the bank is reinforced – evidence of the extensive river management. The crops on the left of the picture seem long and those on the right are short, evidence of the constant rotation of cropping in the plots. © Edinburgh City LibrariesThis system was progressively sent underground into proper sewers through the 19th century. The irrigated meadow system persisted right up to the 1920s when it was bypassed by a proper sewer, the land drained and given over to council and bungalow housing estates.
Jumping through time now to round about 1850, there has been a fairly obvious change to the old system as a large part of the growing city is no longer in the catchment of the East Foul Burn system (orange) but now the Water of Leith (yellow). And to there it did flow in great abundance!
Late 19th century sewage catchment map of Edinburgh, the pale blue area was served by the East Foul Burn, the pale orange area had been served by the Water of Leith.The Water of Leith was far less suited to being a sewer than the East Foul Burn as its flow was highly seasonal (far more so than it is now since compensation reservoirs were built in the 19th century to maintain the water level and flow in the river for industry). During the periods of little to no flow the sewage would collect and gather and fester. Additionally, this river was tapped by numerous mill lades – large and small – and the slower water flowing through these meant that the sewage would settle out of the water, silting up the lades and collecting behind the weirs, “by the middle of the 19th century the condition of this river had seriously deteriorated“. But this was a nuisance mainly of the sight and smell of raw sewage; it was not until the Second Cholera Epidemic of 1848-1849 that it was finally proved and widely understood that water polluted by sewage had a pivotal role in spreading disease.
Not only do you have the raw sewage of the New Town and the expanding north of Edinburgh carried directly into the Water of Leith, the dense industry along the route; below Coltbridge at Roseburn there was milling, distilling, tanning, papermaking, soapmaking, chemical works, gas works and more. All of these were dumping their waste and by products straight into the river, from where they flowed directly to the town of Leith. As the 19th century wore on, these industries began to use progressively less water for power as steam took over, but instead used it for new processes such as cooling steam engines and flushing waste away – neither of which required the maintenance expense of headwater lades, many of which simply silted up with sewage from lack of use.
Something had to be don; but it was not clear specifically what. Industry was fairly happy so long as the river flowed, and it was kept flowing by a series of “compensation reservoirs” in the Pentland Hills which kept up a reliable supply of water in the upper reaches of the Water of Leith. Reformers and residents desired a change to clean up the river and their environment. This was stymied by interminable jurisdiction conflicts; there was no single authority or jurisdiction along the river and there were long standing legal rights for industries to extract water and fill their lades.
The first meaningful effort for change was made in 1853 by the Edinburgh Police Commission (the “Police” back then were mainly concerned in handling the city lighting, cleansing, sanitation, weights and measures, some taxation etc. Law enforcement was something they did on the side). The Police engaged consulting engineers to look at the state of the lower river (beyond Coltbridge / north of Roseburn), who surveyed it carefully and came to the logical conclusion that it was full of shit.
The engineers’ report made 2 simple reconsiderations;
- Clear the river bed of as many unnecessary obstructions where sewage accumulated (weirs and lades) as possible
- Build an “interceptor sewer“, that is one that intercepted all the existing sewer outflows discharging into the river, collected their output, and made sure they never found their way into the river
The Police Commissioners accepted the report without hesitation and in 1854 the Edinburgh Police Amendment Act was passed. Part 1 of the scheme was implemented with much struggle from reluctant and recalcitrant mill and land owners, but Part 2 came to nothing. The success of Part 1 helped Edinburgh, as it assisted in the flow of raw sewage down the river, but it did nothing for poor old Leith. As the river slowed in the basin of the Port of Leith the sediment and suspended sewage settled out of the water and silted up the bed. By 1855 this was causing the Leith Dock Commissioners a serious problem. They complained that the Water of Leith now “flushed so well that a foot of mud and solid filth had been deposited… this created such a noxious and offensive effluvium and stench, as to be exceedingly prejudicial to the health of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood“. Leith began to lobby Edinburgh for a joint solution to the problem; namely resurrecting the plan for the unbuilt interceptor sewer, and expanding it to catch the outflow of some 180 drains, constituting the whole north and west of Edinburgh and most of Leith.
A scheme for the sewers was drawn up by the finest consulting engineers the city had to offer; Thomas and David Stevenson (of the “Lighthouse” dynasty).
Thomas StevensonDavid StevensonThe city was further assisted by another Stevenson (no relation); a son of Glasgow and analytical chemist called Stevenson Macadam, who undertook the first chemical analysis of the contents of the river. Coincidentally he was the consultant chemist to the Northern Lighthouse Board for whom the Stevenson brothers were the principal engineers. Macadam’s work proved that although there was industrial waste in the river north of Roseburn, there was no “putrefaction” as a result, but just north of Roseburn where the West Foul Burn and city’s sewers began to enter it, “the quality deteriorated drastically“. Macadam didn’t mince his words. The river was receiving the raw sewage of “100,000 people and was charged with fecal matter of the most disgusting and abominable character“. It collected in “hot-beds of decomposing filth from which abundantly offensive gases were diffused“.
Stevenson MacadamIt took about 2 years of legal and political wrangling between Edinburgh and Leith to agree who should be liable for paying for what (it turned out that Edinburgh wasn’t legally liable for its own shit or the problems it caused once it entered the Water of Leith). It took the intervention of the Lord Justice-General (a senior Scottish judge) to put the legal liability to one side and he adjudicated that Edinburgh should be paying for what to do with its own waste, not Leith, where it had ended up. Despite opposition from mill owners and the usual nay sayers of local politics – averse to any change that they didn’t think impacted them – the Edinburgh and Leith Sewerage Act for the construction of the interceptor sewer was passed in 1864.
A tax assessment under the powers of the Edinburgh and Leith Sewerage Act, 1864, for contribution towards the construction of the interceptor sewer.Note to readers: unfortunately in April 2026, a third-party plug-in more than exceeded its authority and broke many of the image links on this site. No images were lost but I will have to restore them page-by-page, which may take some time. In the meantime please bear with me while I go about rectifying this issue.
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#Lochend #Logan #Restalrig #StMargaret -
Tenkile Dendrolagus scottae
Location: Torricelli Mountains and Bewani Range, Papua New Guinea
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
The #Tenkile, or Scott’s Tree #Kangaroo Dendrolagus scottae, is one of the most endangered #marsupials in the world, found only in the Torricelli Mountains and Bewani Range of #PapuaNewGuinea. These elusive tree kangaroos are unlike others of the #Dendrolagus genus as they spend a lot more time on the ground. These #treekangaroos were once widespread, but decades of hunting for food and deforestation for subsistence farming have driven them to the brink of extinction and they are now critically endangered. By the early 2000s, their population had plummeted to an estimated 100 individuals. However, the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) has led a community-driven conservation effort that has helped stabilise and even increase their numbers. Despite these successes, #timber and #palmoil expansion stills pose a major threat to this species’ survival. Resist and fight for their survival each time you shop—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Appearance and Behaviour
The #Tenkile is a critically #endangered chocolate brown tree #kangaroo 🦘🤎 bouncing in #PapuaNewGuinea’s 🇵🇬 #rainforests #PalmOil is a major threat. Help them, every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🤮🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect #marsupial https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitter#Tenkiles are unlike other #TreeKangaroos as they spend time on the ground leaving them at risk of hunting. They have increased from 100 but #PalmOil #deforestation in #PapuaNewGuinea is a threat #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect #marsupial https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterWith their dense chocolate-brown fur, rounded face, and short, bear-like snout, Tenkile tree kangaroos are uniquely striking among their species. Their long, powerful tail helps them maintain balance while navigating the treetops, though unlike many tree kangaroos, they spend a significant amount of time on the ground. They move carefully and cautiously, using their strong forelimbs to grip branches and their hind legs for leaping between trees.
These tree kangaroos are highly elusive and difficult to spot in the wild. They are usually solitary, but historical accounts suggest they may have once lived in small groups. Due to intense hunting pressure, they have become particularly wary of human presence and avoid areas of disturbance.
Diet
Although no formal diet studies have been conducted, Tenkile tree kangaroos are known to feed on a variety of forest plants, vines, and epiphytes. They have been observed consuming Scaevola and Tetracera vines, as well as leaves from various rainforest species such as Podocarpus, Libocedrus, Auraucaria, Rapanea, and Syzygium. Their diet suggests they play a crucial role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds and maintaining the health of montane rainforests.
Reproduction and Mating
Unlike some marsupials, Tenkile tree kangaroos do not have a fixed breeding season. Females typically give birth to one or possibly two joeys, which they carry in their pouch while they develop. Very little is known about their reproductive cycle, but as with other tree kangaroos, joeys likely spend months in the pouch before emerging and learning to navigate their treetop habitat. Given their slow reproductive rate, any decline in population is extremely difficult to reverse.
Threats
The Tenkile faces severe threats from hunting and habitat destruction for palm oil, gold mining and timber already present throughout their range.
This species is listed as Critically Endangered because of a rapid population decline suspected to be 90% or more over the last three generations, which in this species is a period of 30 years
IUCN Red ListHunting and human encroachment
For generations, local communities hunted the Tenkile for food, leading to devastating population declines. Increased human population density has made this worse, as more people depend on hunting. However, conservation efforts have drastically reduced hunting, helping stabilise the species in the Torricelli Mountains.
Infrastructure and road construction
Around 75% of the Tenkile’s inferred range is now covered by timber and palm oil concessions, leading to widespread forest loss and fragmentation. Additionally, new roads built for petroleum and gas development have opened up previously inaccessible areas to hunters, worsening the threat.
Palm oil and industrial agriculture
Large-scale palm oil plantations are intruding into the Tenkile’s habitat. As corporate logging and agribusiness expands, the risk of palm oil and commercial plantations replacing their habitat has become a grave risk to their survival.
Climate change-induced extreme weather
As a forest-dwelling species, the Tenkile is highly sensitive to temperature changes. Climate change threatens to alter forest composition, food availability, and disease prevalence, putting additional stress on their already fragile population.
Take Action!
The Tenkile’s survival depends on protecting its rainforest home and ensuring local communities are supported in sustainable conservation efforts. You can help by using your wallet as a weapon—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.
FAQs
What does the Tenkile eat?
The Tenkile’s diet consists mainly of forest vines, leaves, and epiphytic ferns, with a preference for plant species like Scaevola and Tetracera. These seed-dispersing tree kangaroos play a crucial ecological role in maintaining rainforest biodiversity.
How is the Tenkile different from other tree kangaroos?
Unlike most tree kangaroos, the Tenkile spends a high proportion of time on the ground rather than staying exclusively in the treetops. This makes them more vulnerable to hunting and habitat destruction.
Why are Tenkile tree kangaroos endangered?
The Tenkile has been severely impacted by hunting and habitat loss from logging, agriculture, and road construction. Despite successful conservation efforts, threats from industrial expansion and climate change continue to endanger its survival.
What is the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA)?
The Tenkile Conservation Alliance is a community-driven conservation group that has helped protect the Tenkile by working with local villages to ban hunting and establish conservation of tree kangaroos and other small marsupials in Papua. Their work has stabilised the Tenkile’s population, proving that local-led conservation efforts can be effective.
How can I help protect the Tenkile?
One of the biggest threats to Tenkile habitat is deforestation, particularly for logging, agriculture, and palm oil expansion. Always choose products that are 100% palm oil-free to avoid contributing to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Support organisations like the Tenkile Conservation Alliance, and spread awareness about this critically endangered species.
Further Information
Flannery, T. F., & Seri, L. (1990). Tree kangaroos of New Guinea. Records of the Australian Museum, 42(3), 237–245. https://journals.australian.museum/flannery-and-seri-1990-rec-aust-mus-423-237245/
Leary, T., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L., Flannery, T., Martin, R. & Seri, L. 2019. Dendrolagus scottae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T6435A21956375. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T6435A21956375.en. Downloaded on 26 January 2021.
Cannon, J. (2023). Defending a forest for tree kangaroos and people: Q&A with Fidelis Nick. Mongabay https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/defending-a-forest-for-tree-kangaroos-and-people-qa-with-fidelis-nick/
Tenkile Conservation Alliance. (2024). Tenkile Tree Kangaroo. https://tenkile.com/tenkile-tree-kangaroo-2/
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,179 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #Dendrolagus #endangered #Indonesia #kangaroo #Macropod #Mammal #Marsupial #marsupials #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #rainforests #Tenkile #TenkileDendrolagusScottae #Tenkiles #timber #treekangaroos -
Tenkile Dendrolagus scottae
Location: Torricelli Mountains and Bewani Range, Papua New Guinea
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
The #Tenkile, or Scott’s Tree #Kangaroo Dendrolagus scottae, is one of the most endangered #marsupials in the world, found only in the Torricelli Mountains and Bewani Range of #PapuaNewGuinea. These elusive tree kangaroos are unlike others of the #Dendrolagus genus as they spend a lot more time on the ground. These #treekangaroos were once widespread, but decades of hunting for food and deforestation for subsistence farming have driven them to the brink of extinction and they are now critically endangered. By the early 2000s, their population had plummeted to an estimated 100 individuals. However, the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) has led a community-driven conservation effort that has helped stabilise and even increase their numbers. Despite these successes, #timber and #palmoil expansion stills pose a major threat to this species’ survival. Resist and fight for their survival each time you shop—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Appearance and Behaviour
The #Tenkile is a critically #endangered chocolate brown tree #kangaroo 🦘🤎 bouncing in #PapuaNewGuinea’s 🇵🇬 #rainforests #PalmOil is a major threat. Help them, every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🤮🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect #marsupial https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitter#Tenkiles are unlike other #TreeKangaroos as they spend time on the ground leaving them at risk of hunting. They have increased from 100 but #PalmOil #deforestation in #PapuaNewGuinea is a threat #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect #marsupial https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterWith their dense chocolate-brown fur, rounded face, and short, bear-like snout, Tenkile tree kangaroos are uniquely striking among their species. Their long, powerful tail helps them maintain balance while navigating the treetops, though unlike many tree kangaroos, they spend a significant amount of time on the ground. They move carefully and cautiously, using their strong forelimbs to grip branches and their hind legs for leaping between trees.
These tree kangaroos are highly elusive and difficult to spot in the wild. They are usually solitary, but historical accounts suggest they may have once lived in small groups. Due to intense hunting pressure, they have become particularly wary of human presence and avoid areas of disturbance.
Diet
Although no formal diet studies have been conducted, Tenkile tree kangaroos are known to feed on a variety of forest plants, vines, and epiphytes. They have been observed consuming Scaevola and Tetracera vines, as well as leaves from various rainforest species such as Podocarpus, Libocedrus, Auraucaria, Rapanea, and Syzygium. Their diet suggests they play a crucial role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds and maintaining the health of montane rainforests.
Reproduction and Mating
Unlike some marsupials, Tenkile tree kangaroos do not have a fixed breeding season. Females typically give birth to one or possibly two joeys, which they carry in their pouch while they develop. Very little is known about their reproductive cycle, but as with other tree kangaroos, joeys likely spend months in the pouch before emerging and learning to navigate their treetop habitat. Given their slow reproductive rate, any decline in population is extremely difficult to reverse.
Threats
The Tenkile faces severe threats from hunting and habitat destruction for palm oil, gold mining and timber already present throughout their range.
This species is listed as Critically Endangered because of a rapid population decline suspected to be 90% or more over the last three generations, which in this species is a period of 30 years
IUCN Red ListHunting and human encroachment
For generations, local communities hunted the Tenkile for food, leading to devastating population declines. Increased human population density has made this worse, as more people depend on hunting. However, conservation efforts have drastically reduced hunting, helping stabilise the species in the Torricelli Mountains.
Infrastructure and road construction
Around 75% of the Tenkile’s inferred range is now covered by timber and palm oil concessions, leading to widespread forest loss and fragmentation. Additionally, new roads built for petroleum and gas development have opened up previously inaccessible areas to hunters, worsening the threat.
Palm oil and industrial agriculture
Large-scale palm oil plantations are intruding into the Tenkile’s habitat. As corporate logging and agribusiness expands, the risk of palm oil and commercial plantations replacing their habitat has become a grave risk to their survival.
Climate change-induced extreme weather
As a forest-dwelling species, the Tenkile is highly sensitive to temperature changes. Climate change threatens to alter forest composition, food availability, and disease prevalence, putting additional stress on their already fragile population.
Take Action!
The Tenkile’s survival depends on protecting its rainforest home and ensuring local communities are supported in sustainable conservation efforts. You can help by using your wallet as a weapon—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.
FAQs
What does the Tenkile eat?
The Tenkile’s diet consists mainly of forest vines, leaves, and epiphytic ferns, with a preference for plant species like Scaevola and Tetracera. These seed-dispersing tree kangaroos play a crucial ecological role in maintaining rainforest biodiversity.
How is the Tenkile different from other tree kangaroos?
Unlike most tree kangaroos, the Tenkile spends a high proportion of time on the ground rather than staying exclusively in the treetops. This makes them more vulnerable to hunting and habitat destruction.
Why are Tenkile tree kangaroos endangered?
The Tenkile has been severely impacted by hunting and habitat loss from logging, agriculture, and road construction. Despite successful conservation efforts, threats from industrial expansion and climate change continue to endanger its survival.
What is the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA)?
The Tenkile Conservation Alliance is a community-driven conservation group that has helped protect the Tenkile by working with local villages to ban hunting and establish conservation of tree kangaroos and other small marsupials in Papua. Their work has stabilised the Tenkile’s population, proving that local-led conservation efforts can be effective.
How can I help protect the Tenkile?
One of the biggest threats to Tenkile habitat is deforestation, particularly for logging, agriculture, and palm oil expansion. Always choose products that are 100% palm oil-free to avoid contributing to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Support organisations like the Tenkile Conservation Alliance, and spread awareness about this critically endangered species.
Further Information
Flannery, T. F., & Seri, L. (1990). Tree kangaroos of New Guinea. Records of the Australian Museum, 42(3), 237–245. https://journals.australian.museum/flannery-and-seri-1990-rec-aust-mus-423-237245/
Leary, T., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L., Flannery, T., Martin, R. & Seri, L. 2019. Dendrolagus scottae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T6435A21956375. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T6435A21956375.en. Downloaded on 26 January 2021.
Cannon, J. (2023). Defending a forest for tree kangaroos and people: Q&A with Fidelis Nick. Mongabay https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/defending-a-forest-for-tree-kangaroos-and-people-qa-with-fidelis-nick/
Tenkile Conservation Alliance. (2024). Tenkile Tree Kangaroo. https://tenkile.com/tenkile-tree-kangaroo-2/
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,179 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #Dendrolagus #endangered #Indonesia #kangaroo #Macropod #Mammal #Marsupial #marsupials #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #rainforests #Tenkile #TenkileDendrolagusScottae #Tenkiles #timber #treekangaroos -
Tenkile Dendrolagus scottae
Location: Torricelli Mountains and Bewani Range, Papua New Guinea
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
The #Tenkile, or Scott’s Tree #Kangaroo Dendrolagus scottae, is one of the most endangered #marsupials in the world, found only in the Torricelli Mountains and Bewani Range of #PapuaNewGuinea. These elusive tree kangaroos are unlike others of the #Dendrolagus genus as they spend a lot more time on the ground. These #treekangaroos were once widespread, but decades of hunting for food and deforestation for subsistence farming have driven them to the brink of extinction and they are now critically endangered. By the early 2000s, their population had plummeted to an estimated 100 individuals. However, the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) has led a community-driven conservation effort that has helped stabilise and even increase their numbers. Despite these successes, #timber and #palmoil expansion stills pose a major threat to this species’ survival. Resist and fight for their survival each time you shop—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Appearance and Behaviour
The #Tenkile is a critically #endangered chocolate brown tree #kangaroo 🦘🤎 bouncing in #PapuaNewGuinea’s 🇵🇬 #rainforests #PalmOil is a major threat. Help them, every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🤮🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect #marsupial https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitter#Tenkiles are unlike other #TreeKangaroos as they spend time on the ground leaving them at risk of hunting. They have increased from 100 but #PalmOil #deforestation in #PapuaNewGuinea is a threat #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect #marsupial https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterWith their dense chocolate-brown fur, rounded face, and short, bear-like snout, Tenkile tree kangaroos are uniquely striking among their species. Their long, powerful tail helps them maintain balance while navigating the treetops, though unlike many tree kangaroos, they spend a significant amount of time on the ground. They move carefully and cautiously, using their strong forelimbs to grip branches and their hind legs for leaping between trees.
These tree kangaroos are highly elusive and difficult to spot in the wild. They are usually solitary, but historical accounts suggest they may have once lived in small groups. Due to intense hunting pressure, they have become particularly wary of human presence and avoid areas of disturbance.
Diet
Although no formal diet studies have been conducted, Tenkile tree kangaroos are known to feed on a variety of forest plants, vines, and epiphytes. They have been observed consuming Scaevola and Tetracera vines, as well as leaves from various rainforest species such as Podocarpus, Libocedrus, Auraucaria, Rapanea, and Syzygium. Their diet suggests they play a crucial role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds and maintaining the health of montane rainforests.
Reproduction and Mating
Unlike some marsupials, Tenkile tree kangaroos do not have a fixed breeding season. Females typically give birth to one or possibly two joeys, which they carry in their pouch while they develop. Very little is known about their reproductive cycle, but as with other tree kangaroos, joeys likely spend months in the pouch before emerging and learning to navigate their treetop habitat. Given their slow reproductive rate, any decline in population is extremely difficult to reverse.
Threats
The Tenkile faces severe threats from hunting and habitat destruction for palm oil, gold mining and timber already present throughout their range.
This species is listed as Critically Endangered because of a rapid population decline suspected to be 90% or more over the last three generations, which in this species is a period of 30 years
IUCN Red ListHunting and human encroachment
For generations, local communities hunted the Tenkile for food, leading to devastating population declines. Increased human population density has made this worse, as more people depend on hunting. However, conservation efforts have drastically reduced hunting, helping stabilise the species in the Torricelli Mountains.
Infrastructure and road construction
Around 75% of the Tenkile’s inferred range is now covered by timber and palm oil concessions, leading to widespread forest loss and fragmentation. Additionally, new roads built for petroleum and gas development have opened up previously inaccessible areas to hunters, worsening the threat.
Palm oil and industrial agriculture
Large-scale palm oil plantations are intruding into the Tenkile’s habitat. As corporate logging and agribusiness expands, the risk of palm oil and commercial plantations replacing their habitat has become a grave risk to their survival.
Climate change-induced extreme weather
As a forest-dwelling species, the Tenkile is highly sensitive to temperature changes. Climate change threatens to alter forest composition, food availability, and disease prevalence, putting additional stress on their already fragile population.
Take Action!
The Tenkile’s survival depends on protecting its rainforest home and ensuring local communities are supported in sustainable conservation efforts. You can help by using your wallet as a weapon—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.
FAQs
What does the Tenkile eat?
The Tenkile’s diet consists mainly of forest vines, leaves, and epiphytic ferns, with a preference for plant species like Scaevola and Tetracera. These seed-dispersing tree kangaroos play a crucial ecological role in maintaining rainforest biodiversity.
How is the Tenkile different from other tree kangaroos?
Unlike most tree kangaroos, the Tenkile spends a high proportion of time on the ground rather than staying exclusively in the treetops. This makes them more vulnerable to hunting and habitat destruction.
Why are Tenkile tree kangaroos endangered?
The Tenkile has been severely impacted by hunting and habitat loss from logging, agriculture, and road construction. Despite successful conservation efforts, threats from industrial expansion and climate change continue to endanger its survival.
What is the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA)?
The Tenkile Conservation Alliance is a community-driven conservation group that has helped protect the Tenkile by working with local villages to ban hunting and establish conservation of tree kangaroos and other small marsupials in Papua. Their work has stabilised the Tenkile’s population, proving that local-led conservation efforts can be effective.
How can I help protect the Tenkile?
One of the biggest threats to Tenkile habitat is deforestation, particularly for logging, agriculture, and palm oil expansion. Always choose products that are 100% palm oil-free to avoid contributing to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Support organisations like the Tenkile Conservation Alliance, and spread awareness about this critically endangered species.
Further Information
Flannery, T. F., & Seri, L. (1990). Tree kangaroos of New Guinea. Records of the Australian Museum, 42(3), 237–245. https://journals.australian.museum/flannery-and-seri-1990-rec-aust-mus-423-237245/
Leary, T., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L., Flannery, T., Martin, R. & Seri, L. 2019. Dendrolagus scottae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T6435A21956375. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T6435A21956375.en. Downloaded on 26 January 2021.
Cannon, J. (2023). Defending a forest for tree kangaroos and people: Q&A with Fidelis Nick. Mongabay https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/defending-a-forest-for-tree-kangaroos-and-people-qa-with-fidelis-nick/
Tenkile Conservation Alliance. (2024). Tenkile Tree Kangaroo. https://tenkile.com/tenkile-tree-kangaroo-2/
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,179 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #Dendrolagus #endangered #Indonesia #kangaroo #Macropod #Mammal #Marsupial #marsupials #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #rainforests #Tenkile #TenkileDendrolagusScottae #Tenkiles #timber #treekangaroos -
Tenkile Dendrolagus scottae
Location: Torricelli Mountains and Bewani Range, Papua New Guinea
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
The #Tenkile, or Scott’s Tree #Kangaroo Dendrolagus scottae, is one of the most endangered #marsupials in the world, found only in the Torricelli Mountains and Bewani Range of #PapuaNewGuinea. These elusive tree kangaroos are unlike others of the #Dendrolagus genus as they spend a lot more time on the ground. These #treekangaroos were once widespread, but decades of hunting for food and deforestation for subsistence farming have driven them to the brink of extinction and they are now critically endangered. By the early 2000s, their population had plummeted to an estimated 100 individuals. However, the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) has led a community-driven conservation effort that has helped stabilise and even increase their numbers. Despite these successes, #timber and #palmoil expansion stills pose a major threat to this species’ survival. Resist and fight for their survival each time you shop—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Appearance and Behaviour
The #Tenkile is a critically #endangered chocolate brown tree #kangaroo 🦘🤎 bouncing in #PapuaNewGuinea’s 🇵🇬 #rainforests #PalmOil is a major threat. Help them, every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🤮🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect #marsupial https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitter#Tenkiles are unlike other #TreeKangaroos as they spend time on the ground leaving them at risk of hunting. They have increased from 100 but #PalmOil #deforestation in #PapuaNewGuinea is a threat #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect #marsupial https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterWith their dense chocolate-brown fur, rounded face, and short, bear-like snout, Tenkile tree kangaroos are uniquely striking among their species. Their long, powerful tail helps them maintain balance while navigating the treetops, though unlike many tree kangaroos, they spend a significant amount of time on the ground. They move carefully and cautiously, using their strong forelimbs to grip branches and their hind legs for leaping between trees.
These tree kangaroos are highly elusive and difficult to spot in the wild. They are usually solitary, but historical accounts suggest they may have once lived in small groups. Due to intense hunting pressure, they have become particularly wary of human presence and avoid areas of disturbance.
Diet
Although no formal diet studies have been conducted, Tenkile tree kangaroos are known to feed on a variety of forest plants, vines, and epiphytes. They have been observed consuming Scaevola and Tetracera vines, as well as leaves from various rainforest species such as Podocarpus, Libocedrus, Auraucaria, Rapanea, and Syzygium. Their diet suggests they play a crucial role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds and maintaining the health of montane rainforests.
Reproduction and Mating
Unlike some marsupials, Tenkile tree kangaroos do not have a fixed breeding season. Females typically give birth to one or possibly two joeys, which they carry in their pouch while they develop. Very little is known about their reproductive cycle, but as with other tree kangaroos, joeys likely spend months in the pouch before emerging and learning to navigate their treetop habitat. Given their slow reproductive rate, any decline in population is extremely difficult to reverse.
Threats
The Tenkile faces severe threats from hunting and habitat destruction for palm oil, gold mining and timber already present throughout their range.
This species is listed as Critically Endangered because of a rapid population decline suspected to be 90% or more over the last three generations, which in this species is a period of 30 years
IUCN Red ListHunting and human encroachment
For generations, local communities hunted the Tenkile for food, leading to devastating population declines. Increased human population density has made this worse, as more people depend on hunting. However, conservation efforts have drastically reduced hunting, helping stabilise the species in the Torricelli Mountains.
Infrastructure and road construction
Around 75% of the Tenkile’s inferred range is now covered by timber and palm oil concessions, leading to widespread forest loss and fragmentation. Additionally, new roads built for petroleum and gas development have opened up previously inaccessible areas to hunters, worsening the threat.
Palm oil and industrial agriculture
Large-scale palm oil plantations are intruding into the Tenkile’s habitat. As corporate logging and agribusiness expands, the risk of palm oil and commercial plantations replacing their habitat has become a grave risk to their survival.
Climate change-induced extreme weather
As a forest-dwelling species, the Tenkile is highly sensitive to temperature changes. Climate change threatens to alter forest composition, food availability, and disease prevalence, putting additional stress on their already fragile population.
Take Action!
The Tenkile’s survival depends on protecting its rainforest home and ensuring local communities are supported in sustainable conservation efforts. You can help by using your wallet as a weapon—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.
FAQs
What does the Tenkile eat?
The Tenkile’s diet consists mainly of forest vines, leaves, and epiphytic ferns, with a preference for plant species like Scaevola and Tetracera. These seed-dispersing tree kangaroos play a crucial ecological role in maintaining rainforest biodiversity.
How is the Tenkile different from other tree kangaroos?
Unlike most tree kangaroos, the Tenkile spends a high proportion of time on the ground rather than staying exclusively in the treetops. This makes them more vulnerable to hunting and habitat destruction.
Why are Tenkile tree kangaroos endangered?
The Tenkile has been severely impacted by hunting and habitat loss from logging, agriculture, and road construction. Despite successful conservation efforts, threats from industrial expansion and climate change continue to endanger its survival.
What is the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA)?
The Tenkile Conservation Alliance is a community-driven conservation group that has helped protect the Tenkile by working with local villages to ban hunting and establish conservation of tree kangaroos and other small marsupials in Papua. Their work has stabilised the Tenkile’s population, proving that local-led conservation efforts can be effective.
How can I help protect the Tenkile?
One of the biggest threats to Tenkile habitat is deforestation, particularly for logging, agriculture, and palm oil expansion. Always choose products that are 100% palm oil-free to avoid contributing to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Support organisations like the Tenkile Conservation Alliance, and spread awareness about this critically endangered species.
Further Information
Flannery, T. F., & Seri, L. (1990). Tree kangaroos of New Guinea. Records of the Australian Museum, 42(3), 237–245. https://journals.australian.museum/flannery-and-seri-1990-rec-aust-mus-423-237245/
Leary, T., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L., Flannery, T., Martin, R. & Seri, L. 2019. Dendrolagus scottae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T6435A21956375. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T6435A21956375.en. Downloaded on 26 January 2021.
Cannon, J. (2023). Defending a forest for tree kangaroos and people: Q&A with Fidelis Nick. Mongabay https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/defending-a-forest-for-tree-kangaroos-and-people-qa-with-fidelis-nick/
Tenkile Conservation Alliance. (2024). Tenkile Tree Kangaroo. https://tenkile.com/tenkile-tree-kangaroo-2/
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,179 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #Dendrolagus #endangered #Indonesia #kangaroo #Macropod #Mammal #Marsupial #marsupials #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #rainforests #Tenkile #TenkileDendrolagusScottae #Tenkiles #timber #treekangaroos -
Tenkile Dendrolagus scottae
Location: Torricelli Mountains and Bewani Range, Papua New Guinea
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
The #Tenkile, or Scott’s Tree #Kangaroo Dendrolagus scottae, is one of the most endangered #marsupials in the world, found only in the Torricelli Mountains and Bewani Range of #PapuaNewGuinea. These elusive tree kangaroos are unlike others of the #Dendrolagus genus as they spend a lot more time on the ground. These #treekangaroos were once widespread, but decades of hunting for food and deforestation for subsistence farming have driven them to the brink of extinction and they are now critically endangered. By the early 2000s, their population had plummeted to an estimated 100 individuals. However, the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) has led a community-driven conservation effort that has helped stabilise and even increase their numbers. Despite these successes, #timber and #palmoil expansion stills pose a major threat to this species’ survival. Resist and fight for their survival each time you shop—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Appearance and Behaviour
The #Tenkile is a critically #endangered chocolate brown tree #kangaroo 🦘🤎 bouncing in #PapuaNewGuinea’s 🇵🇬 #rainforests #PalmOil is a major threat. Help them, every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🤮🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect #marsupial https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/
Share to BlueSky Share to Twitter#Tenkiles are unlike other #TreeKangaroos as they spend time on the ground leaving them at risk of hunting. They have increased from 100 but #PalmOil #deforestation in #PapuaNewGuinea is a threat #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect #marsupial https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterWith their dense chocolate-brown fur, rounded face, and short, bear-like snout, Tenkile tree kangaroos are uniquely striking among their species. Their long, powerful tail helps them maintain balance while navigating the treetops, though unlike many tree kangaroos, they spend a significant amount of time on the ground. They move carefully and cautiously, using their strong forelimbs to grip branches and their hind legs for leaping between trees.
These tree kangaroos are highly elusive and difficult to spot in the wild. They are usually solitary, but historical accounts suggest they may have once lived in small groups. Due to intense hunting pressure, they have become particularly wary of human presence and avoid areas of disturbance.
Diet
Although no formal diet studies have been conducted, Tenkile tree kangaroos are known to feed on a variety of forest plants, vines, and epiphytes. They have been observed consuming Scaevola and Tetracera vines, as well as leaves from various rainforest species such as Podocarpus, Libocedrus, Auraucaria, Rapanea, and Syzygium. Their diet suggests they play a crucial role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds and maintaining the health of montane rainforests.
Reproduction and Mating
Unlike some marsupials, Tenkile tree kangaroos do not have a fixed breeding season. Females typically give birth to one or possibly two joeys, which they carry in their pouch while they develop. Very little is known about their reproductive cycle, but as with other tree kangaroos, joeys likely spend months in the pouch before emerging and learning to navigate their treetop habitat. Given their slow reproductive rate, any decline in population is extremely difficult to reverse.
Threats
The Tenkile faces severe threats from hunting and habitat destruction for palm oil, gold mining and timber already present throughout their range.
This species is listed as Critically Endangered because of a rapid population decline suspected to be 90% or more over the last three generations, which in this species is a period of 30 years
IUCN Red ListHunting and human encroachment
For generations, local communities hunted the Tenkile for food, leading to devastating population declines. Increased human population density has made this worse, as more people depend on hunting. However, conservation efforts have drastically reduced hunting, helping stabilise the species in the Torricelli Mountains.
Infrastructure and road construction
Around 75% of the Tenkile’s inferred range is now covered by timber and palm oil concessions, leading to widespread forest loss and fragmentation. Additionally, new roads built for petroleum and gas development have opened up previously inaccessible areas to hunters, worsening the threat.
Palm oil and industrial agriculture
Large-scale palm oil plantations are intruding into the Tenkile’s habitat. As corporate logging and agribusiness expands, the risk of palm oil and commercial plantations replacing their habitat has become a grave risk to their survival.
Climate change-induced extreme weather
As a forest-dwelling species, the Tenkile is highly sensitive to temperature changes. Climate change threatens to alter forest composition, food availability, and disease prevalence, putting additional stress on their already fragile population.
Take Action!
The Tenkile’s survival depends on protecting its rainforest home and ensuring local communities are supported in sustainable conservation efforts. You can help by using your wallet as a weapon—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.
FAQs
What does the Tenkile eat?
The Tenkile’s diet consists mainly of forest vines, leaves, and epiphytic ferns, with a preference for plant species like Scaevola and Tetracera. These seed-dispersing tree kangaroos play a crucial ecological role in maintaining rainforest biodiversity.
How is the Tenkile different from other tree kangaroos?
Unlike most tree kangaroos, the Tenkile spends a high proportion of time on the ground rather than staying exclusively in the treetops. This makes them more vulnerable to hunting and habitat destruction.
Why are Tenkile tree kangaroos endangered?
The Tenkile has been severely impacted by hunting and habitat loss from logging, agriculture, and road construction. Despite successful conservation efforts, threats from industrial expansion and climate change continue to endanger its survival.
What is the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA)?
The Tenkile Conservation Alliance is a community-driven conservation group that has helped protect the Tenkile by working with local villages to ban hunting and establish conservation of tree kangaroos and other small marsupials in Papua. Their work has stabilised the Tenkile’s population, proving that local-led conservation efforts can be effective.
How can I help protect the Tenkile?
One of the biggest threats to Tenkile habitat is deforestation, particularly for logging, agriculture, and palm oil expansion. Always choose products that are 100% palm oil-free to avoid contributing to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Support organisations like the Tenkile Conservation Alliance, and spread awareness about this critically endangered species.
Further Information
Flannery, T. F., & Seri, L. (1990). Tree kangaroos of New Guinea. Records of the Australian Museum, 42(3), 237–245. https://journals.australian.museum/flannery-and-seri-1990-rec-aust-mus-423-237245/
Leary, T., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L., Flannery, T., Martin, R. & Seri, L. 2019. Dendrolagus scottae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T6435A21956375. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T6435A21956375.en. Downloaded on 26 January 2021.
Cannon, J. (2023). Defending a forest for tree kangaroos and people: Q&A with Fidelis Nick. Mongabay https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/defending-a-forest-for-tree-kangaroos-and-people-qa-with-fidelis-nick/
Tenkile Conservation Alliance. (2024). Tenkile Tree Kangaroo. https://tenkile.com/tenkile-tree-kangaroo-2/
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,179 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #Dendrolagus #endangered #Indonesia #kangaroo #Macropod #Mammal #Marsupial #marsupials #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #rainforests #Tenkile #TenkileDendrolagusScottae #Tenkiles #timber #treekangaroos -
Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur Simias concolor
Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur Simias concolor
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Location: This rare primate is endemic to the Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. They are found on Siberut, Sipora, and North and South Pagai, where they inhabit lowland and hill forests in these isolated and fragile ecosystems.
The Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur, also known as the Pig-tailed Langur, is one of the most distinctive and endangered monkeys in the world. These ultra rare and critically endangered small primates are known for their short, upturned noses and unique pig-like tails. Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langurs are critically endangered due to palm oil and timber deforestation, hunting, and habitat fragmentation in their tiny island homes of Siberut, Sipora, and North and South Pagai, Indonesia. Immediate conservation action is necessary to protect the remaining population and their delicate ecosystem from disappearing forever. Fight for them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Forgotten #primate 🙊🐒 Pig-tailed Snub-nosed #Langur is now critically endangered on tiny islands near #Sumatra #Indonesia 🇮🇩 from #palmoil #deforestation and hunting pressures. Help them survive #BoycottPalmOil 🌴☠️⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/31/pig-tailed-snub-nosed-langur-simias-concolor/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkyPig-tailed Snub-nosed #langurs have a cute upturned nose and a pig-like tail. They’re critically #endangered by #palmoil #deforestation and hunting in #Indonesia 🇮🇩🐒 Resist their #extinction! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴☠️⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/31/pig-tailed-snub-nosed-langur-simias-concolor/
Share to Twitter Share to BlueSkyAppearance and Behaviour
The Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur is a medium-sized primate with a striking appearance. Their dense, greyish-brown fur contrasts with lighter underparts, and their small, upturned nose gives them a unique and endearing look. Their short, thick tail, resembling that of a pig, is another defining feature (IUCN, 2020).
These langurs are diurnal and arboreal, spending most of their time in the forest canopy. They live in social groups of up to 20 individuals, where they engage in complex communication and social bonding. Their dynamic foraging strategies allow them to adapt to the heterogeneous environments of the Mentawai Islands.
This species is listed as Critically Endangered because a population decline of 80-90% over the last 36 years (three generations) is estimated due to heavy hunting pressure and extensive habitat loss (especially on southern islands but quite significant throughout species range). The Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur is threatened mainly by heavy hunting and commercial logging (Whittaker 2006, Quinten et al. 2014).
IUCN Red List
Diet
The Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur is primarily folivorous, feeding on a variety of leaves, but they also consume fruits, seeds, and flowers when available. This specialised diet ties them closely to their forest environment, making them highly vulnerable to habitat destruction and fragmentation (IUCN, 2020).
Reproduction and Mating
As with many langurs, this species is believed to have a low reproductive rate. Females give birth to a single infant after a long gestation period, and young langurs are raised with the support of the social group. This cooperative behaviour is vital for ensuring the survival of the next generation in their challenging environment.
Geographic Range
The Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur is restricted to the Mentawai Islands, including Siberut, Sipora, and North and South Pagai. These islands are home to diverse but fragile ecosystems, where this species relies on primary and secondary forests for survival. Their limited geographic range makes them highly vulnerable to localised threats (IUCN, 2020).
Threats
They are also threatened by the conversion of rainforest into oil palm plantations, as well as forest clearing and product extraction by local people. Sometimes, animals are taken for the pet trade (Whittaker 2006).
IUCN Red LIST
- Palm oil and timber deforestation: The rapid expansion of out-of-control palm oil plantations, logging, and agricultural activities has resulted in the widespread destruction of the Mentawai Islands’ forests.
- Illegal hunting for bushmeat: The langur is heavily hunted for bushmeat, a significant threat in local communities.
- Habitat Fragmentation: Infrastructure development and forest clearing have fragmented their habitats, isolating populations and reducing genetic diversity.
Take Action!
Protecting the Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur requires urgent conservation measures to halt deforestation and hunting. By boycotting products containing palm oil, supporting indigenous-led conservation initiatives, and advocating for forest preservation, you can help safeguard this critically endangered primate. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan
Conservation efforts for these critically endangered small primates is underway. Read more about Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP) in Indonesia.
Further Information
Quinten, M, Setiawan, A., Cheyne, S., Traeholt, C. & Whittaker, D. 2020. Simias concolor. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T20229A17953422. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T20229A17953422.en. Downloaded on 31 January 2021.
Zhao, L., et al. (2024). Dynamic foraging strategy adaptation to heterogeneous environments contributes to social aggregation in snub-nosed monkeys. Zoological Research, 45(1), 39–54. https://doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.047
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Pig-tailed Langur. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig-tailed_langur
GBIF. (n.d.). Simias concolor. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/species/4267130
Pig-tailed Snub-nosed Langur Simias concolor
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,526 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CottonHeadedTamarinSaguinusOedipus #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #extinction #Indonesia #langur #Langurs #Mammal #palmoil #Primate #Sumatra #vegan
-
African Palm Civet Nandinia binotata
African Palm Civet Nandinia binotata
Red list status: Least concern (in 2016) but likely becoming endangered now.
Locations: Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.
African Palm Civets Nandinia binotata are ecosystem-critical seed dispersers in Africa’s forests. Their spotted coats blend into the dappled forest shadows of #Liberia and #Gabon in #Africa. Although they were once widespread, the African palm civet now faces mounting pressure from palm oil-driven deforestation, mining, and relentless hunting for #bushmeat. Their survival hangs in the balance —fight for their survival every time you shop, be #Vegan for them and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFpLVDC6IM0
Vital seed dispersers in #African forests, African palm civets are hunted for #bushmeat in #Gabon 🇬🇦 #Liberia 🇱🇷 Say NO to #palmoil #deforestation and hunting. Fight for them! Be #Vegan 🫑🍆 #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🚜☠️🔥❌ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2022/11/13/african-palm-civet-nandinia-binotata/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance & Behaviour
The African palm civet is a small, cat-like omnivore, their slender body and long, ringed tail perfectly adapted for life in the treetops. Their fur ranges from grey to dark brown, with distinctive dark spots decorating their back. Males are slightly larger than females, typically weighing between 1 and 3 kilograms and measuring 30 to 70 centimetres in length. Two scent glands beneath their abdomen allow them to mark territory and communicate with potential mates. African palm civets are nocturnal, spending most of their lives high in the canopy, where they forage, rest, and raise their young. They are nocturnal and spend the majority of their lives in the tree canopies of rainforests eating from fruit-bearing trees like banana, papaya, fig and corkwood.
Threats
The main threats to African palm civets are anthropogenic and include:
Large tracts of rainforest where African palm civets live are threatened by commercial logging and large-scale oil palm plantations owned by foreign multinational companies.
Hunting for bushmeat trade
Around 8,000 palm civets are hunted in the Nigerian and Cameroon part of the Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests. Throughout Africa these small animals are treated as hostile by locals and are killed for this reason. They are regularly found in bushmeat markets.
Palm oil deforestation: a major threat
The upper Guinean rainforests in Liberia are a biodiversity rich hotspot and they are rapidly being fragmented and destroyed by palm oil and timber deforestation, along with mining.
Habitat
The African palm civet’s range spans much of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Gambia in the west, through Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. They inhabit deciduous forests, lowland rainforests, gallery forests, riverine peatlands, and swamplands. Once widespread, their habitat is now fragmented by deforestation, agriculture, and mining, leaving only scattered pockets of forest where the African palm civet can still be found.
Diet
African palm civets are omnivorous, their diet shifting with the rhythm of the seasons. Fruits such as persimmon, African corkwood, Uapaca, fig, papaya, and banana form the core of their diet. When fruit is scarce, they hunt rodents, lizards, birds, frogs, insects, and even raid farms for small livestock. Their foraging is a quiet, methodical search through the canopy, and they are vital seed dispersers, helping to regenerate the forests they call home.
Mating and breeding
African palm civets are mostly solitary, coming together only to mate. Males range over territories that overlap with those of several females. Breeding occurs year-round, with peaks during the rainy seasons, especially from September to January. After a gestation of about 64 days, females give birth in tree hollows to litters of up to four cubs. The young are weaned after about two months, remaining with their mothers as they learn to forage and navigate the treetops. Sexual maturity is reached at around three years, and the generation length is estimated at seven years. The bond between mother and cub is strong, forged in the safety of the canopy and tested by the dangers of the shrinking forest.
FAQs
Where do African palm civets sleep?
African palm civets are highly arboreal and seek shelter high in the treetops, where they find safety from predators and the elements. They commonly rest or sleep during the day in the forks of large trees, among lianas, or in tangled vines, blending into the foliage with their spotted coats. Occasionally, as forests shrink and human settlements expand, African palm civets adapt by sleeping in less typical places such as gutters, thick undergrowth at farm and village margins, woodpiles, old dead trees, piles of dead leaves, and even in thatched roofs or overgrown shrubbery in rubbish dumps. Their choice of sleeping site is always guided by the need for concealment and protection, reflecting their nocturnal and secretive nature.
Can African palm civets climb trees?
African palm civets are exceptional climbers, spending most of their lives in the forest canopy. Their bodies are built for agility among the branches: they have powerful limbs, long tails for balance, and sharp, retractile claws that allow them to grip bark and vines securely. African palm civets move swiftly and silently through the treetops, foraging, resting, and raising their young high above the ground, rarely descending except to cross open areas in search of food or new shelter. Their arboreal lifestyle is so pronounced that they are sometimes described as “tree cats,” and their climbing abilities are vital for evading predators and accessing fruit-laden branches.
Are palm civets carnivorous?
African palm civets are omnivores, with a diet that is more varied than simply carnivorous. While they do eat small mammals, birds, eggs, insects, and occasionally carrion or even raid farms for small livestock, fruit forms the largest part of their diet. They consume a wide range of fruits, including those from umbrella trees, sugar plums, corkwood, wild figs, and even the fleshy pulp from oil palms. African palm civets are opportunistic feeders, adapting their diet to what is available seasonally and in their environment, but they are not strictly carnivorous and play a significant role as seed dispersers in their forest habitats.
How big are African palm civets?
African palm civets are small to medium-sized mammals, with males generally larger than females. Adult males typically measure between 39.8 and 62.5 centimetres in body length, with tails adding another 43 to 76.2 centimetres, and can weigh from 1.3 to 3 kilograms. Females are slightly smaller, with body lengths of 37 to 61 centimetres and tails of 34 to 70 centimetres, weighing between 1.2 and 2.7 kilograms. Their long, muscular tails and compact bodies make them agile climbers, and their size allows them to navigate the dense forest canopy with ease.
Take Action!
The #Boycott4Wildlife offers a way for consumers to fight back against palm oil deforestation and other forms of animal cruelty and slavery. Please help us and raise your voice for African Palm Civets, join the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
You can support this beautiful animal
There are no known formal conservation activities in place for this animal. Make sure that you #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket and raise awareness of the plight of beautiful African palm civets in order to support their survival! Find out more here
Further Information
The IUCN has declared that this animal was of ‘Least Concern’ in 2016. However, their habitat is rapidly declining and they deserve more intensive protection and regular assessment.
Gaubert, P., Bahaa-el-din, L., Ray, J. & Do Linh San, E. 2015. Nandinia binotata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T41589A45204645. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41589A45204645.en. Accessed on 07 September 2022.
Kotelnicki, S. (2012). Nandinia binotata. Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Nandinia_binotata/
Wikipedia. (n.d.). African palm civet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Palm_Civet
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3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
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Pledge your support#africa #african #africanPalmCivetNandiniaBinotata #animals #benin #boycott4wildlife #boycottpalmoil #burundi #bushmeat #cameroon #centralAfricanRepublic #congo #cotedivoire #deforestation #equatorialGuinea #forgottenAnimals #gabon #ghana #hunting #kenya #liberia #malawi #mammal #mining #nigeria #omnivore #omnivores #palmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poaching #rwanda #seedDispersers #seeddispersal #sierraLeone #tanzania #togo #uganda #vegan #viverrid #vulnerableSpecies
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White-bellied Pangolin Phataginus tricuspis
White-bellied Pangolin Phataginus tricuspis
Endangered
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
Location: Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Tanzania, ZambiaFound across the remaining fragments of West and Central African rainforest, the elusive White-bellied Pangolin is a nocturnal, arboreal insectivore whose very body has become a global commodity.
The White-bellied Pangolin also commonly known as the Tree Pangolin are fascinating creatures akin to giant pest controllers, estimated to consume around 70 million insects per year. #Pangolins don’t have teeth, rather they have scales lining their stomachs which aid them in the digestion of food that is swallowed whole. Baby pangolins often ride on their mother’s backs and and are known as pango pups. They are able to use their tails to support their body weight and can walk upright on their hind legs.
They are often captured and killed for the illegal #poaching trade in abandoned palm oil plantations in their native homelands in #WestAfrica. Now classified as #Endangered by the IUCN, White-bellied Pangolins face a terrifying future. The dual threats of industrial-scale trafficking and rampant #deforestation for agriculture—especially #palmoil plantations—are pushing them towards extinction Help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
https://youtu.be/FnBYSGtzQ20?si=80-qlW_xbri9F5rG
White-bellied #Pangolins 🤎😻🙏 are threatened by #palmoil #cococa #meat #deforestation and #poaching. These amazing animals can walk upright on their hind legs🐾 Help them when you shop be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil 🌴⛔️#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/18/white-bellied-pangolin-phataginus-tricuspis/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterMeek and gentle white-bellied #pangolins are ruthlessly hunted for their scales which have ZERO medicinal value. A growing threat is #palmoil 🌴🪔🤢and #tobacco 🚭 #deforestation. Help them survive! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/18/white-bellied-pangolin-phataginus-tricuspis/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance and Behaviour
With their bodies armoured in keratin scales and their gentle, silent movements through the treetops, white-bellied pangolins have been described as one of the most extraordinary yet most misunderstood creatures on Earth.
Also known as the African Tree Pangolin, these slender and shy mammals are covered head to tail in overlapping, pale brown or yellowish scales made entirely of keratin. These scales provide formidable protection against predators, curling into a ball when threatened—a defence mechanism that unfortunately makes them easy targets for poachers. Adults typically weigh between 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms and grow to about 30 to 40 cm in body length, with tails often longer than their bodies to aid climbing.
Although often thought of as ground-dwelling, White-bellied Pangolins are superb climbers, capable of scaling tall trees with ease. Their prehensile tails help them balance while they forage along branches. They are largely nocturnal, solitary creatures, most active in the dark hours of night when they hunt for ants and termites. Motion-activated camera traps in West and Central African forests have shown them traversing forest floors and climbing high into the canopy, displaying surprising agility and adaptability (Akpona et al., 2008).
Social encounters are rare and brief, usually related to mating. White-bellied pangolins are silent and secretive, with subtle olfactory communication being their primary form of interaction. Even within protected areas, their presence is more often indicated by signs—like feeding holes or scat—than by direct sightings. Despite this elusiveness, they are now frequently detected in bushmeat markets across the region, highlighting the immense pressure they are under (Boakye et al., 2016).
Diet
White-bellied Pangolins feed exclusively on social insects—primarily ants and termites—which they locate using an acute sense of smell. Once prey is detected, they use their powerful, curved claws to tear open nests and extract insects using a long, sticky tongue that can extend more than 25 cm. Unlike other insectivores, they have no teeth; instead, they rely on their muscular stomach to grind food.
Their diet makes them ecological engineers, playing a critical role in controlling ant and termite populations and aerating soil through their foraging activity. This insectivorous diet also makes them highly vulnerable to habitat degradation, since many of their preferred prey species are sensitive to disturbance and disappear from logged or converted lands. A recent survey in the Oluwa Forest Reserve found that pangolin presence was strongly correlated with the abundance of ant and termite mounds, both of which are declining due to increasing land use (Adeniji et al., 2023).
Reproduction and Mating
Pangolins have slow reproductive rates. Females typically give birth to a single offspring after a gestation of around 150 days. Newborns are tiny, weighing around 80-100 grams, with soft, pink scales that harden over time. Young are known as ‘Pango Pups’. For the first few weeks, infants are carried on their mother’s tail, clinging tightly as she forages.
Breeding appears to occur year-round, though data is scarce. Most pangolin offspring are likely born during periods of high insect availability. Observations in Gabon have noted that most adult females encountered during field surveys were pregnant or nursing, suggesting near-continuous breeding potential (Pagès, 1975). However, due to intense poaching, pregnant and nursing pangolins are disproportionately removed from the wild, further destabilising populations.
Geographic Range
Phataginus tricuspis is the most widespread of all African pangolin species, ranging from Guinea-Bissau and Senegal in the west to north-western Tanzania and northern Angola in the east and south. It is present in at least 23 countries. Despite this wide distribution, populations are heavily fragmented, and many former strongholds—especially in West Africa—have seen local extinctions or drastic declines.
In Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, intensive habitat conversion for logging, agriculture, and urban development has devastated forests, and pangolins are now rare outside protected areas. Studies in Osun and Ondo States have shown sharp declines even in conservation areas due to poaching and ineffective law enforcement (Owolabi et al., 2024; Adeniji et al., 2023). The Yaoundé bushmeat markets in Cameroon have been identified as key hubs for trafficking pangolins sourced from up to 600 km away, revealing the extent of illegal harvesting across Central Africa (Dipita et al., 2024).
Threats
Forests are disappearing rapidly in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, their strongholds, while pangolin scales are being smuggled in tonnes across continents. With an estimated 0.4–2.7 million pangolins hunted annually in Central Africa alone, and seizures of their scales numbering in the hundreds of thousands of individuals, this species is in crisis (Ingram et al., 2018; Challender et al., 2019).
White-bellied Pangolins were often caught in abandoned or little-used oil palm plantations.
IUCN Red List
- Wildlife Trafficking: Phataginus tricuspis is the most trafficked African pangolin species. Between 2013 and 2019, an estimated 400,000 individuals were killed for their scales alone (Challender et al., 2019).
- Traditional Medicine and Bushmeat: Pangolins are widely consumed across West Africa and used in traditional rituals and pseudo medicine, particularly in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon (Soewu & Ayodele, 2009).
- Palm Oil Deforestation: Industrial palm oil expansion is a major driver of forest loss throughout the species’ range. In Nigeria and Cameroon, pangolins are losing critical habitat to monoculture plantations (Adeniji et al., 2023).
- Habitat Fragmentation: Rapid human population growth and road expansion are isolating forest patches and making pangolins more accessible to poachers (Owolabi et al., 2024).
Take Action!
Boycott palm oil products to help save the White-bellied Pangolin and the forests they depend on. Support grassroots and indigenous-led conservation efforts in West and Central Africa. Demand stricter enforcement against wildlife trafficking and campaign online against the use of pangolins in traditional medicine. Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
FAQs
How many White-bellied Pangolins are left in the wild?
There is no precise global population estimate due to their elusive nature and widespread poaching. However, local studies and market data suggest the species is in steep decline. In Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon, hunters now consider the species to be rare or extirpated from many former habitats (Akpona et al., 2008; Ingram et al., 2018).
Why are pangolins hunted?
They are hunted for meat, traditional medicine, spiritual rituals, and increasingly, for international markets in China and Vietnam where their scales are used in pseudo-medicinal compounds. Scales from at least 200,000 pangolins were trafficked between 2015 and 2019 (Challender et al., 2019).
Do palm oil plantations affect pangolins?
Yes. The conversion of natural forest to palm oil monocultures destroys their habitat, reduces food sources, and makes pangolins more vulnerable to hunting. In southern Nigeria, White-bellied Pangolins were once found even in degraded farms, but monocultures support fewer ants and termites, removing their core diet (Sodeinde & Adedipe, 1994).
Do pangolins make good pets?
Absolutely not. Pangolins are solitary, wild animals with highly specialised diets. They cannot survive long in captivity, and the illegal pet trade drives their extinction. Keeping them as pets is cruel and ecologically devastating.
White-bellied Pangolin Phataginus tricuspis
Further Information
Adeniji, A. E., Ejidike, B. N., Olaniyi, O. E., & Akala, V. T. (2023). Distribution and threat to white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) in Oluwa Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 15(2). https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrfwe/article/view/252333
Dipita, A. D., Missoup, A. D., Aguillon, S., Lecompte, E., Momboua, B. R., Chaber, A. L., … & Gaubert, P. (2024). Genetic tracing of the illegal trade of the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) in western Central Africa. Scientific Reports, 14, 13131. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-63666-9
Ingram, D. J., Coad, L., Abernethy, K. A., Maisels, F., Stokes, E. J., Bobo, K. S., … & Simo, M. (2018). Assessing Africa-wide pangolin hunting pressures and trade. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 6, 25. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12389
Owolabi, B. A., Akinsorotan, O. A., Adewumi, A. A., & Sanusade, A. O. (2024). Locals’ perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes regarding the conservation of the critically endangered Phataginus tricuspis. ResearchSquare. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3944447/v1
Pietersen, D., Moumbolou, C., Ingram, D.J., Soewu, D., Jansen, R., Sodeinde, O., Keboy Mov Linkey Iflankoy, C., Challender, D. & Shirley, M.H. 2019. Phataginus tricuspis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12767A123586469. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T12767A123586469.en. Downloaded on 17 January 2021.
Soewu, D. A., & Ayodele, I. A. (2009). Utilization of pangolins in traditional Yorubic medicine in Ijebu province, Ogun State, Nigeria. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 5, 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-5-39
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
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Join 1,396 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
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Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#Angola #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Burundi #bushmeat #Cameroon #CentralAfricanRepublic #cococa #Congo #corruption #CoteDIvoire #crime #deforestation #DemocracticRepublicOfCongo #endangered #EndangeredSpecies #Gabon #Ghana #GuineaBissau #illegalPetTrade #IvoryCoast #Kenya #Liberia #Mammal #meat #Nigeria #palmoil #pangolin #Pangolins #poachers #poaching #pokemon #pokemons #SierraLeone #SierraLeone #SouthSudan #StopTheTrade #Tanzania #tobacco #Uganda #vegan #WestAfrica #WhiteBelliedPangolinPhataginusTricuspis #wildlifetrade #Zambia
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Black Dorcopsis Dorcopsis atrata
Black Dorcopsis Dorcopsis atrata
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Location: The Black Dorcopsis, also known as the Black Forest Wallaby, is found only on Goodenough Island in the D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. They inhabit lowland and montane forests, preferring dense vegetation at elevations between 300 and 1,500 metres.
The Black Dorcopsis is a rare and elusive wallaby, crucial to the health of Goodenough Island’s forest ecosystem in Papua New Guinea. However, their survival is under severe threat due to hunting and the relentless destruction of their habitat by logging, palm oil plantations, and subsistence agriculture. Without urgent conservation action, this unique species could vanish forever. Protecting them requires halting deforestation, boycotting palm oil, and supporting indigenous-led conservation initiatives. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Small bouncy #marsupials 🦘🦘 Black Dorcopis 🖤 are critically #endangered on the edge of survival in GoodEnough Island #PapuaNewGuinea due to #palmoil #deforestation Help them survive #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔💩🤮☠️⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/black-dorcopsis-dorcopsis-atrata/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance and Behaviour
- The Black Dorcopsis is one of the few macropod species found exclusively on a single island, highlighting their ecological and evolutionary uniqueness.
- Their dark grey to black fur, with subtle grey accents, helps them blend seamlessly into the shadows of the forest, making them almost invisible to predators and humans.
- Despite their nocturnal and elusive nature, they are a keystone species, playing a critical role in maintaining the health of Goodenough Island’s forests.
The Black Dorcopsis is a medium-sized macropod with a dense coat of fur ranging in colour from dark grey to black. Subtle grey highlights appear on their face, chest, and undersides, softening the otherwise dark hues. This unique colouring offers effective camouflage in the dimly lit forest undergrowth.
Adults weigh up to 8 kilograms and measure around 50 centimetres in body length, with an additional 30–40 centimetres for their long, tapering tail. Their strong hind legs and short, muscular forelimbs allow them to move swiftly and silently through rugged terrain. Black Dorcopsis like many other macropods and tree kangaroos are shy and nocturnal, emerging under the cover of darkness to forage. Their secretive nature makes them a challenge to study in the wild.
Diet
Black Dorcopsis are herbivores, feeding on a diet of fruits, leaves, roots, and other vegetation found on the forest floor. Their role as seed dispersers makes them crucial to the health and regeneration of Goodenough Island’s forests. By consuming and spreading seeds, they contribute to maintaining the biodiversity of their ecosystem.
Reproduction and Mating
Like other macropods, the Black Dorcopsis gives birth to a single joey after a short gestation period. The joey remains in the mother’s pouch for several months, continuing to develop until it is ready to emerge. Although specific details of their reproductive habits are unknown, their life cycle likely mirrors other forest wallabies, involving strong maternal care and seasonal breeding.
Geographic Range
This critically endangered wallaby is endemic to Goodenough Island, a small volcanic island with rugged terrain and limited forest cover. Their range is confined to approximately 687 square kilometres of lowland and montane forests. Habitat fragmentation and human encroachment have reduced their available range, isolating populations into smaller patches and threatening their long-term survival.
Threats
The forest habitat of this species is being cleared by slash-and-burn agriculture and is rapidly being converted to grassland.
IUCN Red List
Palm Oil and Timber Deforestation:
Logging for timber plantations and the expansion of out-of-control palm oil plantations are the most significant threats to the Black Dorcopsis. These activities destroy vital forests, leaving the wallabies with fewer safe areas to live and forage. Habitat loss and fragmentation reduce their chances of survival and force them into contact with humans, increasing hunting pressures.
Illegal Hunting:
The Black Dorcopsis is heavily hunted for subsistence by local communities. Despite their small population size and critically endangered status, hunting remains a significant threat, exacerbated by their restricted range.
Slash-and-Burn Agriculture:
The practice of clearing forests for subsistence farming depletes the habitat of Black Dorcopsis, further isolating their populations and limiting the resources available for foraging and reproduction.
Climate Change:
Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns threaten the montane forests that the Black Dorcopsis depends on. As a high-altitude specialist, this species is particularly vulnerable to these changes, which degrade their already limited habitat.
Ecological Role
As herbivores, Black Dorcopsis are vital to the ecosystem of Goodenough Island. By consuming forest fruits and dispersing seeds, they contribute to the regeneration of vegetation and maintain the biodiversity of their habitat. Their presence is essential to the balance and health of this unique forest ecosystem.
Take Action
The Black Dorcopsis is teetering on the edge of extinction, and their survival depends on immediate action. Boycott palm oil products, demand responsible forestry practices, and support indigenous-led conservation initiatives in Papua New Guinea. Raising awareness and advocating for stronger protections for their habitat are crucial to ensuring this unique species does not disappear. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Black Dorcopsis Dorcopsis atrata
Further Information
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). (n.d.). Dorcopsis atrata. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/species/165474543
Leary, T., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Singadan, R., Menzies, J., Bonaccorso, F., Helgen, K., Seri, L., Allison, A. & James, R. 2016. Dorcopsis atrata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T6794A21952571. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6794A21952571.en. Downloaded on 26 January, 2021.
The Conversation. (2023). Meet 5 marvellous mammals of the South Pacific you’ve probably never heard of. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/meet-5-marvellous-mammals-of-the-south-pacific-youve-probably-never-heard-of-209038
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 1,391 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#BlackDorcopsisDorcopsisAtrata #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #Indonesia #Macropod #Mammal #Marsupial #marsupials #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #SeedDispersers #seeddispersal #WestPapua
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Lowlands Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus spadix
Lowlands Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus spadix
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Location: The Lowlands Tree Kangaroo is native to Papua New Guinea, found in the limestone karst forests of the Gulf and Western provinces. These dense, humid jungles are difficult to traverse, providing a natural refuge for this elusive species. However, increased human access due to roads and logging threatens their survival.
The Lowlands Tree #Kangaroo Dendrolagus spadix is a #Vulnerable species endemic to the forests of #PapuaNewGuinea. Unlike their ground-dwelling relatives, they are agile climbers, leaping through lush rainforest canopies with ease despite their bulky size. However, their survival is in peril due to widespread #deforestation driven by #palmoil plantations, #timber logging, and expansion of #roads, which has led to habitat destruction and increased #hunting pressures. If urgent action is not taken, this unique species faces further decline. Take action and resist for this species every time you shop and go #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket.
The Lowlands #TreeKangaroo 🦘🤎 is a #vulnerable #marsupial of #PapuaNewGuinea’s rainforests 🌳🇵🇬 threatened by #PalmOil, #mining #deforestation and #hunting. Help them to survive when you shop #BoycottPalmOil 🌴☠️🔥🧐🙊⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/03/lowlands-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-spadix/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterDespite their chunky size, Lowlands Tree #Kangaroos 🦘 are able to leap many metres. They’re #vulnerable due to #palmoil and #hunting in #PapuaNewGuinea. Fight for them when you shop, go #PalmOilFree and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🚫#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/03/lowlands-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-spadix/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance & Behaviour
The Lowlands Tree Kangaroo is a striking, muscular marsupial with a dense coat of rich auburn, fading to golden hues on their belly and limbs. Unlike their ground-dwelling kangaroo relatives, they are built for life in the treetops, with stocky limbs, powerful claws, and an impressively long tail used for balance.
Watching a Lowlands Tree Kangaroo move is a surreal experience. On the ground, they amble in an almost bear-like gait, placing one foot in front of the other in a slow, deliberate waddle. Yet, when they climb, they transform into graceful acrobats, using their strong forelimbs to hoist themselves into the canopy with surprising ease. Despite their bulky build, they can leap remarkable distances between branches, navigating the dense jungle with grace.
Appearance & Behaviour
Largely solitary, these secretive tree-dwellers emerge at dusk to forage, preferring the cool, shadowy undergrowth or the safety of high branches. Their excellent camouflage and quiet nature make them incredibly difficult to spot in the wild.
Diet
The Lowlands Tree Kangaroo is a dedicated folivore, primarily feasting on a variety of leaves, fruits, flowers, and occasionally fungi. Their slow metabolism allows them to extract maximum nutrition from their fibrous diet. However, their reliance on specific plants means that large-scale deforestation can have devastating consequences, cutting off vital food sources.
Logging and land clearing for palm oil plantations pose a severe threat by destroying primary forests and forcing these marsupials into fragmented, less suitable habitats.
Reproduction & Mating
The Lowlands Tree Kangaroo has a slow reproductive rate, with females typically giving birth to a single tiny, jellybean-sized joey. This vulnerable newborn crawls into their mother’s pouch, where they remain hidden for several months. Even after emerging, the joey clings to their mother’s back for up to a year, learning essential survival skills before venturing out on their own.
This slow, careful nurturing process makes the species highly vulnerable to population declines. When individuals are lost due to hunting or habitat destruction, it takes a long time for their numbers to recover.
Threats
Deforestation & Habitat Loss
The Lowlands Tree Kangaroo’s biggest threat is habitat destruction caused by industrial logging and land clearing. A staggering 75% of their range is now covered by logging concessions, leading to habitat fragmentation and food shortages (IUCN, 2016).
Palm Oil & Infrastructure Development
The expansion of palm oil plantations is devastating for the species, as vast stretches of forest are cleared for monoculture crops. New roads built for logging and petroleum extraction have also opened up previously inaccessible regions, leading to increased human encroachment.
Hunting & Increased Human Access
Traditionally, hunting of the Lowlands Tree Kangaroo was limited due to the rugged and remote nature of their habitat. However, as roads now cut into once-inaccessible forests, hunting pressure has escalated. While local communities have long relied on the species as a food source, increased access has made hunting more widespread and unsustainable.
FAQs
Where do Lowlands Tree Kangaroos live?
The Lowlands Tree Kangaroo is native to Papua New Guinea, specifically found in the limestone karst forests of the Gulf and Western provinces. These forests are rugged and remote, providing some protection from human encroachment, though logging and road expansion are rapidly changing their habitat.
Why are Lowlands Tree Kangaroos endangered?
They are classified as Vulnerable due to habitat destruction, hunting, and increased human access to their previously isolated range. Over 75% of their habitat is now covered by logging and palm oil concessions, and road construction has led to an increase in hunting pressure. Palm oil plantations also contribute to large-scale deforestation, further reducing their numbers (IUCN, 2016).
What do Lowlands Tree Kangaroos eat?
Their diet consists mainly of leaves, fruits, flowers, and occasionally fungi. They rely on a slow metabolism to extract nutrients from fibrous plants, meaning they are particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction that removes key food sources.
Are Lowlands Tree Kangaroos social animals?
No, they are primarily solitary. Unlike ground-dwelling kangaroos, they do not form large groups. They prefer to navigate the dense rainforest canopy alone, only coming together briefly for mating.
Do they move like regular kangaroos?
In some ways they do, but in other ways they don’t. While ground-dwelling kangaroos hop over long distances on the ground, Lowlands Tree Kangaroos move in a slow, deliberate manner, placing one foot in front of the other, much like a bear. In trees, however, they are surprisingly agile, using their strong limbs to grip to tree branches and their long tails and strong legs to leap between branches. They are able to leap several metres at a time between tree canopies and can descend from trees up to 20 metres without injury.
Are Lowlands Tree Kangaroos hunted?
Yes, they are traditionally hunted by local communities for food. However, this was historically sustainable due to the remote nature of their habitat. Now, with new roads making hunting easier, populations are at risk of decline.
How does palm oil deforestation affect them?
Palm oil plantations are a major driver of deforestation in Papua New Guinea, destroying vast areas of rainforest. As the trees are cleared, Lowlands Tree Kangaroos lose their food sources and shelter, forcing them into smaller, fragmented habitats where they are more vulnerable to hunting and other threats.
How long do baby Lowlands Tree Kangaroos stay with their mothers?
Joeys stay in their mother’s pouch for several months before emerging. Even after leaving the pouch, they cling to their mother’s back and remain dependent on her for nearly a year. This slow reproductive cycle makes population recovery difficult if too many individuals are lost.
What can be done to protect them?
- Boycott products containing palm oil, which is a major threat to their continued existence.
- Support indigenous land rights, as traditional landowners help protect these forests.
- • Donate to conservation groups working to protect Papua New Guinea’s forests such as Tenkile.
- • Raise awareness by sharing information about the threats they face.
Are tree kangaroos protected by law?
While tree kangaroos are recognised as vulnerable species, weak enforcement of conservation laws in Papua New Guinea and the expansion of industrial projects continue to put them at risk. Conservation efforts must focus on habitat protection and stronger regulations against deforestation and hunting.
How can I help tree kangaroos from home?
- Always choose products that are 100% palm oil-free to avoid contributing to deforestation and biodiversity loss.
- Spread awareness on social media using hashtags like #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife.
- Support conservation projects that work to protect Papua New Guinea’s forests and wildlife.
Take Action!
The survival of the Lowlands Tree Kangaroo depends on urgent conservation action. You can help by:
- Boycotting palm oil products and choosing brands that do not contribute to deforestation.
- Advocating for indigenous land rights, as traditional landowners play a key role in protecting these forests.
- Supporting conservation organisations that fight against logging and land conversion in Papua New Guinea.
- Raising awareness about the threats facing the Lowlands Tree Kangaroo by sharing information on social media using the hashtags #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
You can support the conservation of this animal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WAiBl_b2cE
There are now logging concessions over almost 75% of the species inferred range. There has presumably been significant habitat disturbance and reduction in habitat quality as a result of logging
IUCN Red List
Further Information
Leary, T., Seri, L., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Menzies, J., Allison, A., James, R., Dickman, C., Aplin, K., Salas, L., Flannery, T. & Bonaccorso, F. 2016. Dendrolagus spadix. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T6436A21956250. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6436A21956250.en. Downloaded on 03 February 2021.
McGreevy, T. J., Dabek, L., & Husband, T. P. (2011). Tree kangaroo molecular systematics based on partial cytochrome b sequences: are Matschie’s tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus matschiei) and Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo (D. goodfellowi buergersi) sister taxa? Australian Mammalogy, 34(1), 18-28. https://doi.org/10.1071/AM10017
You can support the conservation of this animal:
Lowlands Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus spadix
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #deforestation #hunting #Indonesia #kangaroo #Kangaroos #LowlandsTreeKangarooDendrolagusSpadix #Macropod #Mammal #Marsupial #mining #palmoil #palmoilfree #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #roads #timber #TreeKangaroo #vulnerable #VulnerableSpecies
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Black-naped Pheasant-pigeon Otidiphaps insularis
Black-naped Pheasant-pigeon Otidiphaps insularis
Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Location: Papua New Guinea
Region: Endemic to Fergusson Island in the D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago
Once thought to be extinct since its last sighting in 1882, the elusive Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon was rediscovered in 2022 thanks to the collaboration of researchers and local communities. This large, ground-dwelling pigeon is now listed as Critically Endangered, with fewer than 250 mature individuals believed to remain. It lives exclusively in the hill and montane rainforests of Fergusson Island, which are under increasing pressure from logging, subsistence agriculture, and introduced predators such as rats, pigs, and potentially domestic cats. The species is also hunted by locals for food. Protecting this remarkable bird and its habitat is urgent. Use your voice and your wallet to help save them. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife and be #Vegan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMHmZ3SyNJI
Thought #extinct but dramatically rediscovered in 2022 Black-naped Pheasant-pigeons are #endangered #birds 🐦 A threat is #palmoil #deforestation in #PapuaNewGuinea 🇵🇬 Help them when you shop #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸☠️⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/31/black-naped-pheasant-pigeon-otidiphaps-insularis/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterKnown locally as ‘Auwo’, Black-naped Pheasant-pigeons 🪿🐦 are #endangered #birds. A big threat is #palmoil #deforestation in #PapuaNewGuinea 🇵🇬 Fight back against their #extinction! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🩸☠️🧐🚫 @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/31/black-naped-pheasant-pigeon-otidiphaps-insularis/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance and Behaviour
Also known locally as “Auwo”, the Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon resembles a glossy pheasant in body shape, with a flattened tail and long legs adapted to a ground-dwelling lifestyle. Their plumage is a mix of iridescent green, bronze, and black, with a distinctive black nape from which they get their name. These shy birds move quietly through the undergrowth, foraging for seeds and fallen fruit. Unlike arboreal pigeons, they spend nearly all their time on the forest floor.
They are highly elusive and have only recently been captured on camera traps in remote highland forests. The behaviour of these illusive pheasant-pigeons is still not well studied, but they are presumed to be solitary or occur in low densities, making them extremely difficult to detect.
Diet
Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeons forage for fallen fruit and seeds on the forest floor. Their diet includes a wide variety of native fruiting plants, contributing to seed dispersal across fragmented montane habitats. While they can tolerate some disturbance, they disappear from forests where hunting is prevalent.
Reproduction and Mating
Little is known about their breeding behaviour of these birds, but like other Otidiphaps species, they are believed to nest on the ground. Recent local accounts suggest that active nests have been discovered in dense forest understories. Ground nesting makes them especially vulnerable to predation by invasive rats and pigs. Pheasant-pigeons lay one or two eggs, which are incubated on the forest floor under dense cover.
Geographic Range
The Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon is endemic to Fergusson Island, part of the D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. Their known range includes the steep, rugged slopes of Mt Kilkerran and surrounding highland rainforest above 1,000 metres. No populations are known outside this single island. Despite recent rediscovery, the species is feared to be extremely rare and severely fragmented.
Threats
Logging of primary forest
Timber logging continues in central and eastern Fergusson Island, especially in the East Fergusson Timber Rights Purchase area, which resumed operations in 2012. Industrial logging threatens the bird’s entire remaining habitat (Gregg et al., 2020).
Hunting pressures
The species was historically hunted by local communities, but following the bird’s rediscovery in 2021 and increased awareness of their rarity, Indigenous peoples on Fergusson Island are beginning to recognise its cultural and ecological importance. There is now hope that local knowledge and stewardship will empower communities to take a leading role in protecting the species.
Introduced predators
Including Polynesian Rats (Rattus exulans) and pigs, are already established and may prey on ground nests. Cats and Black Rats (Rattus rattus) may already be present and pose a serious threat if widespread (Atkinson & Atkinson, 2000; Dutson, pers. comm. 2021). Shipping and trade introduce high risk invasive species being transported to the island via large cargo vessels, increasing the threat of ecological disruption.
Climate change-related extreme weather
This alters rainfall patterns and temperatures which further threaten the already-fragile montane ecosystems of Fergusson Island.
Take Action!
The rediscovery of the Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save a species from extinction. We must support local communities and indigenous-led conservation on Fergusson Island to protect this bird’s remaining habitat. Reject palm oil and logging products that drive deforestation. Choose vegan, animal-free alternatives and raise your voice for wildlife. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat
FAQs
Do Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeons make good pets?
Absolutely not. Keeping these Critically Endangered birds as pets is illegal and contributes directly to their extinction. Every individual removed from the wild represents a significant loss for a species with fewer than 250 mature individuals left. Indigenous communities are working hard to protect their native wildlife – we must support their efforts by opposing wildlife trafficking and the exotic pet trade.
How many Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeons are left?
Estimates suggest there are fewer than 250 mature individuals left in the wild, based on limited sightings and habitat assessments (Gregg et al., 2020). Their range is restricted to Fergusson Island and even there they occur in extremely low densities.
Why are Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeons endangered?
Their habitat is shrinking due to logging and agriculture, and they are also hunted by local communities. Introduced predators like pigs and rats eat their eggs, and cats may be an additional future threat (Gregg et al., 2020; del Hoyo et al., 2020).
Where exactly do Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeons live?
They are found only on Fergusson Island, part of the D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago of Papua New Guinea, mostly in montane forest habitats above 1,000 metres near Mt Kilkerran.
How were Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeons rediscovered?
After 140 years, the species was rediscovered in 2022 through a month-long expedition using camera traps and the guidance of local hunters who knew the bird’s calls and habits. The effort was part of the Search for Lost Birds program led by Re:wild, BirdLife International, and the American Bird Conservancy (Kimbrough, 2022).
Further Information
Audubon. (2022, November 17). ‘Like Finding a Unicorn’: Researchers Rediscover the Black-Naped Pheasant-Pigeon. Audubon Magazine. https://www.audubon.org/news/like-finding-unicorn-researchers-rediscover-black-naped-pheasant-pigeon-bird
BirdLife International. 2016. Otidiphaps insularis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22726273A94916466. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22726273A94916466.en. Downloaded on 31 January 2021.
Kimbrough, L. (2022, November 21). In PNG, researchers find a large pigeon lost to science for 140 years. Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2022/11/in-png-researchers-find-a-large-pigeon-lost-to-science-for-140-years/
Sci.News Staff. (2022, November 21). Ornithologists capture first-ever photos, video of long-lost ground-dwelling pigeon. Sci.News. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.sci.news/biology/otidiphaps-insularis-11411.html
Zoological Society of London. (n.d.). Black-naped pheasant-pigeon (Otidiphaps insularis). EDGE of Existence. Retrieved March 25, 2025, from https://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/black-naped-pheasant-pigeon/
Support the conservation of this species
Black-naped Pheasant-pigeon Otidiphaps insularis
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
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Join 3,529 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#Bird #birds #BlackNapedPheasantPigeonOtidiphapsInsularis #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #climateChange #deforestation #endangered #EndangeredSpecies #extinct #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #hunting #illegalPetTrade #PalmOil #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #pigeon #pigeons #vegan
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D’entrecasteaux Archipelago Pogonomys Pogonomys fergussoniensis
D’entrecasteaux Archipelago Pogonomys Pogonomys fergussoniensis
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
Location: Papua New Guinea’s D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago.
The D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago Pogonomys has possibly one of the most unpronounceable names in the world and is also one of the least known rodents in the world. also known as the Fergusson Island tree mouse, is an arboreal rodent endemic to Fergusson Island in Papua New Guinea’s D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago. This small, nocturnal rodent species depends on intact montane forests, making them highly vulnerable to habitat destruction caused by out-of-control palm oil plantations, logging, and agricultural expansion. Urgent conservation action is needed to protect this precious and obscure mouse species from extinction. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
This diminutive and cute tree #rat 🩷🐀🌳has a difficult name: D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago Pogonomys. They’re #endangered in #PapuaNewGuinea due to #palmoil and #timber #deforestation. Help them survive and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/31/dentrecasteaux-archipelago-pogonomys-pogonomys-fergussoniensis/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance and Behaviour
The D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago Pogonomys is a small, tree-dwelling rodent with soft, dense fur that ranges from brown to reddish-brown, helping them blend into their forest environment. Their underparts are lighter in colour, and their prehensile tail is a critical adaptation for climbing and balancing in the canopy (IUCN, 2016).
Nocturnal and arboreal, these rodents are elusive and rarely observed. They spend their time foraging in the treetops, relying on their agility to navigate their forested habitat (iNaturalist, n.d.; IUCN, 2016).
Diet
This species primarily consumes fruits, seeds, and plant material, relying heavily on the biodiversity of montane forests. Their specialised diet ties them directly to the health of their ecosystem, and habitat degradation poses a significant threat to their food sources (IUCN, 2016; iNaturalist, n.d.).
Reproduction and Mating
There is limited information about the reproduction of the D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago Pogonomys. Like other species in the Pogonomys genus, they are likely to have small litters. Understanding their reproductive patterns is critical for developing effective conservation strategies (IUCN, 2016).
Geographic Range
This species is restricted to Fergusson Island in Papua New Guinea, where they inhabit montane forests between 1,200 and 1,800 metres above sea level. Their extremely limited range makes them particularly vulnerable to habitat loss for palm oil, timber and gold mining (IUCN, 2016).
Threats
Forest clearance is a serious problem for this species. The islands are being converted to grassland (perhaps entirely) through subsistence farming. This species is assessed as Endangered because of their extent of occurrence (EOO) is approximately 4,922 km², all individuals occur in fewer than six locations, there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat through deforestation, and the population size is presumed to be decreasing as a result of habitat loss. The species does appear to be tolerant of some disturbance, but this needs to be confirmed.
IUcN Red LIST
Palm oil and timber logging: Deforestation for out-of-control palm oil plantations, agriculture, and timber logging is destroying their montane forest habitat at an alarming rate (IUCN, 2016).
Climate Change: Rising temperatures could further reduce the availability of suitable montane habitats, forcing these small tree-dwelling rodents into even smaller ranges.
Conservation Neglect: As a lesser-known species, they receive minimal attention in conservation efforts, further jeopardising their survival.
Take Action!
Safeguarding the D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago Pogonomys requires immediate action to preserve their fragile forest habitat. Boycotting products containing palm oil, supporting indigenous-led conservation, and advocating for biodiversity protection are essential steps to ensure their survival. Every effort matters. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan
Further Information
Wright, D & Leary, T. 2016. Pogonomys fergussoniensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T136763A22431006. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136763A22431006.en. Downloaded on 31 January 2021.
iNaturalist. (n.d.). Pogonomys fergussoniensis. Retrieved from https://uk.inaturalist.org/taxa/74934-Pogonomys-fergussoniensis
Wikipedia. (n.d.). D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago Pogonomys. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Entrecasteaux_Archipelago_pogonomys
Support the conservation of this species
D’entrecasteaux Archipelago Pogonomys Pogonomys fergussoniensis
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
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Join 1,392 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #DEntrecasteauxArchipelagoPogonomysPogonomysFergussoniensis #deforestation #endangered #EndangeredSpecies #Mammal #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #rat #rodent #rodents #timber #vegan