home.social

#cocoa — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #cocoa, aggregated by home.social.

  1. After manually removing impurities, the first step is grinding, i.e. separating the inside of the #cocoa bean from its shell. The shells are then sold as a herbal tea ☕ and I can guarantee that they are delicious 😋!

    Next comes the torrefaction, i.e. roasting the cocoa beans. The machine you see below originally was a coffee bean torrefaction machine. It has been modified to handle bigger cocoa beans and different roasting temperatures.

    /2

    #chocolate #Encuentro

  2. First #rhubarb #cake of the season, earlier than I thought:
    shortcrust, filled with a creamy and slightly tangy mixture of yogurt, vanilla pudding and rhubarb, topped with very buttery #cocoa streusel #baking #spring #gardening #OrganicGardening #ChristineMunroeAuthor

  3. @marioguzman I thought I’d ask, do you happen to know how Apple implemented the world map view used in the Date & Time settings (specifically the time zone selector)? It doesn’t seem to be a standard AppKit control and I’m curious whether it’s a private framework, a custom NSView, or something else entirely.

    Any insight would be much appreciated!

    #AppKit #Cocoa #MacOSX #OSX #macOS #Swift #ObjectiveC

  4. 📖 The book 'Plantation Knowledge' includes a chapter by Marta Macedo that 'explores the deep entanglements established between São Tomé and the Congo through projects of cocoa plantations over the course of two decades, from the early 1890s to the early 1910s.'

    🔓 The book is available via #OpenAccess: hdl.handle.net/20.500.12648/17

    #Histodons #Colonialism #Belgium #Portugal #Congo #SãoToméEPríncipe #Plantations #Cocoa #AgriculturalHistory

  5. Are you into healthy teas and infusions?
    🌿 NEW on Megan Publishing Services!
    Discover a delicious and health-boosting Thai favourite: Cocoa, Cinnamon & Lime Leaf Infusion
    ☕🍫🍃 Naturally energising, rich in antioxidants, and beautifully aromatic - perfect for mornings or a soothing afternoon break.
    Read it here: 👉 meganpublishingservices.com/he
    ☕🍫🍃
    Please Like and Share 💚
    #cocoa #cinnamon #limeleaf #tea #teatime #booktokenglish #booktokuk #Health

  6. @helge @ctietze @dasdom Was investigating a bit. Really fell in love with that project. When I randomly found it on the web I always thought it just were some nerds who invented their own language. But that they really ported a big bunch of , including nib/xib translation really is an exciting thing to me. And it even looks very well, way better than . 😉

  7. :ruby: For Cocoa nostalgics out there, I just released `key_value_coding`, a Ruby gem that ports `#value_for_key` and `#value_for_key_path` from Objective-C and Swift to Ruby.

    It allows traversing hierarchies of mixed objects with a simple unified interface (think `#dig`, but with any type of objects!)

    gitlab.com/pmorinerie/key_valu

    #Ruby #Cocoa #KVC

  8. :ruby: Nostalgique de Cocoa ? Je viens de publier `key_value_coding`, une gem qui porte les méthodes `#value_for_key` et `#value_for_key_path` en Ruby.

    Ça permet de traverser des hiérarchies d’objets intuitivement (un peu comme `#dig`, sauf que ça fonctionne pour tous les types d'objets !)

    gitlab.com/pmorinerie/key_valu

    #Ruby #Cocoa #KVC

  9. Six days until Winter/ Yule/ shortest day/ New Moon! You know winter’s on his way when the hot cocoa bar comes out at work. Stay warm~
    Through the window, you got the financial center, Hudson River, and New Jersey too! There were like a dozen helicopters circling last week…
    #7WTC #WorldTradeCenter #FiDi #NYC #BigLaw #hot #chocolate #cocoa #marshmallows

  10. Six days until Winter/ Yule/ shortest day/ New Moon! You know winter’s on his way when the hot cocoa bar comes out at work. Stay warm~
    Through the window, you got the financial center, Hudson River, and New Jersey too! There were like a dozen helicopters circling last week…
    #7WTC #WorldTradeCenter #FiDi #NYC #BigLaw #hot #chocolate #cocoa #marshmallows

  11. Six days until Winter/ Yule/ shortest day/ New Moon! You know winter’s on his way when the hot cocoa bar comes out at work. Stay warm~
    Through the window, you got the financial center, Hudson River, and New Jersey too! There were like a dozen helicopters circling last week…
    #7WTC #WorldTradeCenter #FiDi #NYC #BigLaw #hot #chocolate #cocoa #marshmallows

  12. Six days until Winter/ Yule/ shortest day/ New Moon! You know winter’s on his way when the hot cocoa bar comes out at work. Stay warm~
    Through the window, you got the financial center, Hudson River, and New Jersey too! There were like a dozen helicopters circling last week…
    #7WTC #WorldTradeCenter #FiDi #NYC #BigLaw #hot #chocolate #cocoa #marshmallows

  13. Detail from a page of Dufour’s *Usage du Caphé, du Thé, et du Chocolate* (1688) by Philippe Sylvestre Dufour, from Usage du caphé, du thé, et du chocolate
    .

    Source: Wellcome Collection

    pdimagearchive.org/images/b4cd

    #chocolate #books #dufour #mesoamerica #mexico #cacao #colmenero #cocoa #wadsworth #colonialism #art #publicdomain

  14. A randomized double-blind study of almost 600 older adults found that daily supplementation with 500 mg of cocoa flavanols for two years reduced a biomarker for aging-related inflammation by 8.4% per year. This work was part of a larger study that found that cocoa supplementation decreased cardiovascular disease mortality by 27%.

    Summary: sciencedaily.com/releases/2025

    Original paper (not open access): academic.oup.com/ageing/articl

    #Science #Health #Aging #Inflammation #Cocoa #Flavanols #CVD

  15. And it begins! I guess #Hersheys #Cocoa has already fallen victim to #Trump's import #taxes and #PanicBuying. #Kroger is out (come to find out, it's not even listed in the app at any local stores) so I went by #Walmart and they're out too.

    #tariffs #tariff #TrumpTax #price

  16. Had cocoa twice in the last 24 hours and I wanted to show off my mugs. Both of the mugs are from target each are 5 dollars. The first cocoa was Tim Horton's with milk, half and half, marshmallows, and whipped cream. The second cocoa was Silly Cow with milk, half and half, and marshmallows
    I'm savoring the holiday season so there will be more cocoa this week!

    #food #beverages #cocoa #hotchocolate #marshmallows #whippedcream

  17. This article does mention #Mining! Not surprising!

    Promises and Pitfalls: #China’s Financing of the #AtewaBauxite #Mining Project in #Ghana

    Author: Angela Benefo & Michael Addaney
    Date Published: July 11, 2021

    "The #AtewaForestReserve in Ghana is a possible site for the development of an integrated #BauxiteAluminum mine through a Chinese resource-backed loan. Despite the opportunities for infrastructure development presented by the loan, this project carries significant risks. This article draws attention to #environmental sustainability challenges and the #DebtTrap conundrum associated with the proposed arrangement.

    "President Xi Jinping has touted China’s recently unveiled Five-Year Plan as his country’s pursuit of ‘ecological civilization,’ a vision of promoting environmental sustainability and enhanced human-ecological interactions within and beyond China. However, China’s ability to promote ecological civilization in developing countries in line with this Plan will be challenging due to China’s generally poor environmental protection record in such contexts. For instance, while China claims it is prioritizing environmental sustainability in Africa, the #extractive projects initiated by its private sector do not align with this stated goal. These projects serve China’s broader interests and often create environmental consequences and problematic debt, therefore requiring a more careful analysis. A Chinese-backed bauxite-aluminum mine planned for a forest reserve in Ghana highlights the debt-trap concerns and environmental sustainability challenges created by some Chinese investments.

    The Challenges of #ChineseLoans across #Africa

    "China continues to play an enormous role in financing massive infrastructure projects in Africa. As the world’s largest official #creditor, China and its subsidiaries have invested billions of dollars across Africa’s energy, transportation, and mining sectors. Despite China’s indispensable contributions to infrastructure development in sub-Saharan Africa, there are valid concerns over how African countries will repay these massive debts to China.

    "Compared to other official lenders such as the International Monetary Fund (#IMF) and the #WorldBank, Chinese loans are less challenging to acquire. For instance, the IMF monitors the amount of debt held by a country and will not provide more loans until a country seeks debt relief. Chinese lenders have more lenient terms and allow low-income African countries to borrow large amounts without much accountability—issuing loans which may be considered too risky by the IMF and other international lenders.

    "Historically, China has entered into strategic agreements with developing countries to finance development projects while collateralizing the country’s natural resources. The growing demand for external finance for important infrastructure projects—some of which are overly ambitious and unsustainable—poses great risks to African economies, which risk losing their collateral and the possibility of debt distress.

    "Chinese loans are often characterized by lack of transparency. Chinese financiers set tough conditions for financing large infrastructure projects, taking advantage of vulnerable African leaders desperate to complete ambitious developmental projects. For instance, the construction of a $10 billion port project in #Tanzania was suspended after careful consideration of the terms and conditions of the Chinese loan. The project, which the former president John Magufuli called 'exploitative and awkward,' would have rented the port to the Chinese government for ninety-nine years as repayment.

    "In Ghana, Chinese financing over the past two decades has spanned various sectors including power, information communication technology (#ICT), #transportation, and #agriculture. Chinese foreign direct investment is estimated to be three times the size of EU countries’ investment in Ghana. Some of these loans are backed by resources such as #cocoa and #oil. For instance, #Sinohydro has allegedly agreed to deliver $2 billion worth of infrastructure projects across the country, which Ghana would pay back with proceeds from the sale of refined bauxite. An estimated $646 million of the initial $2 billion loan have been approved for disbursement. The Ghanaian government also signed a loan commitment of $550 million in 2019. Entering these types of agreements with China demands careful consideration by the Ghanaian government."

    Read more:
    gjia.georgetown.edu/2021/07/11

    #LoanSharks #AfricanNations #DebtColonialism #Colonialism

  18. Campbell’s Mona Monkey Cercopithecus campbelli

    Campbell’s Mona Monkey Cercopithecus campbelli

    Red List: Near Threatened

    Extant (resident): Gambia; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Liberia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Ivory Coast.

    Inquisitive and highly social Campbell’s Mona Monkeys are known for their intense hazel eyes and bright yellow brows. They use their large puffy cheeks to store food while they climb to the top of tree canopies to eat it. Males will engage in a dawn and dusk symphony of calling along with other species in a coordinated ritual. They are Near Threatened due to hunting and extensive forest loss throughout their range in West Africa for palm oil, coffee, cocoa and mining. Help them every time you shop by using your wallet as a weapon – #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

    Social and cheeky Campbell’s Mona Monkeys 🐵🐒🤎 use their puffy cheeks to store food. Threats include #hunting #cocoa #palmoil #deforestation in #Gambia 🇬🇲 #Liberia 🇱🇷 Help save them! #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🩸🔥☠️🚜⛔️ @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2024/01/28/campbells-mona-monkey-cercopithecus-campbelli/

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    Beautifully coloured male Campbell’s Mona #Monkeys 🐵🐒🤎 sing in chorus ✨🎵🪇 with other species at dawn 🌄🌅 and dusk in #Liberia 🇱🇷 #SierraLeone 🇸🇱 Fight for them and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2024/01/28/campbells-mona-monkey-cercopithecus-campbelli/

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    https://youtu.be/7rkXdObdh9U

    Appearance & Behaviour

    Male Campbell’s Mona Monkeys are known for engaging in interpecies dawn and dusk choruses. Sounds carry for at least a kilometre in low rumbling booms and other males join in. Interspecies songs and calling obey ritualised rules. The Campbell’s Mona Monkey has an advanced form of communication with rudimentary and basic syntax.

    They are a highly social and gregarious species, preferring to stay in groups of about eight individuals.

    They are slow and careful foragers and will look for wild and cultivated fruit, seeds and vegetables along with small invertebrates, lizards, amphibians and worms.

    Threats

    Campbell’s Guenons or Campbell’s Mona Monkeys are still common to some areas of their range and are relatively flexible and adaptable to their environment. However, their habitat is rapidly declining and becoming fragmented due to forest loss and deforestation for agriculture – mainly palm oil, coffee and cocoa.

    [Campbell’s Guenons] have been impacted by, first and foremost, bushmeat hunting, and secondly, habitat loss.

    IUCN Red LIST

    Due to their small body size, they are not the prime target for hunters. However in recent years with unregulated hunting and removal of other larger monkey species – the Campbell’s Mona Monkey have now become a target for the illegal bushmeat trade.

    In Mount Nimba, Liberia, Bené et al. (2013) monitored hunters’ activities in 2009–2011 and found a high rate (0.7 per km) of encountering hunters carrying the carcasses of this species.

    IUCN RED LIST

    Habitat

    Campbell’s Mona Monkeys Cercopithecus campbelli are also known by the name Campbell’s guenon. They are endemic to the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia and Ghana. They are found in lowland forest, gallery forest, mangroves, riverine environments and within farms and agricultural land.

    This species once thrived in disturbed habitats and farmbush, but many of these habitats have been converted to plantations of non-native species.

    IUCN RED LIST

    Diet

    Campbell’s Mona Monkeys are slow, deliberate foragers. The greater part of their diet is wild fruit and agricultural crops. However, they will also eat seeds, invertebrates, grubs, small amphibians and lizards. They use their puffy cheeks to store food and then climb high into the boughs of trees to eat it.

    Support Campbell’s Mona Monkey 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

    Matsuda Goodwin, R., Gonedelé Bi, S. & Koné, I. 2020. Cercopithecus campbelliThe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T136930A92374066. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T136930A92374066.en. Accessed on 25 May 2023.

    Campbell’s Mona Monkey: Wikipedia article

    Campbell’s Mona Monkey: Animalia.bio article

    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 3,172 other subscribers

    2. 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.

    Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

    Read more

    Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

    Read more

    Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

    Read more

    Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

    Read more

    The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

    Read more

    How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

    Read more

    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

    #africa #animals #boycott4wildlife #boycottpalmoil #campbellsMonaMonkeyCercopithecusCampbelli #cocoa #coffee #deforestation #forgottenAnimals #gambia #guinea #hunting #ivoryCoast #liberia #mammal #monkey #monkeys #palmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poaching #primate #primates #primatology #sierraLeone #sierraleone #vulnerableSpecies

  19. #Deforestation effect of UK consumption #unsustainable, say MPs
    British consumers are contributing particularly highly to destruction of world’s #forests. #UK consumption is having an “unsustainable” impact on the world

    Products such as #soya, #cocoa, #palm oil, #beef and #leather may be products of #deforestation, the environmental audit committee has found

    theguardian.com/environment/20

  20. Spicy hot cocoa, americano with half n half and ‘The Burdick’ pastry from L.A.Burdick in Chicago on a cold day!
    ☕️❄️🪄

    Treating oneself to a little bit of heaven (pure dark chocolate) keeps the soul warm in cold weather

    #magic #darkchocolate #sunday #sundayvibes #foodporn #relaxing #chocolate #chicago #couple #love #romance #holiday #family #coffee #cafe #pastry #cocoa #hotcocoa @coffee

  21. Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata

    Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata

    Red List Status: Vulnerable

    Extant (resident): Cameroon; Côte d’Ivoire; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Liberia; Mali; Nigeria; Senegal; Sierra Leone

    Possibly Extinct: Togo

    The yellow-casqued hornbill is one of the most remarkable hornbills in the world and one of the largest birds in the rainforests of West Africa weighing up to two kilos. Sporting a shock of russet coloured feathers and a striking blue coloured face, they prefer to live high up in the rainforest canopy in Côte d’Ivoire, #Ghana, #Liberia, Mali and #SierraLeone. Their main threat is hunting and human persecution and they are possibly extinction now in some countries. Recent mass deforestation for #mining, #palmoil, #cocoa and #meat is also a threat and they are now classified as #vulnerable. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan, #Boycottpalmoil, #Boycott4Wildlife

    https://youtu.be/c6AX876MRr0

    Yellow-casqued hornbills 🕊️🪽 are #vulnerable in #WestAfrica 🇱🇷🇬🇼🇳🇬 due to #hunting, #palmoil 🌴🔥#meat 🥩🔥 and #cocoa 🍫🔥 #deforestation across their range. Help save them and be #vegan 🥕🍅#Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/09/17/yellow-casqued-hornbill-ceratogymna-elata/

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    A shock of fiery red feathers 🪶❤️💕 and blue rimmed 👁️👀😎 eyes announce the arrival of the majestic yellow-casqued #hornbill 🦜🕊️ They are vulnerable from #deforestation and #hunting in #WestAfrica. Fight for them! #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/09/17/yellow-casqued-hornbill-ceratogymna-elata/

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    Appearance & Behaviour

    One of the largest birds in West African the yellow-casqued hornbill has a shock of russet coloured feathers and a striking blue coloured face. They live in the forest canopy and rarely venture to the ground. Generally, they live in family groups of generally one adult female and male birds and two juveniles.

    When a large ant or termite nest is discovered occasionally the birds will gather in large flocks to penetrate the nest. These hornbills are predated upon by crowned hawk eagles. Under threat from these eagles, a flock of hornbills will mob the birds as a group and call together loudly. This collective alarm call may serve to deter the eagles from hunting them.

    Threats

    Rapid destruction of their range across several countries in West Africa has meant that the yellow-casqued hornbill is now classified as vulnerable.

    The Yellow-casqued Hornbill faces numerous anthropogenic threats including:

    • Hunting is a major threat: Humans have predated upon these birds and overhunted them causing serious decline in their numbers.
    • Deforestation for palm oil, meat and cocoa: Increasing fragmentation of rainforests in West Africa has meant the birds are restricted in food sources and their populations have reduced as a result.
    • Climate change: Is also thought to be an additional threat to these large African birds.

    The species is on the way out in eastern Ghana, and it is likely extinct in Togo (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2016). Its disappearance from Bia NP, where there have been no records since 1991 (Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett 2011a), is probably related to uncontrolled hunting and the logging of the southern section in the 1990s. The species’s fate in south-western Ghana is very unfavourable, with most habitat expected to be lost to timber extraction and agricultural encroachment, and habitat in reserves expected to be lost by the early 2030s (Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett 2014).

    IUCN Red List

    Habitat

    Yellow-casqued hornbills prefer to live their lives high up in the tree canopy of primary forest. However they are known to also survive in logged, riverine or secondary forests. They migrate according to food availability.

    Diet

    These birds are primarily folivores and insectivores who consume seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions. The birds congregate in large flocks to invade termite mounds.

    Support yellow-casqued hornbills 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

    BirdLife International. 2016. Ceratogymna elataThe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22682627A92954374. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22682627A92954374.en. Accessed on 31 October 2022.

    Yellow-casqued hornbill Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-casqued_hornbill

    Yellow-casqued hornbill Animalio.bio: https://animalia.bio/yellow-casqued-hornbill

    Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata

    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 3,172 other subscribers

    2. 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.

    Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

    Read more

    Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

    Read more

    Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

    Read more

    Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

    Read more

    The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

    Read more

    How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

    Read more

    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

    #africa #africanNews #animals #bird #birdsong #boycott4wildlife #boycottpalmoil #cameroon #cocoa #deforestation #forgottenAnimals #ghana #hornbill #hunting #ivoryCoast #liberia #meat #mining #nigeria #palmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poachers #poaching #sierraLeone #sierraleone #song #songbird #songbirds #vegan #vulnerable #vulnerableSpecies #westafrica #yellowCasquedHornbillCeratogymnaElata

  22. Shoebill Balaeniceps rex

    Shoebill Balaeniceps rex

    Vulnerable

    Extant (resident)

    Central African Republic; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Rwanda; South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia

    Known for their unnerving and intense stare and imposing, prehistoric appearance – shoebills are magnificent birds. There are less than 8000 individual birds left alive. They are vulnerable from #palmoil, #cocoa and #meat #deforestation, agricultural run-off, #pollution, #mining, #hunting and human persecution. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan, #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

    The #Shoebill is a magnificent and gentle big bird 🕊️🦤 with an unnerving stare 👀 There are only 8000 left alive in #DRC, #Uganda #Africa. Vulnerable from #palmoil #deforestation, #hunting and more. Fight for them! #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/09/10/shoebill-balaeniceps-rex/

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    Known for their menacing stare 👀😸 gentle #shoebills are iconic in #Uganda 🇺🇬 #Congo 🇨🇩 #Tanzania 🇹🇿 They are vulnerable from #hunting, #palmoil #deforestation. Help them and be #vegan 🥕🍆 and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔☠️🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/09/10/shoebill-balaeniceps-rex/

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    There are less than 8,000 birds left alive and they are increasingly threatened by agricultural run-off from palm oil and cocoa deforestation across their range.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V7t28Fim34

    The shoebill Balaeniceps rex is also known by the common names: the whale-headed stork, shoebill stork and whalehead. Their eponymous feature is their enormous bill They have the third largest bills after pelicans and large storks.

    Fast Facts

    • When shoebills soar they make around 150 flaps per minute which makes them one of the slowest of any bird, with the exception of the larger stork species.
    • They stand stock-still and waiting, all alone giving them an eerie and unnerving appearance. Once they notice fish appearing on the surface of swamps they quickly snap them up into their large bills.
    • The shoebill’s chattering large bill makes a sound akin to machine gun fire. This combined with their silent creeping gait can make them seem rather menacing!

    https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/11bnvkd/the_unexpected_sound_of_a_shoebill_stork/?utm_source=embedv2&utm_medium=post_embed&utm_content=action_bar

    • Shoebills are attracted to poorly oxygenated waters, as this means fish must come to the surface to breathe – where they are efficiently captured.
    • They are mostly silent except for elaborate bill-clattering communication that happens during their breeding. Chicks make a human-like hiccup sound when signalling hunger.
    • Although they have a similar appearance to storks, shoebills are more closely related to pelicans and herons in the order Pelecaniformes.

    Appearance & Behaviour

    They possess extraordinarily large feet with their middle toe extending up to 18.5 cm in length. This helps them with balance while standing on uneven swamps and on aquatic vegetation while they hunt.

    Adults have feathers that range from blue-grey to slate-grey. Juveniles possess similar plumage but in a tawny blue-brown hue.

    Shoebills have a modestly sized bill at birth, which grows much larger once chicks reach between 23-43 days old.

    Their unusual beauty makes them a must-see for birdwatchers in Africa. Despite their slightly unnerving appearance, these birds are placid and will allow birdwatchers to snap their photo at a range of two metres.

    Shoebills are known for staying statue-still and silent in the muddy waters while hunting. These birds stalk their prey in a solitary way, patiently lurking and hunting entirely with their vision. Once prey is spotted they launch a rapid strike. They will sometimes use their big beaks to pry deep into the pond mud and extirpate lung fish with a violent strike.

    They are normally silent but will get noisy during nesting season with elaborate bill clattering displays. Adults birds will make a ‘moo’ sound and high pitched whine while clattering their bills in order to communicate with each other. Chicks call out to their mothers with a ‘hiccup’ sound.

    Shoebills typically hunt for lungfish and other fish in poorly oxygenated marshlands, bogs, peatland and swamps. Fish frequently break to the surface to breathe – it is then that shoebills rapidly strike. Their large feet enable them to balance on floating vegetation. The movement of hippos can aid the hunting of shoebills, as they rustle up fish from bottom of swamps, pushing them to surface for the shoebills’ easy capture.

    Threats

    There is estimated to be below 8,000 individual shoebills left and they are classified as vulnerable. Shoebills face a range of anthropogenic threats:

    • Palm oil and cocoa deforestation: The mass removal of virgin rainforest for palm oil and cocoa results in mass deaths of shoebills.
    • Infrastructure building: roads, dams and powerlines pose a risk to shoebills.
    • Meat deforestation: cattle and other animals are known to trample shoebill nests.
    • Pollution run-off: from palm oil agrochemicals and mining effluent.
    • Hunting: In some cultures shoebills are thought of as a bad omen, in others they are hunted for food.
    • Capture for the pet trade: Shoebill eggs and chicks are captured for consumption or sold to zoos.
    • Armed human conflict: Armed groups moving through the rainforest has facilitated hunting of shoebills.
    • Climate change: Increased extreme weather events like fires and droughts brought on by climate change lowers their numbers.

    Habitat

    Shoebills are found in central tropical Africa. Including South Sudan, eastern Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, western Tanzania, and northern Zambia. They are non-migratory birds who make limited seasonal movements.

    They live in dense freshwater swamps and marshes including undisturbed papyrus and reed beds. They are attracted to areas of mixed vegetation and have been seen on occasion in rice fields and flooded plantations.

    Diet

    Shoebills mainly consume fish but will also eat a range of wetland vertebrates. Their preferred food is marbled lungfish, tilapia and catfish. When this is not available they are known to consume frogs, nile monitors, baby crocodiles, water snakes, turtles, snails, rodents and other small waterfowl.

    Mating and breeding

    Shoebills form monogamous pair bonds for the breeding season. They fiercely defend their nests from other birds during their nesting period, which begins either during the monsoon season or after this ends.

    Both parents build the nest on a floating and flat platform made up of swamp vegetation and around three metres wide and three metres deep.

    Typically the female will lay between one to three eggs, with only one being reared and cared for until maturity. The other eggs are back-ups in case the eldest chick is weak or dies.

    In the hot weather, shoebill parents will fill their bills with water to shower their nests to cool their eggs.

    Chicks take about 105 days to fledge and juveniles typically fly well by 112 days. Juvenile birds will continue to feed with their mother for another month after this and reach sexual maturity at about three years old.

    Support Shoebills 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

    BirdLife International. 2018. Balaeniceps rexThe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22697583A133840708. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697583A133840708.en. Accessed on 16 February 2023.

    Shoebill on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoebill

    Shoebill on Animalia.bio – https://animalia.bio/shoebill

    How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

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    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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    #Africa #animals #Bird #birds #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CentralAfricanRepublic #cocoa #Congo #deforestation #DemocracticRepublicOfCongo #DRC #hunting #meat #mining #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poaching #pollution #Rwanda #Shoebill #ShoebillBalaenicepsRex #shoebills #SouthSudan #stork #Tanzania #Uganda #vegan #VulnerableSpecies #Zambia
  23. I want to reproduce the coloring of the menu bar on the #Mac.

    So it seems I need to generate an image where each #pixel-column is the averaged color of that column's pixels (original image being the #desktopBackground).

    I thought I'd just create an #NSImage of height 1, draw the desktop picture into it, squishing it vertically. But of course on Retina I get 2 pixels for 1 point.

    Anyone remember how to create (and draw into!) an NSImage of height 1px?

    #swift #swiftlang #cocoa #appkit

  24. African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis

    African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis

    Location: Central and West Africa – Guineo-Congolian tropical forests, including Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and surrounding regions.

    IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

    The African Forest #Elephant is a Critically Endangered species found in the dense #rainforests of Central and #WestAfrica. They are smaller than their savanna relatives, with straighter tusks and rounder ears, uniquely adapted to their forested habitat. As ecosystem engineers, these elephants play a crucial role in maintaining Afrotropical forests by dispersing seeds and mitigating against climate change by shaping forest composition. However, relentless #poaching for ivory, habitat destruction due to #palmoil, #cocoa and #tobacco agriculture, and human-elephant conflict have decimated their population. Recent studies have shown that African Forest Elephants’ movement patterns vary significantly between individuals, with some elephants exploring vast distances while others remain in small home ranges. This variation poses unique challenges for conservation efforts. Resist and fight for their survival each time you shop, be #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

    https://youtu.be/cldLHm2-pnQ

    African Forest #Elephants are ecosystem engineers fighting #ClimateChange in #WestAfrica. Yet #poaching and #palmoil #deforestation have rendered them critically endangered 😿🐘 Help them and be #vegan #BoycottPalmOil 🌴⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/09/11/african-forest-elephant-loxodonta-cyclotis/

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    Supremely intelligent and sensitive African Forest #Elephants 🐘🩶 face several grave threats, incl. #PalmOil #Deforestation and #poaching in #Gabon 🇬🇦 #Congo 🇨🇩 #WestAfrica. Fight for them when you #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/09/11/african-forest-elephant-loxodonta-cyclotis/

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    Rapid land use change, including palm oil plantations across their range is driving the direct loss and fragmentation of habitat, is an increasing threat to African elephants across their range.

    IUCN red list

    Appearance and Behaviour

    African Forest Elephants are smaller than their savanna counterparts, with a shoulder height of 2 to 3 metres. They have a more compact build, rounded ears, and long, narrow tusks that point downward, (Gobush et al., 2021). Their grey skin is often darker due to the humid rainforest environment. They live in small, matriarchal family groups and display remarkable individual variation in movement behaviours. Some elephants, known as “explorers,” travel vast distances, while others, the “idlers,” remain within confined home ranges. These behavioural differences complicate conservation efforts, as strategies must account for their diverse space-use needs.

    These elephants are highly intelligent and social, living in small, matriarchal family groups that navigate the rainforest together. Their deep infrasonic rumbles travel through the ground, allowing communication over vast distances, even in the thickest jungle. Recent research has revealed that their vocalisations have a structure akin to human syntax—complex combinations of calls used to convey intricate meanings (Hedwig & Kohlberg, 2024).

    Other research has found that the foraging, seed dispersal and exploration of African Forest Elephants helps to mitigate African forests against climate change. A 2019 study from the Ndoki Forest in the Republic of Congo (ROC) and LuiKotale in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) estimated that if elephants were removed from these sites, the loss of their forest-shaping food preferences would reduce the forest’s carbon capture by 7%.

    Diet

    Forest Elephants are frugivorous and play an irreplaceable role as seed dispersers, particularly for large fruiting trees. They are responsible for spreading the seeds of over 41 timber species, including Bobgunnia fistuloides (pao rosa), a tree prized for its high-value wood (Blake et al., 2009; Campos-Arceiz & Blake, 2011). Without these elephants, the rainforest’s ability to regenerate and store carbon would be drastically diminished.

    Reproduction and Mating

    With a gestation period of 22 months—the longest of any land mammal—female African Forest elephants give birth only once every four to six years (Gobush et al., 2021). Due to their slow reproductive rate, population recovery is incredibly difficult, making conservation efforts even more urgent. Calves remain under their mother’s care for over a decade, learning crucial survival skills in the rainforest.

    Geographic Range

    African Forest Elephants roam vast home ranges, some spanning over 2,000 km² (Beirne et al., 2021). Their movements are largely dictated by fruiting cycles, water availability, and human encroachment. A recent study found that they exhibit remarkable individual variation in movement patterns—some acting as ‘explorers,’ roaming far and wide, while others remain within familiar territories (Beirne et al., 2021). Roads and logging concessions disrupt these traditional routes, forcing elephants into human settlements and escalating conflict.

    Threats

    • Illegal Wildlife Trade and Poaching: The illegal and criminal trade in elephant ivory continues to drive rampant poaching. Despite international bans, demand remains high in black markets (Wittemyer et al., 2014; Maisels et al., 2013).
    • Palm Oil Agriculture Expansion: Forests are being obliterated for palm oil, cocoa, tobacco and rubber plantations, erasing habitat at an alarming rate (Scalbert et al., 2022).
    • Logging, Mining, and Infrastructure Expansion: The development of roads and infrastructure for timber and mining grants poachers greater access to once-inaccessible forest areas (Beirne et al., 2021).
    • Human-Elephant Conflict: Shrinking forests push elephants into farmland, leading to fatal clashes with farmers trying to protect their crops (Ngama et al., 2016).
    • Climate Change: Disruptions in rainfall patterns and fruiting cycles impact the food supply of African Forest Elephants, forcing them into riskier migration routes where they can come into contact with poachers or conflict with farmers.
    • Slow Reproduction Rate: African Forest Elephants have a long gestation periods and high calf mortality, their populations cannot recover quickly from losses.

    Elephants and Language: Call Combinations and Syntax

    Groundbreaking research has revealed that African Forest Elephants use complex call combinations, akin to human syntax, to communicate in high-stakes situations (Hedwig & Kohlberg, 2024). Their vocal repertoire includes:

    • Low-frequency rumbles: Used to coordinate movements and social interactions. These deep sounds can travel several kilometres through dense rainforest.
    • Broadband roars: Express distress, urgency, or aggression, particularly in response to predators or conflict.
    • Combined calls: When rumbles and roars are merged, they create new meanings. These combinations are more frequently used in competitive situations, suggesting that elephants alter their vocal signals to convey specific messages in dangerous or high-emotion contexts.

    The ability to combine calls strategically may help elephants navigate social disputes, secure access to resources, or reunite with separated family members. This discovery sheds light on the cognitive abilities of these animals and their sophisticated social lives.

    Large herbivores such as elephants contribute to tree diversity

    A recent study using satellite data has highlighted the critical role that large herbivores play in promoting tree diversity in forest ecosystems. The…

    Keep reading

    Echoes of the Ancients: The Wisdom and Power of Elephants

    World Elephant Day, celebrated on August 12th, honours the gentle and nurturing giants of Asia and Africa, who are revered for their deep…

    Keep reading

    African Forest Elephants Help Fight Climate Change

    Discover the awe-inspiring role of African forest elephants in the Congo Basin—nature’s master gardeners who literally shape the world around them! These gentle…

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    African Forest Elephants and Timber Concessions

    Timber and palm oil concessions now cover vast portions of forest elephant habitat, with little understanding of how these logging operations impact elephant populations (Scalbert et al., 2022). While elephants can persist in selectively logged forests, they require large, undisturbed areas to sustain viable populations. Key findings include:

    • African Forest Elephants regenerate forests: By dispersing seeds of high-carbon tree species, they facilitate the regrowth of timber species, making their role essential for maintaining the economic value of these forests.
    • Logging alters movement patterns: While some elephants adapt to fragmented landscapes, others are displaced, forced into human-dominated areas where they are at greater risk of poaching and conflict.
    • Forest loss drives ecological collapse: Without elephants maintaining seed dispersal, many commercially valuable trees may struggle to regenerate, ultimately degrading the timber industry’s long-term viability.

    You can support this beautiful animal

    Sheldrick Wildlife

    Virunga National Park

    Africa Conservation Foundation

    Traffic

    Further Information

    Beirne, C., Houslay, T. M., Morkel, P., Clark, C. J., Fay, M., Okouyi, J., White, L. J. T., & Poulsen, J. R. (2021). African forest elephant movements depend on time scale and individual behavior. Scientific Reports, 11, 12634. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-91627-z

    Gobush, K.S., Edwards, C.T.T, Maisels, F., Wittemyer, G., Balfour, D. & Taylor, R.D. 2021. Loxodonta cyclotis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T181007989A181019888. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T181007989A181019888.en. Downloaded on 08 June 2021.

    Hedwig, D., & Kohlberg, A. (2024). Call combination in African forest elephants Loxodonta cyclotis. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299656

    Scalbert, M., Vermeulen, C., Breuer, T., & Doucet, J. L. (2022). The challenging coexistence of forest elephants Loxodonta cyclotis and timber concessions in central Africa. Mammal Review, 52(3), 501–518. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12305

    African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis

    How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

    Take Action in Five Ways

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    Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

    Read more

    Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

    Read more

    Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

    Read more

    Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

    Read more

    The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

    Read more

    How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

    Read more

    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

    #Africa #African #AfricanForestElephantLoxodontaCyclotis #Angola #Bantrophyhunting #Benin #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #BurkinaFaso #Cameroon #CentralAfricanRepublic #climatechange #cocoa #Congo #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #DemocracticRepublicOfCongo #elephant #elephants #Forest #Gabon #Guinea #ivory #Mammal #Nigeria #Pachyderm #pachyderms #palmoil #poaching #pollination #pollinator #rainforests #SeedDispersers #SierraLeone #timber #tobacco #vegan #WestAfrica

  25. Western Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorilla

    Mighty, intelligent and gentle Western Lowland Gorillas are well-loved apes, they are #critically endangered by #deforestation and habitat loss for #palmoil, cocoa and mining along with disease and illegal poaching in #Congo #Nigeria #Cameroon Help them to survive every time you shop! Join the #Boycott4Wildlife

    Western Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorilla

    https://youtu.be/KN2xyKHGpnI

    Mighty and gentle Western Lowland Gorilla are well-loved apes 💌🦍, they are #critically endangered by #deforestation for #palmoil 🌴 #cocoa 🍫 in #Congo #Nigeria #Cameroon Help them to survive! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/10/western-lowland-gorilla-gorilla-gorilla/

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    Despite superior intelligence and tight-knit families, Western Lowland #Gorillas 🦍 are critically #endangered by #palmoil and #tobacco #deforestation and #poaching 😓 Don’t let them vanish! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴💀🔥🚫 @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/10/western-lowland-gorilla-gorilla-gorilla/

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    Critically Endangered

    Angola (Cabinda); Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo; Equatorial Guinea (Equatorial Guinea (mainland)); Gabon; Nigeria

    Habitat loss is emerging as a major threat to Western Gorillas. Other threats include disease and poaching. As oil-palm plantations in Asia reach capacity, Africa is becoming the new frontier for this crop, offering excellent economic prospects in countries with appropriate rainfall, soil and temperatures (Rival and Lavang 2014). Unfortunately, such areas coincide with good Gorilla habitat: 73.8% of the Western Lowland Gorilla’s range is considered suitable for oil palm (Wich et al. 2014).

    IUCN red list

    Western Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorillaWestern Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorillaWestern Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorillaWestern Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorillaWestern Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorilla

    Western Lowland Gorillas are found in Angola (Cabinda enclave), Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), mainland Equatorial Guinea (Rio Muni), Gabon, Nigeria and Republic of Congo. Until recently, the core population had an almost continuous distribution from southern CAR to the Congo River and west to the coast. Rivers are the primary geographic barrier for this taxon, followed by habitat fragmentation: the two subspecies are separated by a major river (the Sanaga), and Western Lowland Gorillas are divided into subpopulations by other major rivers in the region (Anthony et al. 2007, Fünfstück et al. 2014, Fünfstück and Vigilant 2015).

    The northwestern limit of the western lowland subspecies distribution is the Sanaga River in Cameroon; the northern limit is the forest-savanna boundary to a maximum of roughly 6°N; the eastern limit is the Ubangi River; the Congo River south of its confluence with the Ubangi then becomes the southeastern and southern limits all the way to the coast. Small outlying populations of the Cross River subspecies remain on the Nigeria-Cameroon border at the headwaters of the Cross River and in the proposed Ebo National Park in Cameroon. Most Western Gorillas are found below 500 m asl, but those living on mountains occasionally reach elevations of 1,900 m asl.

    Western Gorillas are diurnal and semi-terrestrial. They build nests to sleep in every night, usually on the ground but sometimes in trees. They are social and live in stable, cohesive groups composed of one “silverback” adult male, several adult females and their offspring. Gorillas are not territorial and group ranges overlap extensively.

    Western Lowland Gorillas occur in both swamp and lowland forests throughout Western Equatorial Africa. They are especially common where ground vegetation is dominated by monocotyledonous plants. Their staple foods are leaves and shoots of the Marantaceae family, whereas fruit consumption varies greatly between seasons (Rogers et al. 2004). Some populations spend hours feeding on aquatic herbs in swamps. Social ants and termites are the only animal matter deliberately eaten. Group size averages 10, but is occasionally over 20 individuals, and annual home ranges are usually 10–25 km² (Williamson and Butynski 2013).

    Male Western Gorillas take 18 years to reach full maturity, whereas females take around 10 years. Their length of the reproductive cycle is unknown. Infant mortality up to three years of age is 22–65%. Infants suckle for 4–5 years, causing lactational amenorrhea in the mother. Interbirth intervals are 4–6 years. Western Gorillas appear to reproduce more slowly than Eastern Gorillas (G. beringei). The maximum length of their lives is unknown but likely to be around 40 years. Generation time is estimated to be 22 years.

    The recent expansion of industrial-scale mineral extraction and the creation of open-pit mines are of great concern (Edwards et al. 2014, Lanjouw 2014), and also lead to the establishment of development corridors, which can be several kilometres wide and add to areas of “lost forest” (Laurance et al. 2015). There is a disconnect between the various bodies responsible for land-use planning in the realms of conservation, mining and agriculture in all Western Gorilla range states except Gabon. Consequently, there is increasing competition for land between long-term conservation needs and immediate financial gain as governments explore the potential of clearing natural habitat in favour of economic development. Without careful and immediate land-use planning that involves cooperation between the government bodies responsible for protected areas and wildlife on one hand, and economic and agricultural development on the other, large areas of Western Lowland Gorilla habitat could be cleared within a few decades.

    You can support this beautiful animal

    Ape Action Africa

    PASA Primates

    Virunga National Park

    Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund

    Further Information

    Maisels, F., Bergl, R.A. & Williamson, E.A. 2018. Gorilla gorilla (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T9404A136250858. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T9404A136250858.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2021.

    Western Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorilla

    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 1,392 other subscribers

    2. 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.

    Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

    Read more

    Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

    Read more

    Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

    Read more

    Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

    Read more

    The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

    Read more

    How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

    Read more

    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

    #Africa #Angola #Ape #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Cameroon #CentralAfricanRepublic #cocoa #Congo #critically #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #criticallyendangered #deforestation #DemocracticRepublicOfCongo #endangered #EquatorialGuinea #Gabon #Gorillas #meat #Nigeria #palmoil #poaching #Primate #primates #TheDemocraticRepublicOfCongo #timber #tobacco #WesternGorillaGorillaGorilla

  26. Krokosua Squeaking Frog Arthroleptis krokosua

    Krokosua Squeaking Frog Arthroleptis krokosua

    IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered

    Location: This species is found in the tropical rainforests of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa. Its range is extremely limited, primarily confined to the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve and one additional site in the Ankasa Conservation Area.

    The Krokosua Squeaking Frog is one of the most endangered amphibians in Africa, threatened by rapid habitat destruction driven by logging, agriculture, and out-of-control palm oil plantations. This diminutive frog, named for its high-pitched squeaking call, is a vital part of its ecosystem, helping control insect populations and maintaining forest health. Protecting its habitat is crucial to its survival. Use your voice to save them every time you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

    https://youtu.be/8RHTmHYaKpc

    Big-eyed Krokosua Squeaking #Frogs 🐸 make a shrieking sound 🔊 when frightened. They’re critically #endangered in #Ghana #WestAfrica due to #palmoil #deforestation. Help them survive #herpetology #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔☠️⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/krokosua-squeaking-frog-arthroleptis-krokosua/

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    Deep within the rainforests of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, a rare and enigmatic frog fights for survival. The Krokosua Squeaking Frog, with their tiny bodies and distinctive squeaking call, are both wonders of nature and stark symbols of the fragility of tropical ecosystems. Their survival depends on the integrity of the dense forest floors they inhabit, where they feed on insects and find safety beneath leaf litter. However, these critical habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate.

    The relentless expansion of palm oil plantations, illegal logging, and agricultural activities are devastating their already fragmented range. This fragile species needs immediate intervention to prevent their extinction. Every choice you make matters. Support indigenous-led conservation #BoycottPalmOil #BoycottPalmOil to protect their home.

    Appearance and Behaviour

    The Krokosua Squeaking Frog is a petite amphibian, measuring just 2–4 centimetres in length. Their smooth, brown to reddish-brown skin is dappled with darker markings, offering natural camouflage against the forest floor’s leaf litter. Large, dark eyes dominate their delicate faces, lending an air of quiet watchfulness as they navigate their humid environment.

    This frog species is nocturnal and terrestrial, spending its days hidden beneath logs, leaves, or rocks, and emerging at night to forage. The frog’s most remarkable trait is its unique vocalisation—a high-pitched squeak that pierces the rainforest’s evening calm. This call is used to communicate with other frogs, likely as part of territorial defence or courtship.

    Threats

    The Krokosua Squeaking Frog is listed as Critically Endangered because there are believed to be fewer than 250 mature individuals, with 90% of these occurring within the sub-population found in the Sui Forest Reserve.

    The Krokosua Squeaking Frog faces continuing decline in the number of mature individuals caused by habitat loss from logging activities, farming (especially for cocoa), illegal plantations and small-scale mining.

    IUCN Red List

    Palm oil, tobacco, cocoa and mining deforestation:

    The greatest threat to the Krokosua Squeaking Frog is habitat destruction caused by logging, agricultural expansion for cocoa and tobacco, and the proliferation of out-of-control palm oil plantations. These activities strip away the dense forest undergrowth they rely on for cover and breeding, fragmenting their already limited range.

    Extreme Temperature Changes from Climate Change:

    Rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns due to climate change further threaten the delicate balance of their habitat. As a species highly dependent on stable rainforest ecosystems, they are particularly vulnerable to these shifts.

    Restricted Range:

    With a range limited to the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve and a small portion of the Ankasa Conservation Area, this frog is at high risk of extinction from stochastic events such as droughts, fires, or disease outbreaks.

    Diet

    The Krokosua Squeaking Frog feeds on small invertebrates, such as ants, beetles, and other forest floor arthropods. Their diet not only sustains them but also plays a critical role in regulating insect populations within their habitat. This makes them essential contributors to the overall health and balance of their rainforest ecosystem.

    Reproduction and Mating

    Little is known about the specific reproductive habits of this species, but like other frogs in the Arthroleptis genus, they are likely to lay their eggs in moist leaf litter or soil. The direct development of their offspring—where eggs hatch directly into miniature frogs rather than passing through a tadpole stage—is an adaptation that allows them to thrive in terrestrial habitats.

    Geographic Range

    The Krokosua Squeaking Frog’s range is among the smallest of any amphibian, restricted to just two known locations: the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve and the Ankasa Conservation Area. These areas, although legally protected, are under intense pressure from human activities. The total extent of their range is estimated to be less than 100 square kilometres, with much of this fragmented and degraded.

    FAQ

    What is the squeaking frog?

    The squeaking frog refers to members of the genus Arthroleptis, known for their high-pitched vocalisations. The Krokosua Squeaking Frog, specifically, is a critically endangered amphibian found only in the rainforests of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

    What is the squeaking frog in South Africa?

    The term “squeaking frog” in South Africa typically refers to other species within the Arthroleptis genus, as the Krokosua Squeaking Frog is only found in West Africa. South African species, like their West African counterparts, share similar behaviours and habitats but are distinct in range and conservation status.

    Why is the Krokosua Squeaking Frog endangered?

    The Krokosua Squeaking Frog is critically endangered due to habitat loss caused by illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and out-of-control palm oil plantations. Additionally, their extremely restricted range makes them highly susceptible to climate change and other stochastic events.

    Why are they called squeaking frogs?

    They are called squeaking frogs because of their distinctive, high-pitched calls. These squeaks are used to communicate, likely for territorial or mating purposes, and can often be heard echoing through the rainforest at night.

    Take Action!

    The Krokosua Squeaking Frog urgently needs your help. Use your voice to demand an end to deforestation caused by palm oil plantations and illegal logging. Support indigenous-led conservation efforts in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to protect this critically endangered species. Every purchase you make can help safeguard their fragile rainforest home. Fight for their survival: #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

    https://youtu.be/GZrfKQ4loMI

    Source: Sustain Round Glass

    The Krokosua Squeaking Frog is critically endangered on @IUCNredlist in #Ghana and #IvoryCoast due to illegal logging for #cocoa #palmoil. Make art for this dissapearing creature and #Boycott4Wildlife

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    Support the conservation of this species

    Save the Frogs Ghana

    Further Information

    International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). (2023). 20 most endangered animals in Africa. Retrieved from https://www.ifaw.org/au/journal/20-most-endangered-animals-wildlife-africa

    IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. 2019. Arthroleptis krokosua. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T174591A137083009. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T174591A137083009.en. Downloaded on 15 February 2021.

    STF! Webmaster. (2013, October 23). One of the world’s rarest frogs (Arthroleptis krokosua) finally found. Save the Frogs. Retrieved from https://savethefrogs.com/arthroleptis-krokosua-found/

    World Species. (n.d.). Arthroleptis krokosua. Retrieved from https://worldspecies.org/ntaxa/2171926

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