#critically-endangered-species — Public Fediverse posts

Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis

Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis

IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR)

Location: Vietnam and Laos

The Saola is an extremely rare #antelope species is restricted to the Annamite Mountains along the border of Laos and Vietnam. In Vietnam, they occur in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua-Thien Hue and Quang Nam provinces. In Laos, they have been recorded in Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, Khammouan, Savannakhet and Xekong provinces, generally within remote wet evergreen forests.

The elusive #Saola is one of the rarest and most mysterious animals on Earth. Described as Southeast Asia’s ‘unicorn’, this Critically Endangered #antelope is facing imminent #extinction due to indiscriminate snaring, illegal hunting, and #deforestation. No Saolas survive in captivity, and their numbers in the wild are estimated at fewer than 100. They are collateral victims of the region’s rampant #bushmeat and illegal wildlife trade, with their decline accelerated by roads, logging and expanding human access. Use your wallet as a weapon. To help the world’s rarest antelope and make sure you avoid all wildlife products, be #Vegan and choose #palmoilfree items. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/Y6mnFEbNmsM

Known as the ‘Asian #Unicorn’ the #Saola is like a wild #cow or #antelope 🐮🩷 They face unparalleled threats including #deforestation. Only around 100 now remain alive 😭 Be #Vegan for them 🥦 #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🩸☠️🔥🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-beE

Shy, elusive and gentle #Saolas 🐮🐄 have beautiful facial markings. Known as Asian #Unicorns they’re the rarest hoofed #mammal alive. Just a handful remain. Fight for them when you shop, be #vegan and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-beE

Appearance & Behaviour

The Saola is a curious looking #ungulate often described as being antelope-like in appearance, yet they are more closely related to wild cattle. They have a sleek, chocolate-brown coat, with striking white markings on the face and long, gently curved horns that can grow up to 50 centimetres for both sexes. These parallel horns have earned them the nickname the ‘Asian Unicorn.’

Highly secretive and shy, Saolas are rarely seen even by local indigenous people, and much of what we know comes from a handful of camera-trap images and village interviews. Saolas are solitary ungulates or found in small groups and may use scent glands to mark their territories. Saolas appear to favour lower altitudes during the dry season and may migrate with seasonal changes in water and vegetation.

Threats

Widespread snaring and indiscriminate hunting

The primary threat to Saola survival is indiscriminate snaring across their forest habitat. These wire snares are set to catch a variety of animals like wild pigs, civets and muntjacs, but Saolas are frequently caught as bycatch. Because Saolas are not specifically targeted, their deaths often go unnoticed or unreported. The sheer density of snares—sometimes thousands per square kilometre—means that even extremely rare species like the Saola are at constant risk of entrapment.

Bushmeat and traditional medicine trade

Despite not being valued specifically for their meat or body parts, Saolas are still victims of Southeast Asia’s booming wildlife trade. They are often killed and consumed locally or caught up in snares set for animals more widely traded or consumed for bushmeat and medicinal purposes. The expansion of disposable income and demand for wild meat and medicinal wildlife products in Vietnam and China is driving this crisis. Villagers report a sharp drop in sightings, indicating Saolas are being wiped out as collateral damage in this unregulated trade.

Road construction and increased human access

The rapid expansion of roads such as the Ho Chi Minh Road and the East-West Economic Corridor has fragmented Saola habitat and created unprecedented access for poachers. These roads allow motorbikes and trucks to transport wildlife quickly to urban markets, making illegal hunting more efficient. The increased accessibility also brings in thousands of forest product collectors who opportunistically snare wildlife. Road development directly and indirectly fuels the extinction of Saolas by opening up remote refuges once safe from exploitation.

Deforestation for monocultures like palm oil

Although hunting is the most immediate threat, habitat loss is an intensifying danger due to shifting agriculture, logging, mining and hydropower development. The Annamite forests are being carved up into ever smaller fragments, making it harder for Saola populations to remain connected. Forest blocks under 100 km² are likely uninhabitable for Saolas, who depend on large tracts of wet evergreen forest with low human disturbance. As development pressures mount, remaining habitat is also degraded by noise, pollution and human presence.

Ineffective protected area management

While Saolas occur in several designated protected areas, most of these offer little real protection from hunting. Enforcement is weak or absent, and many parks are under pressure from the same road construction and development projects that threaten unprotected forests. In some cases, protected areas themselves have become conduits for illegal activities like poaching and logging. Without strong enforcement and dedicated anti-snare patrols, protected status does little to ensure Saola survival.

Population isolation and low genetic diversity

Saola populations are now so small and fragmented that individuals may be isolated from one another for breeding. The species’ naturally low densities and secretive behaviour are further compounded by habitat fragmentation and snaring. This isolation increases the risk of inbreeding and local extinctions. If individuals can no longer find mates or suitable territory, the population could collapse without ever being noticed.

Climate and ecological constraints

Saolas are highly specialised to wet evergreen forests, which are rare and shrinking. Their apparent absence from degraded or secondary forests suggests they may be intolerant of even moderate ecological change. Unlike more adaptable species such as pigs or muntjacs, Saolas do not seem able to survive in altered landscapes. As climate patterns shift and dry seasons become more severe, even their last refuges may become inhospitable.

Rising wealth fuelling wildlife demand

Contrary to assumptions that poverty drives biodiversity loss, it is rising wealth and urban demand that most endanger Saolas. Affluent consumers in Vietnam and China are fuelling the demand for exotic meats and traditional medicine, spurring illegal hunting. The status-driven consumption of wildlife products—rather than subsistence need—is a primary force behind the escalating poaching crisis. Until demand is curbed at the source, rare species like the Saola will continue to vanish.

Geographic Range

The Saola is found exclusively in the Annamite Mountains along the border of Laos and Vietnam. In Vietnam, they are recorded from Nghe An to Quang Nam provinces. In Laos, they occur in Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, Khammouan, Savannakhet and Xekong provinces.

Their historical range has shrunk drastically, and they are now believed to be confined to fewer than 10 forest blocks, with an estimated area of occupancy likely under 1,000 km². They are absent from small forest fragments and likely restricted to remote, difficult-to-access areas with lower hunting pressure.

Diet

The Saola is a #herbivore and a browser, feeding mainly on tender leaves, shoots, and possibly fruit. Their diet likely consists of foliage from forest understorey plants, but detailed studies are lacking due to the species’ extreme rarity and secretive nature.

Mating and Reproduction

Very little is known about Saola reproduction. Local reports suggest they give birth to a single calf, and births may occur in the summer. Their generation time is thought to be longer than that of sympatric species like muntjacs or pigs, with lower reproductive output. No captive births have ever occurred.

FAQs

How many Saolas are left in the wild?

Estimates suggest there are fewer than 100 individuals remaining in the wild, with a likely number of under 250 mature individuals (IUCN SSC, 2020). No confirmed sightings have occurred since 2013, and the vast majority of reports come from indirect sources such as camera traps or local accounts.

Do Saolas make good pets?

Absolutely not. Saolas are wild, elusive, and cannot survive in captivity. Every individual removed from the wild brings them closer to extinction. Keeping or capturing Saolas is illegal and a direct threat to their survival.

Why are Saolas so rare?

Saolas are not specifically targeted, but they are frequent victims of indiscriminate snaring, which is widespread in their range. The pressure from hunting is compounded by habitat fragmentation, road construction, and increased human encroachment, leaving them with few undisturbed refuges.

What is being done to protect Saolas?

Efforts include the Saola Working Group’s use of camera traps, dung analysis and local knowledge to pinpoint remaining populations. Conservationists are advocating for snare-removal programmes and more effective protected area management, but without a captive breeding programme or large-scale investment, Saolas remain perilously close to extinction (Wilkinson & Duc, 2016).

What type of forest do Saolas live in?

They are found in wet evergreen forests with minimal dry season, primarily on the Vietnamese slopes of the Annamite Mountains. These habitats are cooler, cloud-covered and have high year-round rainfall, creating a niche Saolas are uniquely adapted to. Unfortunately, such habitats are increasingly fragmented and degraded.

Take Action!

Saolas are being driven to extinction by snares and the relentless pursuit of wild meat and medicine. Every product you buy that contributes to forest loss—like those made with palm oil—accelerates their disappearance. Support local communities leading conservation efforts in Vietnam and Laos. Reject all exotic animal products. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

Protect Saolas 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

Wilkinson, N. M., & Van Duc, L. (2016). Rank aggregation of local expert knowledge for conservation planning of the critically endangered saola. Conservation Biology, 30(6), 1098–1107. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12853

IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group. (2020). Pseudoryx nghetinhensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T18597A22195870. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18597/22195870

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Saola. Retrieved 6 April 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saola

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Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

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

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Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Gursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae

Sunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus

Western Parotia Parotia sefilata

Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus

Mountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque

Tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis

Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

Read more about RSPO greenwashing

A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)

*Less than 2,500 silvery gibbons remaining in the wild*.

#CriticallyEndangeredSpecies
#exinction
#gibbons

Ecuadorean Viscacha Lagidium ahuacaense

Ecuadorean Viscacha Lagidium ahuacaense

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Location: Ecuador’s Cerro El Ahuaca

High in the remote granite outcrops of Cerro El Ahuaca, #Ecuador the Ecuadorean #Viscacha Lagidium ahuacaense is plump and fluffy #rodent sporting sage-like long whiskers. From their high perch they look down upon the world below with a permanent expression of what could interpreted as disappointment. Ecuadorean Viscachas were first spotted in 2005 and formally described in 2009, these mountain-dwelling large #rodents are the northernmost member of the Lagidium genus, marooned over 500 kilometres from their closest relatives in #Peru. Few creatures are as elusive or fascinating— tragically, only a handful of them remain alive.

Fires, #beef agriculture, and #deforestation for monoculture are carving away at their already fragile existence, pushing them ever closer to the brink of #extinction. Help them by sharing their story to social media. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife.

https://youtu.be/0o5MoqBnXZA

High in the mountains of #Ecuador 🇪🇨 lives a sage-like fluffy #rodent, the Ecuadorean #Viscacha, a critically endangered alpine wonder. Few remain alive due to #climatechange and #meat #agriculture 🥩🔥. Be #vegan for them #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aoV

The Ecuadorean #Viscacha is a fluffy epic #rodent of #Ecuador’s high mountains with long and wise whiskers and a bushy tail. These tenacious creatures are critically #endangered 😭😿 Help them to survive, be #vegan #Boycott4Wildlife 🥩🔥⛔️ @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aoV

Appearance & Behaviour

Built for survival in one of Ecuador’s harshest landscapes, the Ecuadorean Viscacha is a sturdy and big rodent with a compact body covered in thick, grey-brown fur. Their dense, woolly fur shields them from the biting Andean winds, while their long, silvery tails provide balance as they scale sheer rock faces. Their large, dark eyes scan the terrain for danger, and their long, sensitive whiskers twitch as they pick up the faintest vibrations in the wind.

Long and distinguished whiskers provide them with sensitive and deep understanding of their environment. A black dorsal stripe runs the length of their back, this disappears into the dense coat that keeps them warm against the mountain’s chill.

Most active at dawn and dusk, their every movement is deliberate. They bound effortlessly between jagged outcrops, using their powerful hind legs to launch themselves across treacherous gaps. Unlike burrowing rodents, they take refuge in narrow rock crevices, where they remain hidden from predators.

Threats

Once secure in their isolated stronghold, the Ecuadorean Viscacha now faces a gauntlet of human-driven threats. Their already tiny population is being squeezed into an ever-smaller fragment of land, where survival is becoming increasingly precarious.

Deforestation for eucalyptus and pine monoculture plantations

For generations, wildfires have been used to clear land for agriculture and livestock grazing, but in recent decades, these fires have intensified, spreading further into the Viscacha’s habitat. Each blaze devours critical vegetation, stripping away the food sources they rely on and forcing them into ever-smaller pockets of surviving habitat.

Farmed Animal Agriculture

Grazing cattle have become an unrelenting force in the region, trampling vegetation and outcompeting the Viscacha for food. Their presence has disrupted the delicate balance of this fragile ecosystem, leaving fewer resources for native wildlife.

Climate Change-related Environmental Shifts

With their entire known population confined to a single mountain, the Ecuadorean Viscacha is especially vulnerable to even the smallest environmental shifts. Changing rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and temperature fluctuations could alter the availability of food and water, placing further stress on their already limited numbers.

Population Fragmentation and Isolation

Trapped within a tiny range with no known neighbouring populations, the Viscacha is cut off from potential mates and genetic diversity. Without intervention, this isolation could lead to inbreeding, weakening the species’ ability to adapt and survive.

Geographic Range

The Ecuadorean Viscacha is found only in a single location—Cerro El Ahuaca, a rugged granite mountain in southern Ecuador. They inhabit steep, rocky surfaces at elevations between 1,950 and 2,480 metres, a world of exposed rock faces and sparse vegetation. No other known populations exist, making them one of the most geographically restricted mammals on the planet.

Though their habitat once stretched further, fires and deforestation have steadily chipped away at the fringes of their territory. Today, their entire known range spans just 120 hectares—an area smaller than many urban parks—leaving them with little room to escape the pressures of a changing world.

Diet

These high-altitude specialists are herbivores, feeding primarily on native grasses, shrubs, and small herbs that cling to the mountainside. Signs of their feeding are visible throughout their habitat—freshly grazed plants and stripped vegetation mark the places where they have foraged. Their diet is shaped by scarcity, forcing them to survive on whatever plant life they can find in their isolated, rocky home. Their close relatives Mountain Viscacha of Peru are preyed upon by Andean Mountain Cats.

Mating and Reproduction

Little is known about the reproductive habits of the Ecuadorean Viscacha, but they likely follow a pattern similar to their relatives in the Lagidium genus. Mountain Viscachas generally give birth to a single offspring after a long gestation period, ensuring that each newborn has a better chance of survival in the unforgiving terrain. Born with fur and open eyes, young Viscachas are relatively well-developed, an adaptation that allows them to quickly learn the skills needed to navigate their hazardous mountain environment.

FAQs

Are Ecuadorean Viscachas related to rabbits or chinchillas?

Despite their rabbit-like appearance, Ecuadorean Viscachas belong to the Chinchillidae family, making them closer relatives of chinchillas than rabbits. Their long whiskers, dense fur, and powerful hind legs are adaptations seen in other members of this family, allowing them to thrive in rocky, high-altitude environments.

How are Ecuadorean Viscachas different from other Mountain Viscachas?

Ecuadorean Viscachas are the northernmost species of the Lagidium genus, separated by more than 500 kilometres from their closest relatives in Peru. Genetic studies show that they diverged significantly from other Mountain Viscachas, with at least 7.9% DNA sequence differences. Morphologically, they have a more compact body, a distinct black dorsal stripe, and a tail that shifts in colour from grey-brown to reddish-brown. Their isolation and unique adaptations to the Cerro El Ahuaca environment make them a distinct species.

How do Ecuadorean Viscachas survive in their rocky habitat?

Perfectly adapted to life among sheer cliffs and granite outcrops, Ecuadorean Viscachas use their powerful hind legs to leap between rocks, navigating the treacherous terrain with ease. Their thick, woolly fur provides insulation against the cold, and instead of burrowing, they take refuge in rock crevices where they remain hidden from predators.

What do Ecuadorean Viscachas eat?

These herbivores feed on native shrubs, grasses, and small herbs found in their mountainous habitat. They leave behind distinct feeding traces, such as grazed vegetation and stripped plants, which provide insight into their foraging habits. Their diet is dictated by the limited plant life available in their isolated environment.

How many Ecuadorean Viscachas are left in the wild?

The total known population is alarmingly small, possibly consisting of only a few dozen individuals confined to a 120-hectare area on Cerro El Ahuaca. No other populations have been discovered, making them one of the most critically endangered rodents in the world.

What are the biggest threats to the Ecuadorean Viscacha?

Their biggest threats include:

• Habitat destruction – Uncontrolled fires and land clearing for eucalyptus and pine monoculture and cattle grazing are steadily erasing their already limited habitat.

• Livestock competition – Grazing cattle trample vegetation and outcompete Viscachas for food.

• Climate change – Shifting rainfall patterns and temperature fluctuations could further disrupt their delicate ecosystem.

• Genetic isolation – With only a single known population, they face the risk of inbreeding, which could weaken their resilience.

Why are they only found in one place?

Ecuadorean Viscachas are highly specialised mountain dwellers, perfectly suited to the rocky terrain of Cerro El Ahuaca. They may have once had a wider range, but habitat destruction and fragmentation have left them stranded in this isolated stronghold. Unlike more adaptable rodents, they cannot easily move to new areas due to their specific habitat needs.

Are Ecuadorean Viscachas protected?

The Ecuadorean Vischaca was only recently discovered and are considered a forgotten species. However conservation efforts have begun, there is no targeted species-wide protection in place. However, local conservation initiatives have helped establish protected areas that include their habitat. Researchers continue to push for stronger conservation measures to ensure their survival.

How can I help save the Ecuadorean Viscacha?

You can make a difference by:

• Supporting conservation organisations working to protect their habitat.

• Raising awareness about the threats they face by sharing this post and joining the #Boycott4Wildlife

• Advocating for stronger environmental policies in Ecuador to prevent further deforestation and habitat loss.

Without immediate action, these rare and remarkable mountain survivors could disappear forever.

Take Action!

The Ecuadorean Viscacha is teetering on the edge of extinction, but there is still time to act. Conservationists have already taken steps to protect their habitat, securing key areas under municipal conservation agreements. However, long-term survival depends on preventing further destruction of their fragile mountain refuge.

You can help by:

• Supporting organisations working to protect Ecuador’s high-altitude ecosystems.

• Spreading awareness about the threats facing the Ecuadorean Viscacha and the urgent need for conservation.

• Demanding stronger environmental protections to prevent further habitat loss in Loja Province.

Every effort counts. Without immediate action, these extraordinary mountain survivors could disappear forever.

Support Ecuadorean Viscacha 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

Nature and Culture International. (2022). Ecuadorian Viscacha Conservation Project. Retrieved from https://www.natureandculture.org/directory/ecuadorian-vizcacha-conservation-project/

Roach, N. 2016. Lagidium ahuacaense. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T48295808A48295811. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T48295808A48295811.en. Accessed on 27 February 2025.

Werner, F. A., Ledesma, K. J., & Hidalgo B., R. (2006). Mountain vizcacha (Lagidium cf. peruanum) in Ecuador – first record of Chinchillidae from the northern Andes. Mastozoología Neotropical, 13(2), 271–274.

Wikipedia Contributors. (n.d.). Lagidium ahuacaense. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagidium_ahuacaense

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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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

Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Southern Pudu Pudu puda

Keep reading

Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata

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Blonde Capuchin Sapajus flavius

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Savage’s Glass Frog Centrolene savagei

Keep reading

Pesquets Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus

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Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot Eclectus riedeli

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Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

Read more about RSPO greenwashing

A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)

#Agriculture #animals #beef #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #climatechange #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #criticallyendangered #deforestation #Ecuador #EcuadoreanViscachaLagidiumAhuacaense #endangered #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #hunting #meat #meatDeforestation_ #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #Peru #poaching #rodent #rodents #SouthAmericaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #vegan #Viscacha

The Salt Creek Pupfish: Death Valley’s Rare and Resilient Fish

Deep in Death Valley National Park, a special fish lives. The Salt Creek Pupfish (Cyprinodon salinus ssp. salinus) is small and silvery-blue. They are called “pupfish” because of their playful nature.

These fish live in Salt Creek, a harsh place. Yet, they have learned to survive and even do well there.

Key Takeaways

• The Salt Creek Pupfish is a rare and critically endangered species found only in Death Valley National Park.
• These inch-long fish have adapted to the harsh, saline environment of Salt Creek, a fast-flowing creek with abundant pupfish and persistent horseflies.
• The pupfish’s fragile habitat is threatened by potential disturbances, making conservation efforts crucial for their survival.
• Visitors can observe the playful behavior of the pupfish, but must be mindful of the need to protect their sensitive ecosystem.
• Ongoing research and monitoring are essential to ensure the long-term viability of the Salt Creek Pupfish population.

Introduction to the Salt Creek Pupfish

The desert pupfish, also known as the Salt Creek pupfish, is a unique fish found in Death Valley, California. These tiny, hardy creatures live in the salty, shallow waters of Salt Creek. This habitat is harsh for most fish.

What Makes This Fish Unique?

The desert pupfish rarely grows over three inches. Yet, they are incredibly resilient. They can survive in water over 110 degrees Fahrenheit and tolerate very salty water.

These fish can produce up to three generations a year. Females lay 50 to over 800 eggs at a time. This helps their population grow in their tough environment.

Habitat and Distribution

The desert pupfish lives only in Salt Creek within Death Valley National Park. This creek is their only home. It has shallow, fast waters and high salt levels.

Efforts to introduce them to other places have had mixed results. The effects of moving them are still being studied. This shows how vital it is to protect their Salt Creek home.

Despite their small size and limited home, the desert pupfish are key to Death Valley’s ecosystem. Saving them is crucial for the desert’s biodiversity. Understanding their challenges helps us protect this fragile desert.

The Environment of Death Valley

Death Valley National Park is in the Mojave Desert. It’s known for its harsh environment. It’s the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America. The Salt Creek pupfish lives here, showing how life can survive in extreme conditions.

Climate Challenges

The climate in Death Valley is extreme. Summer temperatures can hit over 120°F. Winter nights can be below freezing. It only rains about 1.9 inches a year.

This dry place gets a lot of sun and loses water fast. It’s hard for any living thing to survive here.

Unique Ecosystems

Despite the tough conditions, Death Valley has many unique ecosystems. The Salt Creek is a rare oasis. It’s fed by underground springs and supports a delicate web of life.

The Salt Creek pupfish can live in very salty water. They can handle salt levels much higher than seawater.

The Salt Creek ecosystem is amazing. It has water and supports life in extreme conditions. The Salt Creek pupfish is a symbol of Death Valley’s resilience.

The Salt Creek Habitat

In the heart of Death Valley National Park, a special desert oasis exists. It’s called the Salt Creek ecosystem. This place is home to the Salt Creek pupfish, a rare fish found only here. It shows how life can thrive in the toughest conditions.

Water Sources and Quality

The Salt Creek gets its water from underground. This makes it a rare oasis in one of the driest places on Earth. The water is salty and warm, showing how the pupfish has adapted to survive.

Flora and Fauna Interactions

Plants like creosote bushes and algae are key to the Salt Creek’s ecosystem. They feed the pupfish and other creatures. Even in harsh conditions, the Salt Creek is home to many animals, like big Hogna wolf spiders.

The Salt Creek ecosystem shows how life can survive in extreme conditions. This oasis is vital for the Salt Creek pupfish. It fascinates scientists and nature lovers alike.

Identification Tips for the Salt Creek Pupfish

The Salt Creek Pupfish (Cyprinodon salinus) is a small, tough fish. It lives in Death Valley’s Salt Creek. It has special traits that make it stand out from other pupfish.

Size and Coloration

The Salt Creek Pupfish is about 35 millimeters (1.4 inches) long. It has a bright, silvery-blue color. This color helps it blend in with the creek’s salty water.

During breeding, the male pupfish gets an even brighter, lemon-yellow tail. This tail looks great against their blue body.

Distinguishing Features

• Flat, pike-like head
• Small, goldfish-like body
• Ability to tolerate extremely high water temperatures and salinity levels
• Adaptations that allow them to thrive in the ever-changing Salt Creek environment

The Salt Creek Pupfish’s unique looks and survival skills are amazing. Knowing how to identify them helps us appreciate their incredible ability to survive in Death Valley for thousands of years.

Conservation Status of the Pupfish

The Salt Creek Pupfish is a rare fish in Death Valley. It’s listed as critically endangered. Threats like habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species threaten its survival. Yet, efforts are being made to save this unique fish and its desert home.

Threats to Their Survival

The Salt Creek Pupfish faces many dangers. Habitat loss from human activities like groundwater pumping is a big risk. Climate change, with its changing weather, also harms the pupfish’s home. Plus, non-native species could upset the pupfish’s habitat balance.

Recovery Efforts

• Habitat protection: Work is being done to protect Salt Creek, the pupfish’s home, in Death Valley National Park.
• Population monitoring: Scientists keep an eye on the pupfish numbers, which change with the seasons and water levels.
• Research and breeding programs: Scientists study the pupfish to learn more about it. They also look into breeding programs to increase its numbers.
• Community engagement: Programs aim to teach people about the pupfish’s importance and why it needs to be saved.

The loss of the Salt Creek Interpretive Trail shows the need for careful management. Finding a balance between protecting the pupfish and allowing visitors is a big challenge.

“The Salt Creek Pupfish is a testament to the resilience of life in the harshest of environments. Its survival is a reminder of the importance of preserving our fragile ecosystems, and the vital role that every species plays in the delicate balance of nature.”

The Role of Pupfish in the Ecosystem

The Salt Creek pupfish is key to Death Valley’s desert ecosystem. It helps keep the balance of life in this harsh place. This fish is one of the few that can live in such extreme conditions.

Importance of Biodiversity

Even the smallest creatures, like the Salt Creek pupfish, have a big impact. There are about 30 pupfish species in the Southwest. They have adapted quickly to survive in the desert.

Their presence shows how vital it is to keep biodiversity. It helps keep the ecosystem healthy.

Interactions with Other Species

• The Salt Creek pupfish eats algae, which is important for the food chain. It helps other creatures by turning algae into food.
• This fish can live in water that’s three times saltier than the ocean. It can also survive in water as shallow as half an inch. This helps it avoid predators that can’t handle these conditions.
• The pupfish breeds in the spring, when food is plentiful and other species are around. This helps it fit into the desert’s complex ecosystem.

The Salt Creek pupfish plays a unique role in the desert. It helps the ecosystem stay strong and diverse. Its survival shows how adaptable life can be and why we must protect even the smallest creatures.

Personal Experiences with Salt Creek Pupfish

My first time seeing the Salt Creek Pupfish was at Death Valley National Park. I walked the Salt Creek Interpretive Trail, eager to see these fish. The trail showed me the park’s beauty.

Walking on the boardwalk, I saw many pupfish in Salt Creek. Their bright colors and fun movements caught my eye. I was amazed by how well they lived in such harsh conditions.

My First Encounter

Seeing the Salt Creek Pupfish for the first time was incredible. These small fish moved easily through the creek’s narrow paths. They seemed to ignore the hot weather and salty water.

Watching them play was a joy. I was amazed by how well they adapted to their environment.

Memorable Moments at the Habitat

My visit included many special moments. I saw male pupfish fighting to protect their territory. I also saw them eating algae from the creek’s edges.

Their home, with extreme temperatures and salt, was fascinating. Seeing them thrive in such a tough place was amazing. It showed me the incredible variety of life on Earth.

“Witnessing the Salt Creek Pupfish in their natural habitat was a truly humbling and awe-inspiring experience. These fish have adapted to survive in conditions that would be lethal for most other species, and their resilience is a testament to the wonders of nature.”

Visiting Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is in California’s desert heart. It’s a place where nature lovers and adventure seekers find joy. The Salt Creek Pupfish, a rare and hardy species, calls this place home.

Best Times to Visit

The coolest months, from late fall to early spring, are the best for visiting. This is when the Salt Creek Pupfish are most active. They use the milder weather to mate and eat algae and plants in the creek.

Where to See the Pupfish

• The Salt Creek Interpretive Trail is the best spot to see the Salt Creek Pupfish. It’s a flat, paved boardwalk loop.
• The trail is 15 minutes west of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. It’s easy to get to by car.
• Though storms have damaged the boardwalk and facilities, the creek is still open. You can walk or bike there to see the fish.

Visiting the Salt Creek Interpretive Trail is a special experience. The boardwalk protects the environment. There are benches where you can watch the Salt Creek Pupfish up close.

“Watching the Salt Creek Pupfish during their mating season in the spring is an unforgettable experience. These tiny, resilient creatures have adapted to thrive in one of the harshest environments on Earth, and their survival is a testament to the wonders of nature.”

Seeing the Salt Creek Pupfish is a unique and rewarding experience. Whether you’re a seasoned nature lover or new to Death Valley National Park, it’s worth it. With planning and a sense of adventure, you can explore their world and appreciate nature’s beauty and strength.

How to Be a Responsible Visitor

Exploring Death Valley National Park is amazing, but we must protect its ecosystems. The Salt Creek Pupfish, a unique species, is very sensitive to humans. By following simple rules, we can help keep this place beautiful for everyone.

Respecting Wildlife

The Salt Creek Pupfish and other wildlife need our care. Don’t disturb the water or step into the creek. It can harm their home. Watch them from the boardwalks and trails, keeping a safe distance.

Leave No Trace Principles

• Stay on marked paths and trails to minimize your impact on the environment.
• Pack out all your trash and waste, leaving no trace of your visit.
• Refrain from altering the natural landscape in any way, as even small actions can have a significant impact on the delicate ecosystems.

Following responsible tourism and conservation ethics helps protect the Salt Creek Pupfish and Death Valley’s wonders. Your careful actions today can help preserve this natural treasure for future generations.

Educational Programs and Research Opportunities

The Salt Creek Pupfish has caught the eye of many. Researchers, conservationists, and nature lovers are all interested. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Death Valley National Park are leading the way in pupfish research and conservation programs.

Institutions Involved in Conservation

Death Valley National Park is a key place for scientific studies on the Salt Creek Pupfish. In 2016, the park hosted a BioBlitz event. It was open to the public, with activities like bird watching and tours of the aquatic ecosystem.

The park’s education program has reached over 2,300 students in the 2018-2019 school year. They offered classroom programs and field trips. The Death Valley R.O.C.K.S. program has brought thousands of students to the park for learning.

Future of the Salt Creek Pupfish

The future of the Salt Creek pupfish is both worrisome and hopeful. This fish has shown incredible strength in surviving Death Valley’s extreme conditions. Yet, threats like habitat loss and climate change still threaten its survival.

Ongoing Research and Monitoring

Scientists and conservation groups are working hard to study the Salt Creek pupfish. They aim to learn more about its genetics, behavior, and needs. This knowledge will help in planning better habitat restoration and conservation efforts.

It’s also crucial to keep a close eye on the pupfish and its home. This way, experts can spot any dangers early. This careful watch is key to saving the Salt Creek pupfish.

Hope for Conservation Success

Despite the hurdles, there’s hope for the Salt Creek pupfish. Its ability to adapt and the hard work of scientists and conservationists offer a glimmer of hope. With focused conservation efforts, this fish can thrive for many years.

New projects might include fixing trails to protect the habitat while still allowing visitors. This balance can help preserve the Salt Creek pupfish and its delicate environment.

“The Salt Creek pupfish is a testament to the resilience of life, thriving in one of the harshest environments on Earth. With continued research, conservation, and public stewardship, this remarkable species can continue to inspire and captivate us for years to come.”

Conclusion: Why the Salt Creek Pupfish Matters

The Salt Creek Pupfish shows us the strength and value of protecting our ecosystems. These fish have special ways to live in the harsh desert. They remind us of the amazing adaptability of life and the balance in our habitats.

The Significance of Protecting Our Ecosystems

The Salt Creek Pupfish is more than just a fish. It’s a key to keeping Death Valley’s ecosystem healthy. As a keystone species, it helps many other living things and the environment. Saving the pupfish’s home also protects the desert wetlands and many other species.

My Call to Action for Conservation

My time with the Salt Creek Pupfish has inspired me to fight for endangered species. I want everyone to join me in this fight. We can help by supporting conservation groups, learning more, or just being more careful with nature. Together, we can keep the Salt Creek Pupfish and other species safe, preserving our ecosystems’ beauty and balance.

FAQ

What makes the Salt Creek Pupfish unique?

The Salt Creek Pupfish is a rare fish found in Death Valley National Park. They are known for their playful behavior, like puppies. Their ability to live in extreme conditions is also remarkable.

Where can the Salt Creek Pupfish be found?

You can find the Salt Creek Pupfish only in Salt Creek, Death Valley National Park. Their habitat is very specific, making them critically endangered.

What are the key features of the Salt Creek ecosystem?

Salt Creek is a desert oasis with underground water. It has high salinity, warm temperatures, and sparse vegetation. This environment supports the pupfish and other species.

How can the Salt Creek Pupfish be identified?

The Salt Creek Pupfish is about 35mm long and has a bright, silvery-blue color. They have a flat head and a small body. Males are more colorful and larger than females.

What is the conservation status of the Salt Creek Pupfish?

The Salt Creek Pupfish is critically endangered. Threats include habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. Efforts are underway to protect their habitat and study breeding programs.

How do the Salt Creek Pupfish contribute to the ecosystem?

The Salt Creek Pupfish are vital to Death Valley’s ecosystem. They help maintain biodiversity by feeding on algae and avoiding predators. This balance is crucial in the harsh desert environment.

When is the best time to visit and observe the Salt Creek Pupfish?

Visit Death Valley from late fall to early spring to see the Salt Creek Pupfish. The creek is at the end of a 2.5-mile sandy road near Stovepipe Wells. Be prepared for a challenging journey.

How can visitors responsibly enjoy the Salt Creek Pupfish habitat?

Respect the Salt Creek habitat when visiting. Avoid disturbing the water and follow Leave No Trace principles. Remember, even a small mistake can harm the ecosystem.

How can people get involved in Salt Creek Pupfish conservation efforts?

Organizations like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Death Valley National Park work on pupfish conservation. You can volunteer, participate in citizen science, or support organizations through donations and advocacy.

Source Links

• https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/91553-post-flood-pupfish-at-death-valley-accessibility-and-my-notes-on-the-salt-creek-population – accessibility, and my notes on the salt creek population · iNaturalist
• https://www.xanterra.com/stories/exploring-the-wildlife-of-our-national-parks/ – Exploring the Wildlife of Our National Parks – Xanterra Travel Collection®
• https://blog.nature.org/2018/02/13/how-an-alaskan-earthquake-caused-fish-to-spawn-in-death-valley/ – How an Alaskan Earthquake Caused Fish to Spawn in Death Valley
• https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=661 – Salt Creek Pupfish (Cyprinodon salinus) – Species Profile
• https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/fish/desert_pupfish/natural_history.html – Natural history
• https://www.nps.gov/places/salt-creek.htm – Salt Creek (U.S. National Park Service)
• https://calfish.ucdavis.edu/species/?uid=86&ds=241 – California Fish Species
• https://theethogram.com/2024/01/23/creature-feature-death-valley-pupfish/ – Creature Feature: Death Valley Pupfish
• https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/salt-creek-boardwalk-public-comment-period.htm – Salt Creek Boardwalk public comment period – Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
• https://wildlife.ca.gov/Regions/6/Desert-Fishes/Desert-Pupfish – Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon macularis)
• https://dvnha.org/saltcreek/ – Salt Creek Boardwalk Before the Flood Damage – Death Valley Natural History Association
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_pupfish – Death Valley pupfish
• https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=104371 – PDF
• https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/animals-we-protect/pupfish/ – Pupfish
• https://fishbio.com/hot-and-salty/ – Hot and salty – the Salt Creek pupfish
• https://www.jeriandpenguin.com/rv-travel/death-valley-part-2-pupfish – Rare Pupfish and Old Keane Wonder Mine in Death Valley
• https://turnerfamilyexpedition12.wordpress.com/tag/salt-creek/ – Salt Creek – Expeditions
• https://www.flyingdawnmarie.com/new-blog/death-valley-salt-creek – Salt Creek & Pupfish (Death Valley National Park) — Flying Dawn Marie | Travel blog, guides & itineraries for adventurous travellers
• https://vanmarmot.org/2021/11/13/salt-creek-death-valley-national-park-13-nov-2021/ – Visiting Salt Creek & Dunes 13-Nov-2021
• http://lastadventurer.com/last-adventurers-fieldnotes/2012/3/15/salt-creek-interpretive-trail-death-valley-national-park.html – Salt Creek Interpretive Trail — The Last Adventurer
• https://dvnha.org/info-trip-planning/devils-hole/ – Devils Hole – Death Valley Natural History Association
• https://www.backroadswest.com/blog/salt-creek-trail/ – Salt Creek Trail Death Valley | BackRoadsWest Trips Blog
• https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/bioblitz.htm – BioBlitz at Salt Creek – Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
• https://dvnha.org/wp-content/uploads/64.3-for-web.pdf – Telescope
• https://ag.purdue.edu/news/2024/05/purdue-led-fishing-expedition-nets-new-pupfish-family-member-in-new-mexico.html – Purdue-led fishing expedition nets new pupfish family member in New Mexico
• https://blog.nature.org/2014/04/30/pupfish-mojave-desert-ash-meadows-endemic-fish/ – Pupfish: Conserving a Mojave Desert Survivor
• https://www.amargosaconservancy.org/fishes-of-the-amargosa-basin/ – Fishes of the Amargosa Basin – Amargosa Conservancy
• https://www.americanscientist.org/article/the-phenotypic-plasticity-of-death-valleys-pupfish – The Phenotypic Plasticity of Death Valley’s Pupfish
• http://www.nativefishlab.net/library/textpdf/17966.pdf – PDF
• https://www.nps.gov/deva/general-management-plan.htm – General Management Plan – Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
• https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/springs.htm – Springs and Seeps – Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

#biodiversity #conservationEfforts #conservationPrograms #criticallyEndangeredSpecies #cyprinodonSalinus #DeathValleyNationalPark #desertEcosystem #desertOasis #desertPupfish #extremeConditions #HabitatProtection #pupfishConservation #pupfishResearch #saltCreekEcosystem #SaltCreekPupfish #scientificStudies

Encountering the World’s Most Endangered Kangaroo: The Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo

Encountering the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo, the world’s most endangered kangaroo, in West Papua’s lush forests is a bittersweet tale. Rediscovered in 2018 by British botanist Michael Smith, this rarest kangaroo, with soulful eyes and burnt umber fur, symbolises tranquillity amidst severe threats like palm oil deforestation and hunting. Less than 50 kangaroos remain alive, underscoring the urgent need for conservation efforts prioritising indigenous sovereignty. To help save these remarkable creatures, join the #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife and take action via this website.

The rediscovery of the rarest #kangaroo alive the Wondiwoi kangaroo in #WestPapua 🌿is bittersweet as they were previously thought to be #extinct 🙀learn about their rare beauty 😍🦘 and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife ✊🌿 @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-8yg

The Wondiwoi tree #kangaroo 🦘🌿 is the most endangered kangaroo alive due to #palmoil #deforestation 🪔🌴 and hunting across their range of #WestPapua. Take action to help these wide-eyed beauties #Boycottpalmoil 👎 #Boycott4Wildlife 🚫 @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-8yg

https://youtu.be/1pzwtverGhU

A Bittersweet Rediscovery of the Rarest Kangaroo Alive

In the dense, emerald heart of the Wondiwoi Mountains, in West Papua the trees echo with the haunting refrains of the vogelkop superb bird-of-paradise. Underfoot, the ground is soggy and dense with mossy herbaceous fragrances and the scuttling of an eastern long-beaked echidna as she burrows into her subterranean domain. In 2018, an extraordinary moment was captured forever on camera in 2018. High in the treetops, amidst the thick moss-covered branches, a shy Wondiwoi tree kangaroo lay in quiet repose, a symbol of sturdy, plump beauty. This creature was believed to be extinct for nearly a century. Yet a chance encounter by British amateur botanist Michael Smith in 2018 has thrust this creature back into the spotlight.

Wondiwoi tree kangaroos Dendrolagus mayri have an odd combination of kangaroo and monkey qualities. Large and soulful eyes blink from behind long eyelashes and thickly furred paddle-like arms culminate in strong sharp claws fit for grasping tree branches. Their bodies are the colour of burnt umber and terracotta and embody the tranquillity of Papua’s majestic montane forests where they blend into the painter’s palette of the jungle.

Smith’s serendipitous discovery of Wondiwoi tree kangaroos, known as the world’s rarest and most endangered kangaroo, highlights their precarious existence due to human-related threats like palm oil deforestation, rare mineral mining and hunting throughout their range.

A Journey Fuelled by Passion and Curiosity

Michael Smith is an amateur botanist from England. He spends a lot of his free time traversing remote locations like Indonesia, Pakistan and Kurdistan in the faint hope of encountering the rarest species on earth.

“I want these animals to be the poster children for seriously threatened and ancient habitats. I’m trying to get evidence of something interesting – and in terms of getting people involved and excited about conservation, it seems to be effective.”

Michael Smith, interview in the Guardian, 2023.

He understands that time is of the essence to save these animals and many others from the relentless growth of palm oil deforestation.

It’s hard to know if things will change fast enough for there to be anything left. In the 1990s, Papua New Guinea was just a big forest, with a few people. Now it’s still 80% or 90% forest, but there is huge pressure from people and investors who want to make palm oil.” 

Michael Smith, interview in the Guardian, 2023.

The Enigmatic Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo

The bittersweet rediscovery of the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo underscores their gravely precarious position as the rarest kangaroo in the world. Originally they were discovered in 1928 by Ernst Mayer and known only by a single specimen. Papuan non-profit Tenkile Conservation Alliance estimates that less than 50 individuals remain alive.

The Wondiwoi tree kangaroo’s habitat is under severe threat from palm oil deforestation and the extraction of rare minerals such as mica and gold. The forests of West Papua, once a haven for diverse wildlife, are being decimated in silence.

The Guardians of the Forest

The survival of the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo is intricately linked to the sovereignty, and land stewardship of the Papuan indigenous peoples. Their deep spiritual and ancestral connection to the land and its human and more-than-human inhabitants stands in stark contrast to the destructive policies of the colonialist Indonesian government. Conservation efforts must prioritise indigenous rights and knowledge, recognising that true protection of these animals lies in the hands of those who have lived in harmony with the forest for many millennia.

Tenkile Conservation Alliance have a range of programmes helping indigenous peoples to understand the importance of conserving rather than hunting tree kangaroos and providing them with ways to harvest alternative sources of food. They have developed tree kangaroo hunting moratoriums as well alongside village communities.

The Jungle Kingdom of Dendrolagus: Tree Kangaroos

The genus Dendrolagus, more enchantingly known as tree kangaroos, embody arboreal grace and irresistible chubby cuteness. These marsupials are lesser known than their iconic ground-dwelling cousins further south in Australia and possess a range of distinctive traits making them masters of the jungle canopy.

Their exceptionally long, pendulous tails act as elegant counterbalances, helping with every leap and bound. Strong forelimbs, paired with shorter and broader hind feet, provide them with superior strength and agility. Long curved claws and spongy paws enhance grip, like natural bouldering shoes, allowing them to climb and cling effortlessly to branches.

Females possess a forward-opening pouch (marsupium) containing four teats. These provide a nurturing haven for their developing young. Their teeth are adapted for shearing leaves, reveal their dietary preference for the verdant foliage of the treetops.

The almost ‘bears’ and barely there Dendrolagus genus:

• Doria’s Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus dorianus: With their robust build and dark brown fur and are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Learn more.
• Lowlands Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus spadix: Known for their reddish-brown fur, gentle demeanour andd striking striped tails, these kangaroos are also listed as Vulnerable. Learn more.
• Ifola Dendrolagus notatus: A shy and elusive tree kangaroo with dark fur, this species is classified as Endangered, mostly from hunting and habitat loss. Learn more.
• Tenkile Dendrolagus scottae: Also known as the Scott’s tree kangaroo, the tenkile is critically endangered, with fewer than 300 individuals remaining. Learn more.
• Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus pulcherrimus: Known for their vibrant golden fur the colour of a sunset, these tree kangaroos are sadly critically endangered. Learn more.
• Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus ursinus: Endemic to the Vogelkop Peninsula, these kangaroos have unique black and grey fur. Learn more.
• Huon Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus matschiei: A portly and robust tree kangaroo known for their rich reddish-brown fur, tragically classified as endangered. Learn more.
• Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus goodfellowi: A striking red and gold coat announces the arrival of the Goodfellow’s tree kangaroos, sadly they are now endangered. Learn more.
• Grizzled Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus inustus: Distinguished by their grey fur and gentle eyes, these kangaroos are classed as vulnerable. Learn more.

Taking Action: How You Can Help

The rediscovery of the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo underscores the urgent need for consumer action. Here’s how you can make a difference:

1. Boycott Palm Oil: Reject RSPO greenwashing and avoid products containing “sustainable” palm oil. Use your purchasing power to demand palm oil free in the supermarket. Join the #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife movement on social media.
2. Raise Awareness: Share posts on social media and engage in supermarket sleuthing to expose brands that use palm oil. Highlight the ongoing deforestation and animal cruelty.
3. Support Indigenous Sovereignty: Advocate for the rights and sovereignty of Papuan indigenous peoples, recognising their crucial role in conserving rainforest habitats and as guardians of rare species.
4. Donate: Support the ongoing advocacy of Palm Oil Detectives and the non-profit Tenkile Conservation Alliance, who work tirelessly to protect indigenous peoples, endangered species and their environments.
5. Get Involved: Participate in local and global conservation efforts. Whether through social media activism, community education, or direct action, every effort counts.

By taking these steps, you can help ensure that the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo and other endangered species in Papua have a fighting chance to survive and thrive.

The fight to protect the Wondiwoi tree kangaroo is a testament to the resilience of nature and the enduring spirit of people all over the world who strive to safeguard it. Together, we can shine a light on the darkness of deforestation and exploitation, ensuring a brighter future for these remarkable creatures and their forest home.

Further Reading

Pickrell, J. (2018). Rare Wondiwoi tree kangaroo rediscovered. National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/rare-wondiwoi-tree-kangaroo-discovered-mammals-animals

IUCN. (2015). Dendrolagus mayri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/136668/21956785#assessment-information

Tenkile Conservation Alliance. (n.d.). Wondiwoi tree kangaroo. Retrieved from http://www.tenkile.com/wondiwoi-tree-kangaroo.html

Smith, M. (2024, January 10). I discovered a tree kangaroo that had only been seen once – by the man who shot it in 1928. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/10/i-discovered-tree-kangaroo-only-seen-once-1928-aoe

Palm Oil Detectives. (2021, February 3). Doria’s Tree Kangaroo. Retrieved from https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/03/dorias-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-dorianus/

Palm Oil Detectives. (2021, February 3). Lowlands Tree Kangaroo. Retrieved from https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/03/lowlands-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-spadix/

Palm Oil Detectives. (2021, January 31). Ifola. Retrieved from https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/31/ifola-dendrolagus-notatus/

Palm Oil Detectives. (2021, January 26). Tenkile. Retrieved from https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/tenkile-dendrolagus-scottae/

Palm Oil Detectives. (2021, January 26). Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo. Retrieved from https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/golden-mantled-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-pulcherrimus/

Palm Oil Detectives. (2021, January 26). Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo. Retrieved from https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/vogelkop-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-ursinus/

Palm Oil Detectives. (2021, January 26). Huon Tree Kangaroo. Retrieved from https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/huon-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-matschiei/

Palm Oil Detectives. (2021, January 26). Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo. Retrieved from https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/goodfellows-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-goodfellowi/

Palm Oil Detectives. (2021, February 3). Grizzled Tree Kangaroo. Retrieved from https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/03/grizzled-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-inustus/

Image credits: Peter Schouten Illustration, Greenpeace, Craig Jones Wildlife Photography, Khlongwangchao and Michael Smith.

ENDS

Read about other animals endangered in Papua

Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Ecuadorean Viscacha Lagidium ahuacaense

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Southern Pudu Pudu puda

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Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata

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Blonde Capuchin Sapajus flavius

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Savage’s Glass Frog Centrolene savagei

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Pesquets Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus

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Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

Read more about RSPO greenwashing

A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)

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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

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Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

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Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

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Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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

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

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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

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

#animals #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #extinct #hunting #indigenousRights #kangaroo #Mammal #Marsupial #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #PapuaNewGuinea #slavery #WestPapua #WestPapua #WondiwoiTreeKangarooDendrolagusMayri

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/

Fascinating #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/

https://youtu.be/K-c_vL19Zd0

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.

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?

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Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

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Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

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Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

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Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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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

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#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

Forgot to post my pic for endangered species day, I also have a story about it if you still read on Medium:

https://amethystqu.medium.com/30-million-years-later-1fbd68ba78d

(didn't do a friend link because i have been educated on how hard it is to use, ugh but i'll add it as a reply for anyone who wants to give it a try)

#birds #birding #EndangeredSpecies #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #parrots #macaws #rare #wild #photography #Bolivia #endemic

"We are at that critical point for the species," says Gib Brogan of #Oceana

I wrote about the U.S. government rejecting requests to implement emergency measures to protect critically #endangered North Atlantic right #whales from vessel strikes for @mongabay

#criticallyendangeredspecies
#cetaceans
#NorthAtlanticrightwhales

https://news.mongabay.com/2023/01/u-s-refuses-calls-for-immediate-protection-of-north-atlantic-right-whales/

Chimpanzees once helped African rainforests recover from a major collapse

Most people probably think that the rainforest of central and west Africa, the second largest in the world, has been around for millions of years. However recent research suggests that it is mostly just 2,000 or so years old. The forest reached roughly its modern state following five centuries of regeneration after it was massively fragmented when the dry season suddenly became longer some 2,500 years ago. Help #chimpanzees to survive and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop

https://youtu.be/aY3XduaOZ2Q

Interesting fact: Seed dispersers like #chimpanzees in the #Congo kicked off rainforest growth only 2000 years ago 🦍🙉🩷 Now they face #extinction from #mining WE SAY NO to #mining in #DRC! #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2022/07/03/chimpanzees-once-helped-african-rainforests-recover-from-a-major-collapse/

Weird fact: DRC #Congo #rainforests are not ancient. Just 2000 years ago #chimpanzees and other seed dispersers led to rainforest growth. Now – we MUST protect them from #mining and #palmoil! #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🩸🔥💀❌ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2022/07/03/chimpanzees-once-helped-african-rainforests-recover-from-a-major-collapse/

This process was not linked to humans. The forest recovery was instead made possible by seed dispersers including chimpanzees, which helped spread the slower-growing rainforest tree species. However, dispersers such as chimpanzees are now threatened by deforestation and hunting, often for bushmeat. When combined with climate change, the resilience of the rainforests seems less guaranteed for the future.

I began thinking about natural processes in African forests back in 1993, when I was with my wife-to-be trying to follow wild chimpanzees next to Jane Goodall’s famous group at Gombe, in Tanzania. We were inspired by one of the directors of research at Gombe, Anthony Collins, who suggested that the chimpanzees might be influencing the composition of the forest for their own nutritional needs, by what fruits they pooed out and where. A kind of “proto gardening”.

And then unexpectedly I had to leave the chimpanzees after I succeeded in getting a small grant to study past vegetation change using fossilised pollen, but in the Andes.

A few years later, I found myself giving lectures at Cambridge on human impacts over the past 10,000 years, and suddenly “returning” not only to the tropical rainforests of Africa, but their history. At the time, scientists thought humans were largely responsible for the collapse of the forests from 3,000 years ago.

The first few scientific papers I read used the abundance of pollen from the oil palm tree, preserved in the dated layers of lake muds, as an indicator of human activity. The oil palm is the same species often planted on a massive industrial scale in the tropics today, and since it’s always been an important source of nutrition for people in the region, scientists had assumed it indicated the presence of humans.

Shortly after, I began working in a pollen laboratory in Montpellier in southern France which had a long-term focus on African forest history. There, my simplified view of fossilised oil palm pollen equalling the presence of humans was totally overturned.

Rainforest history records were being amassed that indicated the near-decimation of rainforests some 2,500 years ago in the Congo Basin and across a huge expanse stretching from modern-day Senegal to Rwanda. As there was only very limited archaeological evidence of thinly dispersed human populations, humans could not have been responsible for the almost synchronous destruction on such a huge scale.

Africa hosts the world’s second largest rainforest

So what did cause these rainforests to collapse? It turns out the answer was not humans, but climate change.

In a paper recently published in the journal Global Planetary Change, my colleagues Pierre Giresse, Jean Maley and I use the many vegetation records available across central and west Africa to show that approximately 2,500 years ago, the length of the dry season increased. Rainforests became highly fragmented, and savanna vegetation – grasses, scattered shrubs and trees – moved in.

In the centuries that followed, the forests regenerated spontaneously, including with species such as the oil palm. The oil palm demands a lot of light and so thrives in open areas or in the gaps created in forests when the canopy opens up rather than in the dense centre. Thus it often acts as a “pioneer species” allowing the forest to regrow.

But the oil palm’s large seeds are too heavy to be blown in the wind. They therefore need to be dispersed in the poo of animals such as chimpanzees which are able to swallow the large seeds and for whom the bright orange flesh can be an important part of the diet. And this is how chimps and other seed-dispersers played a crucial role in regenerating Africa’s rainforests.

Seed dispersers under threat

When we began this research, we could not see how relevant it would become during the current pandemic. Now climate change, deforestation and hunting are all heavily impacting those same forests. The bushmeat market is contributing to removing keystone species such as chimpanzees. Without animals to move seeds around – especially the largest and heaviest seeds – the natural composition and regeneration of forests is threatened.

At the turn of the 20th century there were around 1 million chimpanzees, but today only an estimated 172,000-300,000 remain in the wild. Chimps and other seed-dispersing species provide a valuable service and must be better protected in order to protect the forests themselves, and prevent further unforeseen impacts.

For example, the transmission of diseases to humans has also been linked to the bushmeat trade. And transmission is not necessarily one way. In June 1996, three years after my wife and I left the chimps at Mitumba in Gombe National Park, possibly up to half the group died within a few days of a respiratory disease outbreak that was likely transmitted to them by humans.

Perhaps there is a lot more resilience in these tropical forest ecosystems than we can predict. But without chimpanzees and other animals as dispersers, the emptier forests that may eventually grow back would be a sad replacement. Maybe we need to consider the true value of chimp poo, and those that produce it.

Alex Chepstow-Lusty, Associate Researcher, Quaternary Palaeoenvironments Group, University of Cambridge

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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#Africa #AfricanNews #amazingAnimals #animalExtinction #Ape #apes #Boycott4wildlife #Boycott4WildlifeTweet #BoycottPalmOil #ChimpanzeePanTroglodytes #Chimpanzees #Congo #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #DRC #extinction #intelligence #Mammal #mining #Notomining #palmoil #Primate #primates #primatology #rainforests #SeedDispersers

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/

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/

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…

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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…

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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

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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

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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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

#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

Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey Lagothrix flavicauda

Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey Lagothrix flavicauda

Peru

Critically Endangered

https://vimeo.com/696800652

Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkeys are social and active during daylight hours, living in groups with a dominant male, mature males and females, and young monkeys. They communicate through vocalizations like a loud, barking call. Endemic to the Peruvian Andes, they thrive in montane rainforests and cloud forests. They face an existential threat from habitat loss due to palm oil, soy and meat deforestation. Let’s unite to protect these precious creatures by boycotting palm oil, adopting a vegan lifestyle, and raising awareness for them. Together, we can protect the Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkeys and their habitat. 🌳🐒💚 #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Yellow-tailed Wooly Monkeys 🐒 live in #Peru #SouthAmerica. Known for their distinctive woolly coats and hooting calls. They’re critically endangered from #palmoil 🌴🪔💩⛔️ and #meat #deforestation. #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/17/peruvian-yellow-tailed-woolly-monkey-lagothrix-flavicauda/

Yellow-tailed Wooly Monkeys 🐒 holler loudly in #Peru’s jungle. They’re critically endangered from #palmoil 🌴🪔💩⛔️ and #meat #deforestation. Fight back against them disappearing, be #vegan and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/17/peruvian-yellow-tailed-woolly-monkey-lagothrix-flavicauda/

The Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey is listed as Critically Endangered due to a suspected population decline of greater than 80%, where the causes of reduction have not ceased, and is based on a corresponding decline of suitable, available habitat over the course of 50 years (ca 1985-2030; representing two prior generations and one future generation) and continued hunting.

IUCN red list

Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkeys are highly sociable creatures, active during daylight hours. They live in groups of 4-30 individuals, comprising a dominant male, mature males and females, and young monkeys. Communication between communities involves vocalizations, particularly a loud, barking call used for alarm and territorial displays.

Endemic to the montane rain forests and cloud forests of the Peruvian Andes in the Departments of San Martín and Amazonas, south and east of the Río Marañón, these precious monkeys thrive at altitudes ranging from 1,100 to 2,700 meters above sea level. But they face threats from habitat loss and human activities, including palm oil production.

Relative inaccessibility of this species’ cloud forest habitat served as protection for The Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey up until the 1950’s. Subsequently, road construction, selective logging and subsistence hunting have led to deforestation, forest fragmentation and population declines. More recently, mining operations have increased in this high mountain region. Leo Luna (1984) estimated 11,240 km² of remaining suitable forest habitat for this species in 1981. Buckingham and Shanee (2008) estimated 6,302 km² remaining in 2008, representing a prior average annual forest loss of over 180 km², and noted that 70% of the remaining forest habitat was unprotected. Peruvian ministry reports and GCF data suggest a slightly higher annual forest loss rate (210 km²/year) for San Martin Province, the core of this species range, over the period 2010-2017. These data would seem to suggest that the loss of nearly all remaining unprotected habitat within this species’ range is possible, if current rates of deforestation continue to the year 2030.

Additionally, the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey is heavily hunted by indigenous communities, market hunters and in retaliation for crop damage. Infants are also routinely taken as pets when mothers are killed.

You can support the survival of this beautiful animal

Neotropical Primate Conservation

Merazonia

Further Information

Shanee, S., Cornejo, F.M., Aquino, R., Mittermeier, R.A. & Vermeer, J. 2021. Lagothrix flavicauda (amended version of 2019 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T39924A192307818. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T39924A192307818.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2021.

Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey Lagothrix flavicauda

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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

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/

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/

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 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.

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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

#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

Tana River Mangabey Cercocebus galeritus

Tana River Mangabey Cercocebus galeritus

Red List: Critically Endangered

Location: Kenya

This species is found only along a fragmented 60 km stretch of floodplain forest near the lower Tana River in south-eastern Kenya.

The Tana River Mangabey Cercocebus galeritus is a long-faced and slender old world monkey of #Kenya listed as Critically Endangered due to ongoing habitat destruction, dam construction, logging, and the degradation of floodplain forest ecosystems. Once protected by the Tana River #Primate Reserve, these #monkeys despite being key seed dispersers in their ecosystem are now more vulnerable than ever after the legal de-gazetting of their habitat. With only around 1,000 individuals remaining, this highly social and adaptable primate faces a devastating future unless urgent action is taken. Use your wallet as a weapon to end the destruction of their home. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

Tana River Mangabeys🐒 are an icon of #Kenya 🇰🇪. These svelte, intelligent #primates are critically endangered in #Kenyan #forests due to dams, forest #fires and #agriculture. Help them and 🌴🔥🧐⛔️#Boycott4Wildlife at the supermarket @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/03/29/tana-river-mangabey-cercocebus-galeritus/

Male Tana River #Mangabey #monkeys perform ‘whoop-gobble’ vocalisations at dawn. They’re critically #endangered by #agriculture #deforestation, hunting and hydroelectric #dams. Fight back for them and 🌴🔥🤮☠️🚜🧐🚫#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/03/29/tana-river-mangabey-cercocebus-galeritus/

Appearance and Behaviour

Tana River Mangabeys are medium-sized monkeys with long, light grey fur and cream-coloured underparts. Their forearms and hands are darker, and their dark grey face is framed by a prominent crest of fur parted down the centre. Their distinctive white eyelids contrast against their darker skin, playing a key role in their complex communication.

These monkeys are diurnal and semi-terrestrial, often seen foraging on the ground, though they sleep high in tree canopies for safety. Social groups are large and structured, with up to 36 individuals living together in mixed-sex groups. Males often perform territorial calls in the early morning, and loud “whoop-gobble” vocalisations can carry over a kilometre, helping to space out neighbouring groups. Their behaviour is deeply affected by food availability: in times of plenty, groups interact peacefully, while in lean months, they grow more territorial.

Diet

Tana River Mangabeys are primarily frugivorous monkeys but display great dietary flexibility. Around 46% of their annual diet consists of seeds, with another 25% made up of fruit. They also consume stems, young leaves, fungi, and insects. During the dry season, when food is scarce, they range further and diversify their diet.

They rely heavily on trees like Ficus sycomorus and Phoenix reclinata for food, both of which fruit at times when other resources are limited. Their powerful jaws and thick molar enamel allow them to crack tough seeds and nuts, and their shortened faces provide increased bite force—an adaptation that suits their opportunistic feeding strategy.

Reproduction and Mating

Tana River Mangabeys live in polygynous groups of monkeys, where one dominant male typically has access to multiple females. Females display conspicuous monthly estrous swellings to signal fertility, and many also exhibit post-conception swellings. These false signals may confuse males and encourage multiple males to invest in infant care, increasing the infant’s survival chances.

Gestation for these monkeys lasts around 180 days, with births most common between August and April. A single infant is born, and the mother is initially left undisturbed by the group. After two months, infants begin to explore and socialise with others. Females likely reach sexual maturity around age three and begin breeding between six and seven, while males mature slightly later.

Geographic Range

Tana River Mangabeys are endemic to Kenya, confined to around 27 forest fragments along a narrow corridor of floodplain forest near the lower Tana River. This range spans from Nkanjonja in the north to Hewani in the south, across an altitudinal range of just 20–40 metres above sea level.

Historically, this species may have had a broader distribution. However, fragmentation due to deforestation, dam construction, and agriculture has severely restricted their movement and isolated populations. Forest corridors are no longer structurally connected, although some functional connectivity remains through limited travel between fragments.

Threats

Tana River Mangabeys live in the flood-plain forest, riverine gallery forest, and the adjacent woodland and bushland of Kenya (Wieczkowski and Butynski 2013). Their abundance is highly correlated with the spatial characteristics of the forests. They are semi-terrestrial monkeys that can travel up to 1 km through non-forested habitat between forest patches (Wieczkowski 2010).

The rapid decline of Tana River Mangabeys has several causes including: Forest clearance for agriculture.

IUCN red list

• Dam construction and water diversion: The building of hydroelectric dams has altered natural flood cycles and disrupted groundwater levels vital to the mangabeys’ habitat. The upcoming High Grand Falls Dam, one of Africa’s largest, threatens to irreparably damage the ecosystem.

• Deforestation and agriculture: Large swathes of gallery forest have been cleared for farming, drastically reducing the species’ habitat. An estimated 50% of the original forest has been lost in the last 20 years.

• Palm exploitation: Phoenix reclinata, a key food tree, is overharvested by local communities for palm wine, thatching, and mats, threatening both food security and habitat structure for the mangabeys.

• Logging and wildfires: Unregulated cutting of canopy and sub-canopy trees for housing and fuelwood, alongside uncontrolled fires, further degrades the forest and isolates populations.

• Human Persecution: As natural resources diminish, some mangabeys are are seen as pests and are persecuted and hunted for raiding crops—a threat expected to grow with increasing human-wildlife conflict.

• Political instability and poor law enforcement: The de-gazetting of the Tana River Primate Reserve in 2007 removed legal protections, exacerbating habitat destruction and reducing conservation oversight.

Take Action!

The Tana River Mangabey is on the brink. If their fragmented forests are lost, so too is this charismatic and intelligent monkey. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology efforts in East Africa. Demand the full reinstatement of protected habitat in Kenya. Boycott palm oil and refuse to support the industries driving deforestation and dam construction in critical floodplain ecosystems. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

FAQs

Why are Tana River Mangabeys endangered?

Their biggest threats are habitat loss and fragmentation, largely due to dam construction, logging, agriculture, and palm exploitation. Political instability and poor conservation enforcement have worsened their chances of survival (Butynski & Mwangi, 1994; Wieczkowski & Butynski, 2013).

What are the predators of the Tana River Mangabey?

Natural predators include African rock pythons (Python sebae), crowned eagles (Stephanoaetus coronatus), martial eagles (Polemaetus bellicosus), and Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) (Wikipedia, n.d.).

In which country are Tana River Mangabeys found?

They are found exclusively in Kenya.

What do Tana River Mangabeys eat?

Their diet includes fruits, seeds, leaves, insects, stems, and fungi. They rely heavily on species like Ficus sycomorus and Phoenix reclinata (Homewood, 1978; Maingi, 2019).

Do Tana River Mangabeys make good pets?

Tana River Mangabeys are highly social and intelligent primates. Keeping them as pets is cruel and contributes to their extinction. Trapping them destroys wild populations, causes immense suffering, and breaks apart family groups. If you care about these animals, never support the exotic pet trade—advocate for habitat protection instead.

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

Butynski, T.M., de Jong, Y.A., Wieczkowski, J. & King, J. 2020. Cercocebus galeritus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T4200A17956330. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T4200A17956330.en. Downloaded on 26 March 2021.

Homewood, K. M. (1978). Feeding strategy of the Tana mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus galeritus) (Mammalia: Primates). Journal of Zoology, 186(3), 375–391. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1978.tb03926.x

Kimuyu, D. M., Wahungu, G. M., & Otieno, D. O. (2012). Seed dispersal by Tana River mangabeys in fragmented gallery forests. Open Journal of Ecology, 2(1), 6–11. https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2012.21002

Maingi, C. K. (2019). Forest fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbance: Implications on plant foods and behaviour of the Tana River mangabey. University of Nairobi. http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/107320

Maingi, C. K., Githaiga, J. M., Kanya, J. I., & Kivai, S. M. (2020). Anthropogenic activities and influence on behaviour of the Tana River mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus) in two forest fragments in Lower Tana River, Kenya. African Primates, 14(1), 1–16. Retrieved from https://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/1200343/28385233/1608487219480/AP+Vol+14+-+Maingi+et+al.pdf

Wieczkowski, J. (2010). Tana River mangabey use of nonforest areas: Functional connectivity in a fragmented landscape in Kenya. Biotropica, 42(5), 598–604. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2010.00627.x

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Tana River Mangabey. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tana_River_mangabey

Tana River Mangabey Cercocebus galeritus

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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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

#Africa #Agriculture #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #dams #deforestation #endangered #fire #fires #forests #ForgottenAnimals #humanWildlifeConflict #hunting #hydroelectric #Kenya #Kenyan #Mammal #Mangabey #mangroves #monkey #monkeys #PalmOil #Primate #primates #SeedDispersers #TanaRiverMangabeyCercocebusGaleritus #vegan #wildfires

Harlequin Poison Frog Oophaga histrionica

Harlequin Poison Frog Oophaga histrionica

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 2019)

Location: Colombia.
Endemic to the Chocó rainforest of Colombia, the Harlequin Poison Frog (Oophaga histrionica) inhabits humid lowland and foothill forests. These frogs thrive in leaf litter and near small water sources, where they reproduce and communicate using distinct vocalisations.

A dazzling splash of colour against the deep greens of Colombia’s Chocó rainforests, the harlequin poison frog is as deadly as it is beautiful. Cloaked in hypnotic shades of orange, yellow, green and black, this tiny amphibian is a master of chemical warfare—their skin is infused with powerful alkaloid toxins that can paralyse or kill predators. But despite their formidable defences, they are completely helpless against human destruction.

Once thriving in the dense, misty forests of western #Colombia, this critically endangered frog is now on the brink of extinction. Illegal mining, rampant deforestation for #palmoil plantations, and the relentless #wildlifetrade have devastated their fragile rainforest home. The same vibrant colours that warn predators away have made them a prime target for #poachers supplying the exotic #pettrade.

This extraordinary species is a vital part of its ecosystem, controlling insect populations and contributing to the rainforest’s delicate balance. But unless urgent action is taken, the harlequin poison frog could vanish forever.

Protect their rainforest home. Say no to palm oil, reject the illegal pet trade, and demand stronger protections for Colombia’s amphibians. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/fh8TCdrCw-I

Harlequin Poisonous #Frogs 🐸🐸have vivid shades of 💛💚🧡. Unlike other frogs both males and females fiercely guard eggs. #PalmOil #Soy #Meat and #GoldMining are threats in #Colombia. Help them when you #BoycottGold 🥇☠️⛔️ be #vegan #BoycottPalmOil 🌴☠️⛔️https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/03/20/harlequin-poison-frog-oophaga-histrionica/

Dazzling Harlequin Poisonous #Frogs 🐸💚 of #Colombia 🇨🇴 are sensitive to noise 🎶📢 Their rainbow colours 🌈 make them #rainforest works of art! ✨🎨Critically Endangered by #mining and #palmoil #BoycottGold 🥇🩸⛔️ #BoycottPalmOil 🌴☠️⛔️ @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/03/20/harlequin-poison-frog-oophaga-histrionica/

Appearance and Behaviour

Few creatures rival the harlequin poison frog in sheer visual spectacle. No two individuals look alike—each frog sports a unique pattern of vivid colours, a living work of rainforest art. These colours serve as a bold warning to predators: “Eat me and regret it.” Unlike other frogs that rely on camouflage, this species flaunts their toxicity in the open.

Growing to just 32.9 mm in length, these frogs are tiny but fiercely territorial. Males perch on fallen logs or leaves, calling loudly to attract mates and defend their domain. Their vocalisations shift depending on their surroundings—frogs near noisy streams produce higher-pitched calls to cut through the background noise.

Unlike most #amphibians, they do not lay their eggs in water. Instead, the female carefully deposits them on the forest floor. Once the tadpoles hatch, she carries them one by one on her back, climbing high into the canopy to deposit them in the tiny water pools inside bromeliads. She returns regularly to feed them unfertilised eggs, ensuring they receive the nutrients needed to grow. Without this dedicated parental care, the tadpoles would not survive (Medina et al., 2013).

Geographic Range

The harlequin poison frog is found only in the Chocó region of western Colombia, a biodiversity hotspot teeming with rare and endemic species. But its habitat is shrinking fast. Once covering vast swathes of rainforest, this species is now confined to small, isolated patches between 300 and 730 metres above sea level. This extreme habitat fragmentation is pushing the species closer to extinction (IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 2019).

Diet

Harlequin poison frogs are insectivores, feasting primarily on ants, mites, and termites. Their diet is directly linked to their toxicity—these frogs do not produce their own poison but instead absorb toxic alkaloids from the insects they consume. In captivity, where their diet is different, they lose their toxicity entirely, proving just how essential their rainforest ecosystem is to their survival.

Reproduction and Mating

This species’ reproductive strategy is one of the most fascinating in the animal kingdom. Unlike most frogs that lay hundreds of eggs in water, the harlequin poison frog invests heavily in just a few offspring. The Harlequin Poison Frog demonstrates remarkable parental care.

Males attract females through distinct vocal calls, often influenced by environmental factors such as stream noise. After the female lays her eggs on the forest floor, the male guards them until they hatch. Then, the mother carries each tadpole on her back, one at a time, up into the trees. She carefully places them in separate bromeliads—tiny pools of water trapped in the plant’s leaves. To ensure their survival, she periodically returns to each tadpole and lays unfertilised eggs for them to eat. Without this specialised care, they would not survive (Medina et al., 2013).

This highly specialised reproductive strategy ensures tadpole survival in an ecosystem with limited standing water.

Threats

The major threats to the Harlequin Poison Frog are deforestation caused by small-scale agriculture, including livestock, mining activities, and logging, resulting in degraded and fragmented forest at the only known locality (M. Pareja pers. comm. February 2019). However, some patches are still in good condition (M. Pareja pers. comm. February 2019). Pollution associated with mining also represents a threat to the species.

IUCN RED LIST

The harlequin poison frog is critically endangered due to a perfect storm of human-driven threats:

Illegal pet trade

These frogs are highly sought after in the exotic pet trade, with many dying in transit or being removed from wild populations at unsustainable rates.

Noise pollution

Increased human activity and deforestation near water sources are affecting their ability to communicate and reproduce.

Deforestation and Palm Oil Expansion

• Colombia’s rainforests are being rapidly cleared for palm oil plantations and cattle ranching. Illegal logging and land conversion have fragmented the frog’s habitat, leaving it nowhere to go.

Illegal Wildlife Trade

This species is highly sought after by collectors in the exotic pet trade. Despite international protections, poachers continue to smuggle these frogs out of Colombia.

Gold Mining and Mercury Contamination

Illegal gold mining pollutes water sources with mercury, poisoning amphibians at all life stages. Deforestation caused by mining activities is wiping out breeding and foraging habitats.

Climate Change

Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns threaten the species’ delicate reproductive cycle. Extreme weather events may impact the availability of bromeliads for tadpole development.

Take Action!

The harlequin poison frog is on the edge of extinction, but there’s still time to help:

• Boycott palm oil. The destruction of rainforests for palm oil plantations is wiping out amphibian habitats. Choose products that are 100% palm oil-free.
• Reject the illegal pet trade. Never buy wild-caught poison frogs. Support only reputable captive breeding programs.
• Support rainforest conservation. Donate to organisations protecting Colombia’s rainforests and wildlife.
• Demand stronger protections. Contact policymakers to advocate for stricter enforcement against wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction.

Every action counts. Resist and fight back before it’s too late. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

FAQs

How toxic is the harlequin poison frog?

The harlequin poison frog produces powerful alkaloid toxins known as histrionicotoxins, which block neural receptors and can cause paralysis or death in predators. The toxins are acquired from their diet—frogs raised in captivity without their natural diet are completely non-toxic (Medina et al., 2013).

What makes Harlequin Poison Frogs toxic?

Their toxicity comes from consuming alkaloid-rich ants and mites. When deprived of this diet, such as in captivity, they lose their poison.

Why do Harlequin Poison Frogs have different calls?

Research by Vargas-Salinas and Amézquita (2013) found that their calls adapt to environmental noise levels. Frogs living near noisy streams produce higher-frequency calls to ensure their signals are heard, while those in quieter areas use lower-frequency calls. This shows how environmental conditions shape evolution in real time.

Why is the harlequin poison frog critically endangered?

Deforestation for palm oil, soy and meat, illegal wildlife trade, gold mining, and habitat fragmentation have driven this species to the brink. With an extremely limited range, any further habitat loss could mean extinction (IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 2019).

What is unique about the harlequin poison frog’s reproduction?

This species exhibits exceptional parental care. Unlike most frogs, they do not lay eggs in water. Instead, females transport newly hatched tadpoles on their backs to water-filled bromeliads, where they are fed unfertilised eggs until they mature (Medina et al., 2013).

Do harlequin poison frogs make good pets?

No. While some poison dart frogs are legally bred in captivity, wild-caught harlequin poison frogs are often smuggled illegally, contributing to population decline. Captive frogs also lose their toxicity, making them less vibrant and potentially unhealthy (Zamora et al., 1999).

How many Harlequin Poison Frogs are left in the wild?

Exact numbers remain unknown, but population declines due to habitat loss and illegal trade are well-documented. Their Endangered status indicates a high risk of extinction if conservation efforts are not strengthened.

How long do Harlequin Poison Frogs live?

They typically live 5–8 years in the wild.

Are Harlequin Poison Frogs good pets?

No. Keeping these frogs as pets is a selfish act that contributes to their extinction. Many individuals in the pet trade are illegally captured, harming wild populations and destroying delicate ecosystems. If you care about these animals, advocate for their conservation instead of supporting the illegal pet trade.

How can I help protect Harlequin Poison Frogs?

Avoid and boycott palm oil, support conservation efforts, and speak out against the illegal pet trade. Protecting their rainforest home is the key to their survival.

Support the conservation of this species

Poison Dart Frogs

Manchester Museum captive breeding programme

Further Information

IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. 2019. Oophaga histrionica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T144231367A144443857. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T144231367A144443857.en. Downloaded on 16 February 2021.

Vargas-Salinas, F., & Amézquita, A. (2013). Stream noise, hybridization, and uncoupled evolution of call traits in two lineages of poison frogs: Oophaga histrionica and Oophaga lehmanni. PLoS ONE, 8(10), e77545. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0077545

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d). Harlequin poison frog. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin_poison_frog

Harlequin Poison Frog Oophaga histrionica

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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.

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Caquetá Tití Monkey Plecturocebus caquetensis

Caquetá Tití Monkey Plecturocebus caquetensis

Status: Critically endangered

Location: Caquetá region of Colombia

https://youtu.be/vswRxx-IBEY

Caquetá Titi Monkeys have a distinctive song and they purr like a kitten they form monogamous partnerships. Discovered relatively recently in 2010, these beautiful and fascinating monkeys are now critically endangered due to the massive deforestation that is occurring in Colombia for palm oil and other commodities. It is believed that fewer than 100 individuals Caquetá Titi Monkeys are left in the wild and fewer than 50 mature individuals. The habitat of the Caquetá Titi Monkeys is in an advanced state of fragmentation caused by extensive cattle ranching and illegal crop cultivation. Fight for them and resist greed and greenwashing when you be #vegan #BoycottMeat #Boycott4Wildlife

Caquetá Titi Monkeys are monogamous and make a distinctive purrs like kittens. Discovered only in 2010 they’re now critically endangered 😿 from massive #deforestation in #Colombia for illegal coca and #meat 🐵🐒🙈 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/19/caqueta-titi-monkey-plecturocebus-caquetensis/

There are fewer than 100 Caquetá Titi Monkeys left in #Colombia due to #meat and illegal cultivation of #coca. Help them when you shop and be #vegan and fight for them 🐵🐒🙈 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/19/caqueta-titi-monkey-plecturocebus-caquetensis/

It’s suspected that there are fewer than 100 individuals Caquetá Titi Monkeys left in the wild and fewer than 50 mature individuals. The habitat of the Caquetá Titi Monkeys is in an advanced state of fragmentation caused by extensive ranching and illegal crop cultivation.

IUCN Red List

The Caquetá titi monkey Plecturocebus caquetensis is a rare and endearing primate known for its monogamous pair bonds and harmonious duets. Found only in Colombia’s Caquetá region, these small monkeys are an emblem of the country’s rich biodiversity. Tragically, their populations are critically endangered due to extensive deforestation, agricultural expansion, and climate change-driven habitat loss.

Support indigenous-led conservation to secure their future. Fight for their survival every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Appearance and Behaviour

The Caquetá titi monkey is a small, endearing primate of under 40 cm in length with soft, reddish-brown fur around their mouths, expressive eyes and a white face which gives them a striking, doll-like appearance. Their dark, bushy tails—longer than their bodies—are perfect for balancing as they navigate the forest canopy.

What truly sets them apart is their unique duet vocalisations, akin to kitten purring or gentle hums. These sounds between bonded pairs are a testament to the deep bonds shared between them. Their soft, melodic exchanges ripple through their forest home in Caquetá, Colombia, reinforcing their connection and marking their territory.

Caquetá titis are arboreal primates who spend most of their time in the treetops, although they may descend to the forest floor during drier months. Their behaviour shifts with the seasons, showcasing their adaptability and quiet resilience in a rapidly changing environment.

Threats

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered (Defler et al., 2020).

This species is listed as Critically Endangered because of a population decline, suspected to be more than 80% over 24 years (three generations), due to a reduction of the area of occupation caused by extensive ranching and illegal crop cultivation, and the causes of the reduction have certainly not stopped.

IUCN Red LIST

The primary threats to the Caquetá titi monkey include:

• Habitat loss: Over 90% of their habitat has been cleared due to cattle ranching and coca cultivation (Defler et al., 2020).

• Climate change: Shifting habitats and reduced availability of suitable areas have led to further fragmentation (Arias-González et al., 2023).

• Small population size: The species is limited to fragmented patches of forest, leaving them genetically isolated and vulnerable (Acero Murcia et al., 2024).

Diet

Caquetá titi monkeys are frugivores, consuming a diet primarily of fruits, complemented by seeds, flowers, and occasionally insects. Their dietary habits are closely linked to the seasonal availability of fruiting plants, which influences their movement patterns and foraging behaviour (Acero Murcia et al., 2024).

Reproduction and Mating

These monkeys are known for their monogamous relationships, with pairs forming lifelong bonds. Females typically give birth to a single offspring after a gestation period of about five months. Males are actively involved in raising the young, carrying them and sharing feeding responsibilities (Acero Murcia et al., 2024).

Geographic Range

Endemic to Colombia, the Caquetá titi monkey inhabits small, fragmented forest patches in the Caquetá region. Their distribution is highly restricted, and they rely heavily on riparian forest corridors for survival (Arias-González et al., 2023).

FAQ

How many Caquetá titi monkeys are left?

Fewer than 250 individuals remain in the wild, making them one of the most endangered primates in the world (Defler et al., 2020). The fragmented nature of their habitat exacerbates their vulnerability, highlighting the need for immediate conservation action.

What does the Caquetá titi monkey eat?

Primarily frugivorous, their diet is made up of a variety of fruits, seeds, and occasionally insects. Seasonal changes in fruit availability influence their foraging patterns, and habitat loss threatens their food sources (Acero Murcia et al., 2024).

Why are they critically endangered?

Rampant deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and agricultural expansion have decimated their habitat. Additionally, climate change has further reduced their viable habitats, making them critically endangered (Arias-González et al., 2023).

What is the rarest titi monkey?

The Caquetá titi monkey is considered one of the rarest titi species due to its limited population and highly fragmented habitat (Souza-Alves et al., 2023).

What role do they play in the ecosystem?

As seed dispersers, Caquetá titi monkeys play a vital role in maintaining the biodiversity and regeneration of their rainforest ecosystem (Souza-Alves et al., 2023).

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

Acero Murcia, A. C., Almario-Vaquiro, L., Ortega, Z., & Garcia, J. (2024). Seasonal behavioral patterns of the Caquetá titi monkey (Plecturocebus caquetensis). Primate Conservation, 38, 1–11. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385416515_Seasonal_Behavioral_Patterns_of_the_Caqueta_Titi_Monkey_Plecturocebus_caquetensis

Arias-González, C., González-Maya, J. F., García-Villalba, J., Blázquez, M. C., Arreola Lizárraga, J. A., Díaz Castro, S. C., & Ortega Rubio, A. (2023). The identification and conservation of climate refugia for two Colombian endemic titi (Plecturocebus) monkeys. Journal for Nature Conservation, 72, Article 126345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126345

Souza-Alves, J. P., Boyle, S. A., & Barnett, A. A. (2023). Knowledge shortfalls for titi monkey: A poorly known clade of small-bodied South American primates. Biological Conservation, 286, Article 110256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110256

Defler, T.R., García-Gutiérrez, J., Stevenson, P.R., Guzmàn-Caro, D. & Palacios, E. 2020. Plecturocebus caquetensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T14699281A17974505. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T14699281A17974505.en. Downloaded on 15 February 2021.

Caquetá Tití Monkey Plecturocebus caquetensis

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

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Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

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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

#Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #CaquetáTitíMonkeyPlecturocebusCaquetensis #coca #Colombia #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #ForgottenAnimals #Mammal #meat #palmoil #Primate #SouthAmericaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #timber #vegan

Blue-billed Curassow Crax alberti

Blue-billed Curassow Crax alberti

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Location: Colombia

The Blue-billed Curassow is endemic to Colombia, with remaining populations in the tropical forests of the Magdalena Valley, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and the Serranía de San Lucas. These birds inhabit lowland humid forests and fragmented secondary woodlands, clinging to survival in one of the world’s most deforested biodiversity hotspots.

The endearing Blue-billed Curassow Crax alberti is a unique bird of #Colombia currently classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List due to rapid habitat loss for multiple different cash crops and intense hunting pressures. Less than 2,500 mature individuals remain, with many subpopulations highly fragmented and isolated. A shy, ground-dwelling bird, Blue-billed Curassows plays an essential role in forest regeneration through #seeddispersal. But #timber, #meat, #goldmining, #coca plantations, and #palmoil agriculture have devoured more than 90% of their original range. Without urgent conservation action, this #bird faces imminent #extinction. Always choose products that are 100% #palmoilfree and go #vegan BoycottPalmOil, always #BoycottGold #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/4yd5AvFqxRM?si=WoGaoOWpW_ot4o3e

Stunning turkey-like #birds, blue-billed #Currasows 🪿🦜 are critically #endangered in #Colombia 🇨🇴 due to #PalmOil, illegal #Coca, soy and meat #deforestation. Help them and be #vegan 🥩🩸⛔️ #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🚜🔥🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/18/blue-billed-curassow-crax-alberti/

A beautiful and colourful #bird 🦜🕊️ the blue-billed #Currasow of #Colombia faces a plethora of serious threats incl. illegal #GoldMining 🩸🔥⛔️ and #PalmOil. Help them when and #BoycottGold #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🚜🔥🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/18/blue-billed-curassow-crax-alberti/

Appearance and Behaviour

The Blue-billed Curassow is a striking, turkey-sized bird with glossy black plumage in males and a striking pale blue cere at the base of their bill, from which the species takes their name. Females are distinguished by their rufous-brown underparts and barred tails. Both sexes feature a curled crest of black feathers atop their heads, adding to their dramatic appearance (Shanahan, 2017).

They are shy and elusive birds, preferring to forage alone or in pairs along the forest floor. Observations in El Paujil Bird Reserve noted that they forage by scratching leaf litter for fallen fruit, seeds, invertebrates, shoots, and occasionally carrion or even terrestrial crabs (Urueña, 2008a; Melo et al., 2008). Roosting sites are usually located in tree foliage close to feeding areas and reused for several days (Hirschfeld, 2008).

Diet

The Blue-billed Curassow is an omnivore. Its diet is mainly composed of fruit and seeds, but it also consumes invertebrates such as insects, shoots, and occasionally carrion. A recent survey documented seed consumption from at least 15 plant species, as well as one record of terrestrial crab consumption (Urueña, 2008a; Quevedo et al., 2005).

Reproduction and Mating

Breeding occurs primarily in the dry season, with nests observed between December and March. However, studies in the El Paujil Bird Reserve noted a possible second breeding season from July to September (Urueña, 2008b). Clutches typically contain two to three eggs. As with other cracids, both parents may play a role in chick rearing. In the wild, families with chicks are typically observed during March through August (Cuervo & Salaman, 1999).

Geographic Range

Endemic to Colombia, the Blue-billed Curassow once roamed vast tracts of humid lowland forest throughout the northwestern Andes. Now, it persists only in fragmented patches across the Magdalena Valley, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and the Serranía de San Lucas (Valencia et al., 2023; IUCN, 2023).

Historically, over 90% of its potential range has been cleared or degraded due to deforestation for agriculture, coca plantations, and ranching (Melo et al., 2008). One GIS analysis estimated a 39% loss in potential distribution between 1986 and 2002 alone, with an annual deforestation rate of 2.4% (Melo et al., 2008).

Threats

• Deforestation for agriculture and livestock is the most significant threat to the survival of the Blue-billed Curassow. Almost 90% of their tropical forest habitat in northern Colombia has been cleared or severely degraded due to cattle ranching, rice cultivation, cotton production, palm oil, soy and coca plantations. These activities have fragmented the curassow’s range into isolated patches too small to support viable populations.

• The illegal pet trade and commercial hunting pose a grave threat. Curassows are hunted for meat and occasionally captured for the illegal pet trade. Surveys in Antioquia reported at least 57 individuals killed between 2002 and 2003, mostly during the breeding season, exacerbating their population decline (Melo et al., 2008). Hunting pressure remains high in rural communities surrounding the few remaining forest patches (Cabarcas et al., 2008).

• Political instability and post-conflict development have further imperilled the species. Ironically, decades of civil conflict prevented large-scale deforestation in some remote regions by limiting access to armed groups. However, peace agreements have led to rapid expansion of agriculture, mining, and logging into formerly inaccessible forests, especially in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Serranía de San Lucas—key strongholds for the species (Shanahan, 2017; Negret et al., 2017).

• Illegal gold mining and drug production have escalated forest destruction and brought with them roads, settlements, and deforestation. The 1996 gold rush in the Serranía de San Lucas resulted in widespread logging and land clearance for coca production. Subsequent government herbicide spraying has further damaged ecosystems essential for the curassow’s survival (Cuervo & Salaman, 1999; Melo et al., 2008).

• Habitat fragmentation has reduced the availability of forest patches larger than 3 km², which are considered the minimum size needed to support a viable population of Crax alberti (Melo et al., 2008). This has severely disrupted dispersal, gene flow, and nesting success.

• Infrastructure projects, such as highways, act as barriers between populations. For example, the Santa Marta-Riohacha Highway isolates birds in Tayrona National Park from those in the nearby Sierra Nevada foothills, reducing connectivity and increasing local extinction risks (Strewe et al., 2010).

• Low reproductive success in captivity threatens the future of ex-situ conservation. As of 2021, there were only 27 Blue-billed Curassows in Colombian zoos, most of them ageing. Only one male was actively breeding, making captive-breeding efforts challenging and precarious (Dueñas Flórez, 2021).

Take Action!

Help protect the Blue-billed Curassow by refusing to support deforestation-linked products and industries. Boycott palm oil, logging, and industrial meat farming, all of which fuel forest loss. Support indigenous-led conservation efforts in Colombia and ecotourism models that empower local communities while preserving habitat. Take action and use your wallet as a weapon! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

FAQs

How many Blue-billed Curassows are left in the wild?

According to the IUCN Red List, there are estimated to be between 150 and 700 individuals remaining in the wild (IUCN, 2023) they are tragically critically endangered. Other sources suggest the total may be as high as 2,500 mature individuals when including fragmented populations across different reserves and national parks.

What is the lifespan of a Blue-billed Curassow?

In the wild, the lifespan is not well documented due to their elusive nature, but it is thought to be around 15–20 years, similar to other large cracids. In captivity, individuals may live longer depending on conditions and veterinary care (Melo et al., 2008).

What are the predators of the Blue-billed Curassow?

Natural predators include large birds of prey and terrestrial mammals such as jaguars and ocelots. However, human hunting remains the dominant threat, particularly targeting adults during breeding season and young birds for food and captivity (Melo et al., 2008; Cabarcas et al., 2008).

Why is the Blue-billed Curassow critically endangered?

This species has suffered catastrophic declines due to habitat destruction, especially from logging, palm oil agriculture, coca plantations, and mining. Additionally, hunting for bushmeat and egg collection has further reduced population numbers. The fragmentation of remaining populations also increases their vulnerability to extinction (Valencia et al., 2023).

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. Crax alberti (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22678525A127590617. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678525A127590617.en. Downloaded on 18 February 2021.

Dueñas Flórez, M. (2021, August 27). Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti): Conservation efforts in Colombia. Association of Avian Veterinarians. https://www.aav.org/blogpost/1525799/375769/Blue-billed-Curassow-Crax-alberti–Conservation-efforts-in-Colombia

Melo, I., Ochoa-Quintero, J. M., López-Arévalo, H. F., & Velásquez-Sandino, P. (2008). Potential habitat loss and subsistence hunting of Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti), a Colombian critically endangered endemic bird. Caldasia, 30(1), 161–177.

Shanahan, M. (2017, November 2). Will the bird that dodged a bullet pay the price of peace? Mongabay. Retrieved from https://news.mongabay.com/2017/11/will-the-bird-that-dodged-a-bullet-pay-the-price-of-peace/

Valencia, I. F., Kattan, G. H., Valenzuela, L., Caro, L., Arbelaez, F., & Forero-Medina, G. (2023). Evaluation of alternative conservation strategies for the blue-billed curassow Crax alberti in the Middle Magdalena Valley, Colombia. Oryx, 57(2), 239–247. doi:10.1017/S0030605322000060

Blue-billed Curassow Crax alberti

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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Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

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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.

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White-thighed Colobus Colobus vellerosus

White-thighed Colobus Colobus vellerosus

IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered

Location: Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso

The White-thighed Colobus is found in the forests of West Africa, including lowland rainforest, semi-deciduous forest, gallery forest, and swamp forest. Key strongholds include the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary in Ghana and Kikélé Sacred Forest in Benin.

The White-thighed Colobus (Colobus vellerosus), also known as the Ursine Colobus or Geoffroy’s Black-and-White Colobus, is a striking primate of West Africa and is currently listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their numbers have plummeted by over 80% in just three generations due to rampant deforestation driven by logging, agriculture, and expanding palm oil plantations. Intense bushmeat hunting and weakening traditional taboos have further accelerated their decline. With fewer than 1,500 individuals thought to remain in the wild, urgent action is needed to save them. Use your wallet as a weapon—boycott products that contain palm oil and support ethical, indigenous-led conservation. BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

https://youtu.be/ZtNODz25LzU?si=toKWDq3KJWzMmwSC

The White-thighed #Colobus of #Ghana are critically endangered #monkeys 🐒🙈🧐🙊 Big brands are destroying their home for #palmoil, edging them towards #extinction. Take action! #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/white-thighed-colobus-colobus-vellerosus/

With complex vocalisations and striking halos of white hair, the White-thighed #Colobus 🐵🐒🩷 are arguably rarest #primates in #WestAfrica 🇨🇮 🇬🇭 Help them to survive when you #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🔥🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket! @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/white-thighed-colobus-colobus-vellerosus/

Appearance and Behaviour

The White-thighed Colobus is instantly recognisable by its black fur offset with bright white patches on the thighs and a halo of thick white fur surrounding their bare black face. Their long, fully white tail and slender body give them a unique silhouette among colobines. Infants are born completely white and darken to adult colouration by around three months.

In both Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, more than half of the closed forest in the forest reserves has been converted to plantation or farmland, or cleared and left bare (Bitty et al. 2015).

IUCN Red List

These monkeys are highly arboreal, agile, and diurnal, moving through the canopy with grace. Their complex vocal repertoire includes deep roaring calls to defend territories and sharp snorts as alarm signals. Group structure typically includes one territorial male with multiple females and their offspring, though multi-male groups are also observed.

Diet

Primarily folivorous, the White-thighed Colobus feeds on young leaves, seeds, fruits, buds, flowers, and bark. Their diet includes more than 30 plant species and varies with seasonal availability. In Kikélé Sacred Forest, they consume large amounts of leaves (over 60%), followed by fruits and other plant parts. They occasionally supplement their diet with termite clay.

Reproduction and Mating

Groups of these colobuses typically include one or more adult males, several females, and their offspring. Group sizes range from 10 to 25 individuals. Breeding occurs year-round, with a likely peak during the dry season. Infants are closely cared for by mothers and other females, fostering a strong social structure. Males often disperse upon reaching sexual maturity.

Geographic Range

The species is found in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Nigeria, Togo, and possibly the southernmost tip of Burkina Faso. It has been extirpated from many forest reserves in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire due to extreme hunting and forest clearance. Populations remain in Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (Ghana), Comoé National Park (Côte d’Ivoire), Fazao-Malfakassa National Park (Togo), and Kikélé Sacred Forest (Benin). It is likely extinct in Burkina Faso.

Threats

The White-thighed Colobus is threatened primarily by hunting and secondarily by habitat loss (McGraw 2005). Accelerated hunting pressure is discernible from reported changes in hunters’ behaviour in the species’ range countries. Thirty years ago, hunters in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire almost always hunted only larger-bodied animals, but now they are mostly hunting smaller-bodied animals because of the depletion of large primates like C. vellerosus (Decher and Kpelle 2005, Gonedelé Bi et al. 2016).

In Comoé National Park in Côte d’Ivoire, several groups remain, but hunting pressure and mining occur although some patrol is in place.

• Deforestation from logging, agriculture, road building, and palm oil plantations has fragmented and destroyed their habitat.
• Palm oil, tobacco and cocoa expansion and industrial production is a major driver of forest clearance across West Africa, particularly in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
• Hunting for bushmeat is rampant, including in protected areas and sacred groves.
• Collapse of traditional taboos that once protected the species has made them vulnerable to killing by local communities.
• Hydropower development, such as the proposed Adjarala dam on the Mono River, threatens forests in Benin and Togo.
• Infrastructure expansion and human settlement continue to encroach on remaining habitats.

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon. Boycott products that contain palm oil—this is one of the leading causes of deforestation that is destroying the forests of the White-thighed Colobus. Avoid meat and dairy, which drive land clearing for grazing and feed crops. Support indigenous-led conservation and community-based sanctuaries like Boabeng-Fiema. Demand governments halt infrastructure projects in critical habitat areas. Take action every time you shop BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife be #Vegan and #BoycottMeat

FAQs

How many White-thighed Colobus are left in the wild?

Recent estimates suggest fewer than 1,500 individuals remain across their entire range (IUCN, 2020). In some places, only a few isolated groups survive, such as in Kikélé Sacred Forest (Benin) and Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (Ghana).

What is the average lifespan of the White-thighed Colobus in the wild?

While specific data are scarce, similar species of colobus monkeys live up to 20 years in the wild. In captivity, they may live slightly longer under optimal care.

How are White-thighed Colobuses affected by palm oil?

Palm oil plantations are expanding rapidly in West Africa, replacing biodiverse forests with monocultures. This directly destroys the colobus monkeys’ food sources, sleeping trees, and corridors between forest patches. Products with palm oil continue to drive this destruction.

What are the biggest threats to the White-thighed Colobus?

Besides palm oil, the main threats include logging, conversion of forest to farmland, hunting for bushmeat, infrastructure development (roads and dams), and the erosion of traditional beliefs that once protected them.

Are White-thighed Colobuses sacred to local communities?

Yes, in areas like Boabeng-Fiema and Kikélé, they are considered sacred and are given burial rites. However, these traditions are fading, and poaching still occurs.

White-thighed Colobus Colobus vellerosus

Support the conservation of this species

Colobus Conservation

Further Information

Arseneau-Robar, T. J., Teichroeb, J. A., Macintosh, A. J. J., Saj, T. L., Glotfelty, E., Lucci, S., Sicotte, P., & Wikberg, E. C. (2024). When population growth intensifies intergroup competition, female colobus monkeys free-ride less. Scientific Reports, 14, Article 14363. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64188-0

Djègo-Djossou, S., Koné, I., Fandohan, A. B., Djègo, J. G., Huynen, M. C., & Sinsin, B. (2015). Habitat Use by White-Thighed Colobus in the Kikélé Sacred Forest: Activity Budget, Feeding Ecology and Selection of Sleeping Trees. Primate Conservation, 2015(29), 97–105. https://doi.org/10.1896/052.029.0106

Kankam, B. O., Antwi-Bosiako, P., Addae-Wireko, L., & Dankwah, C. (2023). Growing population of the critically endangered white-thighed colobus monkey (Colobus vellerosus) from forest fragments in Ghana. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 39, e33. doi:10.1017/S0266467423000214

Matsuda Goodwin, R., Gonedelé Bi, S., Nobimè, G., Koné, I., Osei, D., Segniagbeto, G. & Oates, J.F. 2020. Colobus vellerosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T5146A169472127. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T5146A169472127.en. Downloaded on 15 February 2021.

Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. (2021). White-thighed Colobus – Project No. 202525581. https://www.speciesconservation.org/case-studies-projects/white-thighed-colobus/25581

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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

https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20

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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/

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

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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Krokosua Squeaking Frog Arthroleptis krokosua

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

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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

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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

https://youtu.be/JOfOyb0Okys

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/

Pig-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/

Appearance 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

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?

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Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

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Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

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Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

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Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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

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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.

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Cotton-headed Tamarin Saguinus oedipus

Cotton-headed Tamarin Saguinus oedipus

Red List Status: Critically Endangered

Locations: Colombia (regions of Atlántico, Bolívar, Sucre, and Córdoba)

Known for the characterful head crests giving adults a plucky and “punk” look, the Cotton Top #Tamarin, also known as the Cotton-headed Tamarin is a diminuitive #monkey living in the humid forests in the south to dry deciduous forest in the north of #Colombia. They are now critically endangered and face multiple serious threats from capture for primate experiments, to the illegal pet trade and deforestation for palm oil, soy, meat deforestation and the cultivation of ilicit coca. Help these spritely and remarkable tiny primates to survive, every time you shop be #Vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZl0HMrgYw8

Cotton-headed #Tamarins 🐒🙈🤎 are plucky #primates from rainforests of #Colombia 🇨🇴 They are critically endangered from #palmoil #soy and #mining #deforestation. Help them and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔🧐🙊⛔️ be #vegan and #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/31/cotton-headed-tamarin-saguinus-oedipus/

The habitat of the Cotton-top Tamarin Saguinus oedipus is used for large-scale agricultural production (i.e. cattle) and farming, logging, oil palm plantations, and hydroelectric projects that fragment the cotton-top tamarin’s natural range.

Appearance and Behaviour

Cotton-top tamarins are instantly recognisable by their exuberant white crest, a tuft of hair that rises above their expressive faces like a crown. Their bodies, measuring 21 to 26 centimetres with tails stretching an additional 33 to 41 centimetres, are agile and light, weighing about 430 grams. Their fur is soft and textured, with shades of brown and cream blending seamlessly into the dappled forest light. These tamarins are highly social, living in close-knit groups of three to nine individuals. They communicate with a rich repertoire of sounds—chirps, trills, and whistles that echo through the trees as they forage and play. Their movements are quick and precise, a dance of curiosity and cooperation as they navigate the treetops, their family bonds strong and their emotional lives complex.

Threats

Palm oil and meat agriculture deforestation

The forests that cotton-top tamarins call home are vanishing at an alarming rate, stripped bare by the relentless expansion of palm oil plantations and cattle ranching. Where once there were towering trees and tangled vines, there are now rows of oil palms and open pastures. The bulldozers leave scars across the landscape, and the air is thick with the scent of burning wood and earth. For the cotton-top tamarin, each hectare lost is another fragment of their world torn away, another family group isolated and vulnerable.

Illegal pet trade and hunting

The illegal pet trade is a cruel and persistent threat. Infants are snatched from their mothers, their families torn apart, and their lives reduced to cages and loneliness. Hunting for bushmeat also takes its toll, disrupting social groups and undermining the resilience of wild populations. The silence that follows a gunshot is deafening, a reminder of the fragility of life in the forest.

Climate change and habitat fragmentation

Changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures as a result of climate change are altering the delicate balance of the forest. Trees fruit at unpredictable times, and rivers run dry or flood unpredictably. Fragmented habitats isolate tamarin groups, reducing genetic diversity and making them more susceptible to disease and other pressures.

Diet

Cotton-top tamarins are omnivorous, their diet a vibrant reflection of the forest’s abundance. They feast on fruits, flowers, and nectar, their nimble fingers plucking delicacies from the branches. They also hunt small animal prey—frogs, snails, lizards, spiders, and insects—adding protein to their meals. In the rhythm of the forest, cotton-top tamarins play a vital role as seed dispersers, their foraging helping to regenerate the woodland and sustain the ecosystem. Their feeding is a lively affair, full of movement and interaction, as they share the bounty of the forest with their family.

Reproduction and Mating

Breeding is a cooperative affair among cotton-top tamarins. Dominant females typically give birth to one to three offspring, most often twins, after a gestation period of about 180 days. The entire group shares responsibility for caring for the young, with fathers, siblings, and other relatives all playing a role. This cooperative system strengthens social bonds and increases the chances of survival for each infant. The forest is alive with the sounds of young tamarins learning to climb and forage, their mothers guiding them through the treetops. In captivity, cotton-top tamarins can live up to 20 years, but in the wild, their lives are shaped by the challenges of a changing world.

Geographic Range

Cotton-top tamarins are found only in northwest Colombia, in the departments of Atlántico, Bolívar, Sucre, and Córdoba. Their historical range has contracted dramatically, the forests they once roamed now reduced to scattered patches. The landscape is a patchwork of green and brown, the remnants of their habitat clinging to life amid the encroachment of agriculture and urban development. The sounds of the forest—birdsong, rustling leaves, and the calls of tamarins—are a reminder of what is at stake.

FAQs

How many cotton-top tamarins are left in the wild?

Recent estimates suggest that the wild population of cotton-top tamarins numbered around 6,946 individuals in 2012, with this figure likely to have declined further as deforestation continues to fragment their habitat. The actual number may be lower, as many forest patches are now isolated and vulnerable to further loss. The cotton-top tamarin’s future is uncertain, and urgent action is needed to protect their remaining strongholds.

What is the lifespan of a cotton-top tamarin?

In the wild, cotton-top tamarins typically live shorter lives due to predation, disease, and the pressures of a changing environment. In captivity, where they are protected from many of these threats, they can live up to 20 years. Their longevity is closely tied to the health of their habitat and the stability of their social groups, both of which are under threat in the wild.

What are the main threats to the cotton-top tamarin’s survival?

The primary threats to the cotton-top tamarin are deforestation for palm oil and meat agriculture, the illegal pet trade, hunting, and habitat fragmentation. Climate change and pollution further stress their already vulnerable populations. Each of these threats is driven by human activity, and each can be addressed through collective action and advocacy.

Do cotton-top tamarins make good pets?

Cotton-top tamarins absolutely do not make good pets! They suffer extreme stress, loneliness, and early death in captivity. The illegal pet trade rips families apart and fuels extinction. Their complex social and emotional needs cannot be met in a domestic setting, and keeping them as pets is both cruel and illegal.

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology to safeguard the forests that cotton-top tamarins call home. Reject the illegal pet trade and advocate for the protection of all wildlife. Every choice you make can help fight for their survival.

Conservation

Conservation efforts for these critically endangered small primates is underway. Read more about Proyecto Tití in Colombia.

Rodríguez, V., Defler, T.R., Guzman-Caro, D., Link, A., Mittermeier, R.A., Palacios, E. & Stevenson, P.R. 2020. Saguinus oedipus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T19823A115573819. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T19823A115573819.en. Downloaded on 31 January 2021.

Wikipedia

Masilkova, M., Weiss, A., Šlipogor, V., & Konečná, M. (2020). Comparative assessment of behaviorally derived personality structures in golden-handed tamarins (Saguinus midas), cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus), and common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 134(4), 453–466. https://doi.org/10.1037/com0000226

Savage, A., et al. (2016). An assessment of the population of cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) and their habitat in Colombia. PLOS ONE, 11(12), e0168324. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0168324

Cotton-headed Tamarin Saguinus oedipus

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

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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

https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20

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Southern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus siki

Southern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus siki

Red List Status: Critically Endangered

Location: Central Laos (east of Mekong River), Central Vietnam (Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri Provinces)

In the misty canopies of Southeast Asian forests, where ancient trees reach towards clouded peaks and dawn breaks with haunting melodies, Southern White-cheeked Gibbons swing through their rapidly shrinking world.

Southern White-cheeked #Gibbons stand among Southeast Asia’s most melodic #primates, their haunting territorial songs echoing through evergreen forests at dawn. These remarkable apes face an 80% population decline over three generations as #rubber plantations, agricultural expansion, and #hunting devastate their homeland. #Vietnam has lost 15% of its forest cover in just 15 years and could lose another 45% by 2050, while #Laos faces similar destruction. With fewer than 425 groups remaining in fragmented patches, these singing #apes teeter on #extinction’s edge. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Southern White-cheeked #Gibbons 🐒🐵 sing together in regional dialects 🪇🎶🎷 and live in #Cambodia #Laos #Vietnam. They’re critically #endangered on due to #rubber #palmoil #deforestation and hunting. Help them and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🚫 @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/29/southern-white-cheeked-gibbon-nomascus-siki/

Appearance and Behaviour

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons display striking sexual dimorphism that transforms with age. Juveniles begin life as light brown infants, turning black after weaning. Adult males remain jet black with distinctive white patches framing their mouths, while females develop rich brown colouring with delicate white facial edging. Their long, powerful arms span up to 1.5 metres, perfectly adapted for their brachiating lifestyle.

These gibbons begin each day with spectacular duet songs that can be heard up to 2 kilometres away. Mated pairs sing together to defend territories and strengthen bonds, their regional accents distinguishing different populations. Southern White-cheeked Gibbons are strictly arboreal, spending their entire lives in the canopy where they move with breathtaking grace and speed.

Diet

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons are primarily frugivorous, spending 33% of their day feeding on diverse forest fruits that ripen throughout the year. They supplement their diet with tender leaves, young shoots, and flowers, occasionally capturing small prey like lizards or Finlayson’s squirrels. These gibbons provide a critical ecosystem service by being seed dispersers, carrying viable seeds in their digestive systems across vast territories before depositing them in new locations through their faeces. Their feeding activities help regenerate forest biodiversity across their 37.9-hectare home ranges.

Reproduction and Mating

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons form monogamous pairs that mate for life, raising their young together in tight family units. Females typically give birth to their first offspring between seven and eight years of age. Because raising young is extremely demanding, both parents share childcare duties, and mothers wait until their current offspring becomes relatively independent before having another infant. Families consist of two parents, a juvenile, and an infant at any given time. Young gibbons leave their parents’ territory once they reach maturity between three and six years of age.

Geographic Range

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons inhabit a restricted range in central Laos east of the Mekong River and central Vietnam’s mountainous provinces. Their historical distribution extended from the Nam Theun and Rao Nay rivers in the north to the Banghiang and Thach Han rivers in the south.

In Vietnam, populations are heavily fragmented and scattered, while in Laos populations of gibbons remain larger. Key populations survive in protected areas including Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area.

Threats

Timber, rubber and palm oil deforestation

Agricultural expansion converts primary forests into farmland and human settlements, destroying the tall broadleaf evergreen forests Southern White-cheeked Gibbons require for survival. Logging operations target luxury timber species, selectively removing the largest trees that provide crucial fruiting resources and nesting sites.

Rubber cultivation destroys the fruiting trees that sustain gibbon populations while fragmenting territories below viable thresholds for family groups. The conversion process typically involves clear-cutting entire forest sections, eliminating decades of ecological relationships in mere weeks. In Cambodia’s Virachey National Park, large areas have been cleared for rubber production in recent years, particularly along the eastern borders where gibbons once thrived.

Infrastructure development and roads

Infrastructure development opens previously inaccessible areas to human exploitation, bringing roads, settlements, and hunting pressure into formerly secure habitats. The fragmentation creates isolated forest patches too small to support viable gibbon populations, leading to local extinctions across their range. Agricultural conversion eliminates the continuous canopy connections these strictly arboreal primates need for movement and foraging.

Hunting and wildlife trade

Traditional medicine practitioners highly value Southern White-cheeked Gibbons for their body parts. Opportunistic hunting with firearms targets gibbons alongside other wildlife, often killing entire family groups when hunters encounter them.

The illegal pet trade tears infant gibbons from their families, condemning them to lives of isolation and psychological trauma in captivity. Local communities hunt gibbons for bushmeat, viewing them as readily available protein sources. Gun ownership and hunting access have increased significantly with infrastructure development, bringing previously secure populations within reach of hunters. The small group sizes and territorial nature of gibbon families make them particularly vulnerable to hunting pressure.

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop. Adopt a vegan lifestyle protecting both wild and farmed animals from agricultural expansion. Support indigenous-led protection recognising traditional forest guardianship. Refuse products containing rubber from deforested areas and demand supply chain transparency. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan

FAQs

What sounds do Southern White-cheeked Gibbons make?

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons are renowned for their spectacular dawn songs that can be heard up to 2 kilometres away through dense forest. Mated pairs perform elaborate duets combining whoops, hoots, and melodic phrases that last 15-30 minutes each morning. These territorial songs serve to defend their home ranges and strengthen pair bonds between mates. Each population has developed regional accents, with slight variations in song structure distinguishing different gibbon communities across their range. Males typically begin the duet with deep hooting calls, while females add higher-pitched, more complex phrases that create hauntingly beautiful harmonies echoing through the forest canopy.

How high can Southern White-cheeked Gibbons swing?

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons are masterful brachiators, swinging through forest canopies 15-50 metres above the ground using their extremely long arms and powerful shoulder joints. They travel at speeds reaching 55 kilometres per hour through the canopy. Their incredible agility allows them to navigate dense forest canopies with extraordinary precision.

How long do Southern White-cheeked Gibbons live?

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons can live 35-40 years. Young gibbons remain with their parents for 3-6 years, learning essential survival skills including territorial singing, foraging techniques, and canopy navigation.

Are Southern White-cheeked Gibbons dangerous to humans?

These gentle apes are primarily frugivorous and spend their time high in forest canopies, far from human activity. Their territorial behaviour is directed only towards other gibbon groups, not humans, and consists of vocal displays rather than physical aggression.

Do Southern White-cheeked Gibbons make good pets?

It is deeply cruel to keep these wild apes as pets. Southern White-cheeked Gibbons suffer extreme psychological trauma, loneliness, and early death in captivity. The illegal pet trade rips infant gibbons from their families, causing severe trauma while removing potential breeding individuals from critically endangered populations.

Captive Southern White-cheeked Gibbons often develop depression and aggression as they attempt to cope with social isolation and environmental deprivation. Legal ownership is prohibited under CITES Appendix I and national laws in both Vietnam and Laos.

Why do Southern White-cheeked Gibbons sing?

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons sing elaborate duets to defend their territories, strengthen pair bonds, and communicate with neighbouring families across the forest landscape. These dawn songs serve as acoustic boundaries, informing other gibbon groups about occupied territories and preventing potentially dangerous physical confrontations. Mated pairs coordinate their duets to demonstrate their strong partnership and reproductive fitness to potential rivals. The songs also help family members locate each other in dense forest canopies and may serve to teach young gibbons proper vocal techniques essential for establishing their own territories. Regional variations in song structure function like dialects, allowing gibbons to identify members of their local population versus strangers from distant areas.

Further Information

Can, D. N., Trai, L. T., Ninh, L. V., Hieu, T. D., Nghia, H. V., Mai, T. T., & Tu, L. N. (2020). The status of southern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus siki) in Truong Son key biodiversity area. Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology, 42(1), 31-42.

Endangered Primate Rescue Centre

Nguyen, M.H., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Roos, C., Rawson, B.M. & Duckworth, J.W. 2020. Nomascus siki. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39896A17968765. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T39896A17968765.en. Downloaded on 28 January 2021.

Southern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus siki) in Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area, Lao PDR. Conservation and Science Report, Northeast Primate Conservancy.

Southern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus siki

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

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Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

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Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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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

#Agriculture #Ape #apes #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Cambodia #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #extinction #frugivore #Gibbon #Gibbons #hunting #illegalPetTrade #infrastructure #Laos #Mammal #palmoil #petTrade #Primate #primates #roads #rubber #SeedDispersers #seeddispersal #song #SouthernWhiteCheekedGibbonNomascusSiki #vegan #Vietnam

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus pulcherrimus

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus pulcherrimus

Red List Status: Critically Endangered

Location: Papua New Guinea (Torricelli Range), West Papua (Foja Mountains)

In the misty cloud forests of New Guinea’s mountains, where ancient trees emerge from perpetual fog and birdsong echoes through emerald canopies, Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos move with quiet grace through their vanishing world.

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos are one of the world’s rarest marsupials. Rarely glimpsed in the wild, their distinctive chestnut coats are adorned with golden stripes. These remarkable climbing kangaroos have suffered a catastrophic 90% population decline over three generations, leaving fewer than 500 individuals clinging on for survival in two remote mountain ranges. Palm oil expansion strips away their ancient forest homes while hunting pressure decimates remaining populations. The Tenkile Conservation Alliance protects the Torricelli population through community-based conservation, offering hope for recovery. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Golden-mantled Tree #Kangaroos 🦘🤎 are critically endangered #marsupials of #PapuaNewGuinea 🇵🇬 They’re on the edge of #extinction from #palmoil #deforestation and #hunting. Resist for them and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴☠️🤮🙊⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/golden-mantled-tree-kangaroo-dendrolagus-pulcherrimus/

Appearance and behaviour

The lowland areas of their distribution are earmarked for deforestation and oil palm expansion.

IUCN Red List

These resilient Tree Kangaroos display the physiological adaptations of arboreal marsupials with chestnut-brown coats, pale bellies, and distinctive double golden stripes running down their backs. Their yellowish necks, cheeks, and feet create a striking contrast against their darker fur, while their powerful tails marked with pale rings provide essential balance during canopy travel. These compact marsupials measure 40-77 centimetres in body length with tails reaching 40-87 centimetres.

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos possess powerful forelimbs and curved claws perfectly adapted for gripping bark and branches. Their shorter hind legs allow independent movement essential for navigating complex three-dimensional forest environments. Unlike ground kangaroos, these arboreal specialists can move both forwards and backwards along branches, using their long tails as fifth limbs for stability and balance.

Diet

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos are primarily folivorous, feeding on leaves from dozens of plant species found throughout their montane forest habitat. They supplement their diet with seasonal fruits, herbs, and sedges, spending considerable time foraging both in trees and on the forest floor. These selective feeders prefer young leaves and shoots from specific plant species, making them vulnerable when preferred food sources disappear.

Their feeding behaviour includes both arboreal and terrestrial foraging, with Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos descending to ground level to access fallen fruits and herbs. This dietary flexibility has allowed them to persist in their restricted mountain habitats, though their dependence on specific plant species makes them particularly vulnerable to habitat conversion and fragmentation.

Reproduction and mating

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos reach sexual maturity at approximately two years of age with no defined breeding season. Females have an oestrous cycle estimated at 54 days with a gestation period of about 45 days. Once born, the tiny joey remains in the mother’s pouch for 10 months before emerging to spend another 2-3 months at foot, learning essential climbing and foraging skills.

These marsupials live relatively long lives, with captive individuals surviving over 14 years, suggesting wild Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos could live 8-10 years under optimal conditions. Their extended dependency period reflects the complex skills required for arboreal survival, with mothers teaching joeys essential climbing techniques and food recognition during their extended care period.

Geographic Range

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos now survive in only two isolated mountain ranges across New Guinea. The Torricelli Range population in Papua New Guinea extends from Weight to Kuliek, while a smaller population persists in West Papua’s Foja Mountains. Fossil records indicate they once ranged across the Vogelkop Peninsula and other areas, but have been extirpated from 99% of their historical range.

Unconfirmed sightings from Papua New Guinea’s Prince Alexander Range suggest possible remnant populations, though these require verification. Their extremely restricted range of just 300 square kilometres makes Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos particularly vulnerable to local extinctions from habitat loss, hunting, or natural disasters.

Threats

Industrial palm oil deforestation

Palm oil companies systematically bulldoze and burn Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo habitat across West Papua, replacing mid-montane rainforests with lifeless monocultures. Korean company Korindo has destroyed 11,700 hectares of pristine rainforest in recent years, eliminating the complex canopy structure these arboreal marsupials require for survival. The company burns forests illegally, knowing this practice destroys critical habitat for tree kangaroos, birds of paradise, and cassowaries. Palm oil expansion has eliminated lowland portions of their range entirely, forcing Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos into higher elevation refuges. Plantation development fragments the continuous forest cover essential for these territorial animals, creating isolated patches too small to support viable populations.

Hunting for bushmeat

Local communities hunt Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos for subsistence protein, targeting them with guns during opportunistic forest expeditions. Hunting pressure intensifies near human settlements where access improves through road development and infrastructure expansion. The species’ small group sizes and territorial nature make them particularly vulnerable to hunting pressure, with entire local populations eliminated through intensive harvesting.

Infrastructure and road projects

Road construction opens previously inaccessible mountain areas to human exploitation, bringing hunting pressure and habitat disturbance into formerly secure territories. Small-scale agriculture eliminates forest understory vegetation while creating edge effects that degrade remaining habitat quality. The conversion of traditional forest management systems to intensive agriculture removes the ecological balance that historically supported both human communities and wildlife populations.

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop. Adopt a vegan lifestyle protecting both wild and farmed animals from agricultural expansion. Support the Tenkile Conservation Alliance’s community-based protection programmes recognising indigenous land rights. Refuse products containing palm oil, as this is driving Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos towards extinction. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan

FAQs

How do Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos climb trees?

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos have powerful forelimbs with curved claws that grip bark securely, while their shorter hind legs allow independent movement essential for navigating branches. They possess strong grips on their paws and foot soles providing non-slip traction when climbing. Their long tails act as fifth limbs, pressing against tree trunks for balance and stability during movement.

What do Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos eat?

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos are primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves from 91 known plant species, seasonal fruits, herbs, and sedges found in their montane forest habitat. They spend considerable time foraging both in trees and on the forest floor, preferring young leaves and shoots from specific plant species. Some sources suggest they occasionally consume young birds and bird eggs, though their diet consists predominantly of plant matter. Their selective feeding habits make them vulnerable when preferred food sources disappear due to habitat conversion or climate change.

How long do Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos live?

In the wild, they typically live approximately 8-10 years, though current threats including hunting and habitat destruction may be reducing average lifespans. Captive individuals have survived over 14 years, suggesting they have potential for longer lifespans when protected from human pressures. Their generation length is approximately 10 years, indicating they reach reproductive maturity relatively late compared to smaller marsupials.

How big are Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos?

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos measure 40-77 centimetres in body length with tails reaching 40-87 centimetres, making them substantially smaller than ground kangaroos. They weigh approximately 15.5 kilograms, a relatively light build essential for their arboreal lifestyle where they must be supported by tree branches. Both males and females are similar in size, showing less sexual dimorphism than many other kangaroo species.

Why are Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos endangered?

Tragically, these tree kangaroos have experienced a catastrophic 90% population decline over three generations due to palm oil deforestation and hunting pressure. Palm oil companies have destroyed 99% of their historical habitat, replacing mid-montane rainforests with monoculture plantations offering no food or shelter. Hunting for bushmeat provides essential protein for local communities but removes breeding individuals from critically small populations. Their extremely restricted range of just 300 square kilometres makes them vulnerable to local extinctions, while habitat fragmentation prevents genetic exchange between isolated populations.

Can Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos jump?

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos are capable jumpers, able to leap distances of up to 9 metres between trees and drop up to 18 metres to the forest floor without injury. They can climb heights equivalent to a 10-storey building, using their powerful hind legs and long tails for balance during aerial manoeuvres. Their jumping ability allows them to navigate between the treetops without descending to the dangerous ground level where predators pose greater threats. Their remarkable leaping capacity is essential for accessing food sources and escaping danger in their three-dimensional forest environment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WAiBl_b2cE

Further Information

Eldridge, M. D. B., Potter, S., Helgen, K. M., Sinaga, M. H., Aplin, K. P., Flannery, T. F., & Johnson, R. N. (2018). Phylogenetic analysis of the tree-kangaroos (Dendrolagus) reveals multiple divergent lineages within New Guinea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 127, 589-599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.05.030

Flannery, T. F. (1993). Taxonomy of Dendrolagus goodfellowi with description of a new subspecies. Records of the Australian Museum, 45(1), 33-42.

Leary, T., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Aplin, K., … & Seri, L. (2016). Dendrolagus pulcherrimus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T136696A21957219.

Porolak, G., Dabek, L., & Krockenberger, A. K. (2014). Ranging behaviour of tree kangaroos in upper montane forest. PLoS ONE, 9(4), e91870.

Leary, T., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L., Flannery, T., Martin, R. & Seri, L. 2016. Dendrolagus pulcherrimus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T136696A21957219. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136696A21957219.en. Downloaded on 26 January 2021.

You can support the conservation of this animal:

Tenkile Conservation Alliance

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus pulcherrimus

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

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

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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.

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#Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #Dendrolagus #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #GoldenMantledTreeKangarooDendrolagusPulcherrimus #hunting #Indonesia #Kangaroos #Macropod #Mammal #mammals #Marsupial #marsupials #palmoil #PapuaNewGuinea #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #TreeKangaroo #treekangaroos #vegan #WestPapua #WestPapua

Tenkile Dendrolagus scottae

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.

https://youtu.be/9RZTrnedua4

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/

#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/

With 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 List

Hunting 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/

Tenkile Dendrolagus scottae

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

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Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

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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

Thomas’s Big-eared Bat Pharotis imogene

Thomas’s Big-eared Bat Pharotis imogene

Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN 2016)

Location: Papua New Guinea – Central Province (Kamali District), lowland forests and coastal woodland regions

Thomas’s Big-eared #Bat Pharotis imogene, also known as the #NewGuinea Big-eared Bat, is one of the world’s rarest and most elusive #mammals- they are critically endangered by #PapuaNewGuinea. Thought to be #extinct for over a century, they were rediscovered in 2012 in Central Province, Papua New Guinea, in an area heavily impacted by palm oil deforestation, firewood collection, and land clearing for timber, mines and palm oil. Despite their rediscovery, habitat destruction due to palm oil expansion, logging, mining and human encroachment which continues to threaten their survival. Without urgent intervention, they may disappear again—this time, permanently. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Thomas’s Big Eared #Bats 🦇🖤 have trumpet like ears for ultra sensitive hunting of insects in #PapuaNewGuinea, Only a handful remain alive. #PalmOil and #mining are major threats. #BoycottGold #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🤮☠️⛔ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/26/thomass-big-eared-bat-pharotis-imogene/

This bat species is threatened by loss of woodland and forest habitat in general, especially in lowland regions near the coast.

IUCN Red List

Appearance and behaviour

Thomas’s Big-eared Bat is a small, insectivorous bat with large ears that likely help them detect prey in dense undergrowth. Unlike other New Guinea bat species, they have a distinctively short, broad muzzle and a paler brownish-grey fur coat. Their large ears may also assist in echolocation, a vital adaptation for hunting in lowland tropical forests. Because they have been recorded in coastal and woodland regions, they are believed to rely on dense vegetation for roosting and foraging, though little is known about their social behaviours.

Threats

Palm oil and agricultural expansion

One of the biggest threats to Thomas’s Big-eared Bat is the expansion of palm oil plantations across Papua New Guinea. These industrial monocultures replace biodiverse forests with barren land, depriving them of the habitat they need to forage and roost. The use of pesticides in palm oil agriculture further contaminates soil and water sources, impacting the entire ecosystem.

Logging and habitat destruction

Widespread commercial logging operations, including the deliberate targeting of protected areas, have devastated much of the lowland and coastal forests where they once thrived. Even in areas where trees remain, habitat fragmentation makes it difficult for small, isolated populations to survive.

Firewood collection and human encroachment

The Kamali District, where Thomas’s Big-eared Bat was rediscovered, is experiencing increasing pressure from local human populations. Firewood collection, land clearing, and small-scale agriculture are rapidly reducing available roosting sites, forcing them into smaller and more vulnerable habitats.

Climate change and extreme weather

The lowland forests of Papua New Guinea are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures, increased droughts, and extreme weather events such as cyclones threaten to disrupt the delicate ecosystem that they depend on for survival.

Diet

Like other members of the Vespertilionidae family, Thomas’s Big-eared Bat is believed to be insectivorous. Their large ears and likely use of echolocation suggest that they prey on moths, beetles, and other nocturnal insects found in the undergrowth of forests. Because they are so rare, there is still much to learn about their specific feeding habits.

Reproduction and mating

Little is known about the reproductive behaviour of Thomas’s Big-eared Bat. Given what is understood about similar species, it is likely that females give birth to one or two offspring at a time, with newborns being highly dependent on their mothers for warmth and nutrition. Their breeding season and specific mating behaviours remain unknown due to a lack of field observations.

Geographic range

Thomas’s Big-eared Bat has only been recorded in Papua New Guinea’s Central Province, particularly in the Kamali District. Their habitat consists of lowland tropical forests and coastal woodlands, which have been increasingly degraded by human activity. They may have once been more widespread, but habitat destruction has likely reduced their range significantly.

FAQs

Are Thomas’s Big-eared Bats extinct?

No, but they were believed to be extinct for over a century until their rediscovery in 2012. However, their population is critically endangered due to severe habitat loss.

Where do Thomas’s Big-eared Bats live?

They are currently only known from Papua New Guinea’s Central Province, specifically in the Kamali District. They inhabit lowland forests and coastal woodlands.

What do Thomas’s Big-eared Bats eat?

They primarily feed on insects, including moths, beetles, and other small nocturnal prey. Their large ears and echolocation abilities help them locate food in dense forests.

Why are Thomas’s Big-eared Bats endangered?

Their biggest threats include habitat destruction caused by palm oil deforestation, logging, firewood collection, palm oil agricultural expansion, and climate change.

Can Thomas’s Big-eared Bats be kept as pets?

Absolutely not. Keeping wild bats as pets is both cruel and illegal. Thomas’s Big-eared Bat is a critically endangered species that belongs in the wild. They have specific ecological needs that cannot be met in captivity.

Take Action!

Every time you shop, you can help protect Thomas’s Big-eared Bat by choosing products that are palm oil free. The expansion of palm oil plantations is one of the biggest drivers of deforestation in Papua New Guinea, pushing species like Thomas’s Big-eared Bat closer to extinction. Support indigenous-led conservation efforts, avoid products that contribute to habitat destruction, and advocate for stronger protections for Papua New Guinea’s forests. Use your voice and wallet to make a difference. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Further Information

Armstrong, K.D., Aplin, K. & Broken-brow, J. 2020. Pharotis imogene. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T16887A22114175. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T16887A22114175.en. Downloaded on 26 January 2021.

BirdLife International. (2016). Pharotis imogene. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T16887A22114175. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16887/22114175

Hamilton, S. (2014). Rediscovery of the New Guinea Big-eared Bat Pharotis imogene from Central Province, Papua New Guinea. Records of the Australian Museum, 66(4), 225–232. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.66.2014.1632

Wikipedia Contributors. (n.d.). New Guinea Big-eared Bat. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Guinea_big-eared_bat

Thomas’s Big-eared Bat Pharotis imogene

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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Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

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Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

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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

#Bat #bats #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #extinct #Indonesia #Mammal #mammals #mining #NewGuinea #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #pollination #pollinator #rainforests #ThomasSBigEaredBatPharotisImogene

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

https://youtu.be/WGhIenjKGWs

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/

Appearance 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.

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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

#BlackDorcopsisDorcopsisAtrata #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #Indonesia #Macropod #Mammal #Marsupial #marsupials #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #PapuaNewGuinea #SeedDispersers #seeddispersal #WestPapua

Silvery Pigeon Columba argentina

Silvery Pigeon Columba argentina

Critically Endangered

Location: Indonesia (Riau Archipelago, Bangka-Belitung Islands, Mentawai Islands, and Sumatra) and Malaysia (offshore islands of Borneo)

The silvery pigeon (Columba argentina) is one of Southeast Asia’s most enigmatic birds. Once widespread throughout Indonesia and Malaysia, they have been marginalised to far-flung islands where they are sadly disappearing and are now Critically Endangered. These shy birds are known for their elegant, silvery-grey plumage, vivid red eyes, and black-tipped wings.

With an estimated population of fewer than 50 mature individuals, their survival is hanging in the balance and they are almost gone permanently. Deforestation, particularly for palm oil plantations, has decimated their mangrove and coastal forest habitats. Additionally, illegal poaching and invasive species have driven their numbers to critical lows. Protecting their fragile existence requires immediate conservation efforts. Fight for their survival every time you shop by boycotting palm oil! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/CHuVuiKRXAs

Once well-known and widespread, only a handful of elegant Silvery #Pigeons 🕊️🩶remain on far-flung islands of #Indonesia 🇮🇩 and #Malaysia 🇲🇾. #Palmoil and illegal #wildlife trade are big threats. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥💀🙊⛔️ @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/25/silvery-pigeon-columba-argentina/

Enigmatic and beautiful Silvery #Pigeons 🕊️🌱🩶 have a soothing call and vivid red eyes 😻👀. Living in #Indonesia 🇮🇩 and #Malaysia 🇲🇾 they’re critically #endangered from #palmoil and may disappear #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/25/silvery-pigeon-columba-argentina/

Further mining is planned on Simeulue, as are large-scale oil palm plantations (Eaton 2011), which could result in extensive habitat loss, although the island currently remains heavily forested (Eaton and Rossouw 2011).

IUCN Red List

Appearance and Behaviour

Silvery pigeons are medium-sized birds, measuring about 38 cm in length. Their feathers are a pale, lustrous silvery-grey with striking black-tipped wings. They have vivid red legs and a slender black tail. Their pale yellow eyes, surrounded by a light grey eye ring, add to their striking appearance.

Typically shy and reclusive, these pigeons are rarely seen, even in their preferred habitats of mangroves and coastal forests. They are thought to feed on fruits, seeds, and possibly invertebrates, though direct observations of their behaviour remain scarce. Their secretive nature and low population make them one of the least studied pigeon species in the world.

Threats

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

• Palm Oil Deforestation: The conversion of mangrove and coastal forest habitats into palm oil plantations has been catastrophic for silvery pigeons. Many of their nesting and feeding grounds in Sumatra and the Riau Archipelago have been cleared for palm oil monoculture.
• Urbanisation and logging: This further exacerbates habitat loss, particularly in the Bangka-Belitung Islands and offshore Borneo.
• Illegal Wildlife Trade: The silvery pigeon has been documented in the illegal pet trade. Researchers have uncovered online markets selling these rare birds, which significantly hampers conservation efforts.
• Invasive Species: Introduced predators such as rats and snakes prey on silvery pigeon eggs and chicks, further threatening their already fragile population.
• Climate Change: Rising sea levels and increasingly severe storms pose significant risks to the small, low-lying islands these pigeons inhabit, particularly the Riau Archipelago and Bangka-Belitung Islands.
• Geographic Range: Silvery pigeons were once more widespread across the coastal regions of Indonesia and Malaysia. Today, they are restricted to a few isolated locations: Indonesia: Riau Archipelago, Bangka-Belitung Islands, Mentawai Islands, and parts of Sumatra. Malaysia: Offshore islands of Borneo

The species was rediscovered in 2008 on the remote Riau Archipelago after being presumed extinct. Recent sightings have been recorded in the Bangka-Belitung Islands and offshore Borneo, though these populations remain precariously small.

Diet

Silvery pigeons are frugivores, primarily feeding on fruits and seeds found in mangroves and coastal forests. They play an essential ecological role as seed dispersers, contributing to forest regeneration.

However, habitat destruction from palm oil plantations has significantly reduced their food sources. The loss of mangroves and other coastal vegetation also limits the availability of nesting and foraging sites.

Reproduction and Mating

The silvery pigeon’s reproductive habits remain poorly understood. Recent studies describe their chicks as covered in pale down, with nests typically located in dense mangroves or remote coastal forests.

Clutch size is believed to be small, with females likely laying only one or two eggs per breeding season. The vulnerability of these nesting sites to predation and human activity makes successful reproduction increasingly rare.

Take Action!

The silvery pigeon’s survival depends on protecting their mangrove and coastal forest habitats. Boycott palm oil and support conservation organisations working to preserve these ecosystems. Raise awareness about the impact of habitat destruction and the illegal wildlife trade on this critically endangered species. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Further Information

BirdLife International. 2019. Columba argentina. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22690195A155300126. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22690195A155300126.en. Downloaded on 25 January 2021.

Birds of the World. (2022). Silvery Pigeon. Birds of the World.

Chng, S. C. L., & Eaton, J. A. (2022). Novel ecological information for Silvery Pigeon (Columba argentina): First description of the chick. Avian Research, 13(1), 1-9.

Mongabay. (2022). Online trade in rare Silvery Pigeon is cause for concern, researchers say. Mongabay.

Wikipedia. (2022). Silvery Pigeon. Wikipedia.

Silvery Pigeon Columba argentina

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

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Read more

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Read more

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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

#Bird #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #endangered #Indonesia #Malaysia #palmoil #pigeons #SilveryPigeonColumbaArgentina #SouthEastAsia #Sumatra #wildlife

Red-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus

Red-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus

Critically Endangered

If you have never seen the Red-shanked Douc Langur, you are in for a real treat. These vividly coloured monkeys have a fairytale quality.

Their appearance is so vibrant it’s like looking at a living canvas. Their golden faces, framed by white whiskers, glow with intelligence and curiosity, while their crimson-red lower legs contrast with silvery thighs and a sleek black body. Found in the lush forests of Indochina, these arboreal primates are vital for maintaining their ecosystems through seed dispersal and forest regeneration.

Tragically, they face severe threats from palm oil deforestation, illegal hunting, and the pet trade. Protect their future by boycotting products linked to deforestation. Use your wallet as a weapon. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/YABAQzypu9s

Vividly coloured and with a Zen-like calmness, Red-shanked Douc Langurs 🐒🙉 are critically endangered by #palmoil and other #deforestation and #hunting . Help them and be #vegan 🍅🌿🍃 #Boycottpalmoil 🌴⛔️🔥#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/25/red-shanked-douc-langur-pygathrix-nemaeus/

The colourful and intelligent 🤯🌈 Red-shanked Douc Langur faces many threats including #deforestation and hunting. They are critically endangered! Boycott the brands destroying their home. #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🛢️🚫🙊 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/25/red-shanked-douc-langur-pygathrix-nemaeus/

By boycotting palm oil and embracing a vegan lifestyle, you’re not just helping them, but also our planet. The palm oil industry and meat industry directly and indirectly causes tropical deforestation, destroying the homes of countless animals, including the Red-shanked Douc Langur, #Boycottpalmoil, be #vegan and #Boycott4Wildlife

Appearance and Behaviour

Red-Shanked Douc Langurs are breathtakingly colourful. Their expressive golden faces, surrounded by delicate white whiskers, radiate intelligence and calmness. Their crimson-red lower legs and silvery thighs create a striking contrast against their sleek black torsos and long, white-tipped tails.

These diurnal primates live in the treetops, leaping gracefully from branch to branch with their powerful limbs and prehensile tails. They are highly social, often living in groups of up to 50 individuals, led by a dominant male. Communication is subtle and involves gentle vocalisations, body language, and eye contact.

Geographic Range

Red-Shanked Douc Langurs are native to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, inhabiting dense tropical forests. They prefer the canopy of subtropical and tropical evergreen forests, where they remain hidden from predators. However, deforestation and habitat fragmentation have significantly reduced their range, confining them to isolated patches of forest.

Diet

Primarily folivorous, Red-Shanked Douc Langurs consume a wide variety of young leaves, which make up the bulk of their diet. They also feed on fruits, flowers, seeds, and buds, depending on seasonal availability. Their multi-chambered stomachs are specially adapted to ferment fibrous plant material, allowing them to extract essential nutrients from their diet.

Reproduction and Mating

Red-Shanked Douc Langurs have a gestation period of approximately 165–190 days, typically resulting in a single infant. Newborns are born with pale fur, which darkens as they grow. There is no fixed breeding season, and births occur year-round. Both parents are actively involved in raising their offspring, strengthening the social bonds within their group.

Threats

The Red-Shanked Douc Langur is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Conservation efforts include habitat protection, anti-poaching patrols, and the rescue and rehabilitation of individuals caught in the wildlife trade. Organisations such as the Endangered Primate Rescue Center in Vietnam are at the forefront of these efforts, working tirelessly to protect these magnificent animals and their habitats.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat loss has also been a major threat in Vietnam with extensive logging for coffee, rubber, and cashew plantations (Nadler et al. 2004), and in Lao PDR where logging is underway at an increasing rate.

IUCN Red List

Deforestation for palm oil, timber and other agriculture: Deforestation for agriculture, logging, and infrastructure development has destroyed vast areas of their habitat. Habitat loss has also been a major threat in Vietnam with extensive logging for coffee, rubber, and cashew plantations (Nadler et al. 2004), and in Lao PDR where logging is underway at an increasing rate for mining, agriculture, forestry and hydropower projects, mostly by large Chinese and Vietnamese companies (Smirnov 2015). Habitat loss and fragmentation have led to an increase in access to remote forests for illegal hunting of the red-shanked douc, contributing to the alarming declines of the global population.

Illegal Wildlife Trade: They are heavily targeted for traditional medicine, as trophies, and for the pet trade.

Climate Change: Changes in rainfall and temperature patterns impact their food sources and habitats, further threatening their survival.

Take Action!

Protect the Red-Shanked Douc Langur by boycotting products linked to deforestation, such as palm oil. Support conservation organisations working to preserve their habitats and enforce anti-poaching laws. Share their story and advocate for their survival with #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife.

Conservation efforts for this species of langur are underway

Further Information

Coudrat, C.N.Z., Quyet, L.K., Duc, H., Phiaphalath, P., Rawson, B.M., Nadler, T., Ulibarri, L. & Duckworth, J.W. 2020. Pygathrix nemaeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39826A17941247. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T39826A17941247.en. Downloaded on 25 January 2021.

Endangered Primate Rescue Center. (n.d.). Red-Shanked Douc Langur. Retrieved from EPRC

Education for Nature Vietnam. (2021). The Illegal Trade of Endangered Douc Langurs. Retrieved from ENV

New England Primate Conservancy. (n.d.). Red-Shanked Douc Langur. Retrieved from New England Primate Conservancy

Red-shanked Douc Langur Pygathrix nemaeus

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

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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

Asian Giant Tortoise Manouria emys

Asian Giant Tortoise Manouria emys

Critically Endangered

Extant (resident): Bangladesh; India; Indonesia; Malaysia; Myanmar; Thailand

Extinct: Singapore

The Asian Giant Tortoise, Asia’s largest tortoise species, is distinguished by their impressive size and unique nesting behaviours. Inhabiting evergreen forests, they play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health through seed dispersal. However, their populations are rapidly declining due to habitat destruction, particularly from deforestation for palm oil plantations, and illegal hunting for local consumption and the pet trade.

Protecting the Asian Giant Tortoise is vital for preserving the biodiversity of Southeast Asia’s forests. Fight for their survival by boycotting products linked to deforestation. Use your wallet as a weapon. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/ltV7Tbir53Y

Despite being the largest #tortoise in Asia, Asian Giant Tortoises are #extinct in #Singapore 😿 and critically #endangered in #Indonesia 🇮🇩 #Malaysia 🇲🇾 #Thailand 🇹🇭 due to #palmoil #deforestation and the #pet trade. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/25/asian-giant-tortoise-manouria-emys/

Asia’s most majestic and heaviest #tortoise 🐢🐢💚🫶 is the Asian Giant Tortoise averaging 35kgs. They’re critically endangered by #palmoil #deforestation and illegal pet trade. Fight for their survival when you #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🙊⛔️☠️ https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/25/asian-giant-tortoise-manouria-emys/

Appearance and Behaviour

The Asian Giant Tortoise is the largest tortoise in Asia, with adults reaching up to 61 cm (24 inches) in shell length and weighing up to 35 kg (77 lbs). They have a dark brown to black carapace and sturdy limbs covered with rough scales, aiding in navigating dense forest floors.

A unique behaviour of this species is their nesting practice. Females construct nests by gathering leaf litter and decomposing plant material into a mound, where they lay their eggs. This method helps regulate incubation temperatures and protects the eggs from predators.

Geographic Range

Historically, the Asian Giant Tortoise ranged across Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Due to extensive habitat loss and poaching, their populations have significantly declined, and they are now primarily found in fragmented forested regions within these countries.

Diet

These tortoises are primarily herbivorous, feeding on a variety of vegetation, including leaves, fruits, and grasses. Occasionally, they may consume invertebrates such as worms and snails. Their foraging habits contribute to seed dispersal, playing a vital role in forest regeneration.

Reproduction and Mating

Breeding typically coincides with the monsoon season. Females build large nests from leaf litter to lay clutches of 20–50 eggs. Interestingly, studies have shown that mimicking rainfall and thunder can stimulate egg-laying in captive individuals, highlighting the species’ sensitivity to environmental cues.

Threats

The Asian Giant Tortoise is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with populations continuing to decline. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and captive breeding programs aimed at reintroducing individuals into the wild. Organisations such as the Turtle Survival Alliance are actively involved in these initiatives.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat Destruction for palm oil and timber: Deforestation for agriculture, particularly palm oil plantations, logging, and human settlement, has led to significant habitat loss for the Asian Giant Tortoise.

Illegal Hunting: They are poached for local consumption and the international pet trade, further driving population declines.

Climate Change: Alterations in monsoon patterns can disrupt their breeding cycles, affecting reproductive success.

Take Action!

Protect the Asian Giant Tortoise by boycotting products linked to deforestation, such as palm oil. Support conservation organisations working to preserve their habitats and enforce anti-poaching laws. Share their story and advocate for their survival with #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife.

Further Information

Choudhury, B.C., Cota, M., McCormack, T., Platt, K., Das, I., Ahmed, M.F., Timmins, R.J., Rahman, S. & Singh, S. 2019. Manouria emys (errata version published in 2019). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12774A152052098. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T12774A152052098.en. Downloaded on 25 January 2021

Orangutan Foundation International. (2022). Asia’s Largest Tortoise. Retrieved from Orangutan Foundation International

Reptiles Magazine. (2024). Echoes of Rain: How Mimicking Rainfall and Thunder Caused Asian Giant Tortoises to Lay Eggs. Retrieved from Reptiles Magazine

Turtle Survival Alliance. (2023). Species Spotlight: Asian Giant Tortoise. Retrieved from Turtle Survival Alliance

Asian Giant Tortoise Manouria emys

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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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

#AsianGiantTortoiseManouriaEmys #Bangladesh #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #extinct #India #Indonesia #Malaysia #Myanmar #palmoil #pet #Reptile #singapore #SouthEastAsia #Thailand #tortoise

Bornean Banded Langur Presbytis chrysomelas

Bornean Banded Langur Presbytis chrysomelas

Critically Endangered

Brunei; Indonesia (Kalimantan); Malaysia (Sarawak)

The Bornean banded langur, known for its striking black and white coat, is one of Southeast Asia’s most elusive and endangered primates. These langurs inhabit the fragmented lowland forests and peat swamps of Borneo, relying on dense foliage for their survival.

The population of Bornean banded langurs is rapidly declining due to habitat destruction for palm oil plantations, illegal logging, and hunting. As their habitat continues to shrink, these shy and rarely seen primates face an uncertain future. Use your wallet as a weapon—boycott palm oil and join the fight for their survival. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Bornean Banded Langurs 🐒🤎🙊 are critically #endangered in #Indonesia 🇮🇩 #Malaysia 🇲🇾 as 80% of their rainforest home was destroyed in past 30 years for #palmoil. Tell brands enough is enough! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🤢🤮⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/24/bornean-banded-langur-presbytis-chrysomelas/

Once common, now crit. endangered, the Bornean Banded #Langur hangs on for dear life in small patches of #rainforest in #Indonesia 🇮🇩 #Malaysia 🇲🇾. 80% of their home was destroyed for #palmoil. #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🤢🤮⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/24/bornean-banded-langur-presbytis-chrysomelas/

This species of Langur is listed as Critically Endangered as it is only known from five sites, where populations have been reduced by approximately 80% over the past 30 years (three generations) and the trend is suspected to continue into the future due to habitat loss from expanding oil palm cultivation.

IUCN Red List

In addition, the area of occupancy has been reduced dramatically. This species was once considered common. They are now considered one of the rarest primates in the world. They live in less than 5% of their historic range. Additional conservation measures are urgent as this species could go extinct if current trends continue.

Appearance and Behaviour

Bornean banded langurs are medium-sized monkeys, reaching about 50–60 cm in body length with a long, slender tail often exceeding their body length. They are distinguished by their unique black and white banded coat, which provides excellent camouflage among tree branches. Their expressive faces, encircled by pale fur, give them an inquisitive and alert appearance.

Primarily arboreal and diurnal, they spend most of their time in the upper forest canopy, where they live in small groups of 3–10 individuals. Group dynamics often include a dominant male, several females, and their offspring. Bornean banded langurs are highly social and communicate using a range of vocalisations, including soft grunts and alarm calls when sensing danger.

Geographic Range

These langurs are endemic to Borneo and are found in Malaysia’s Sabah and Sarawak regions as well as Indonesia’s Kalimantan. Their preferred habitats include lowland dipterocarp forests, peat swamps, and mangroves. However, habitat destruction has fragmented their range, leaving populations isolated in areas such as Danau Sentarum National Park and Tanjung Datu National Park (IUCN, 2020).

Diet

Bornean banded langurs are folivorous, primarily feeding on young leaves, flowers, seeds, and unripe fruits. Their specialised stomachs are adapted to digest fibrous plant material efficiently, enabling them to extract maximum nutrients from their diet. This diet also plays a vital role in seed dispersal, contributing to forest regeneration and biodiversity (NePrimate Conservancy, 2024).

Reproduction and Mating

These langurs exhibit a slow reproductive cycle. Females typically give birth to a single infant every 1–2 years after a gestation period of about 6 months. Infants are born with bright orange coats, which gradually transition to the adult black and white coloration as they mature.

Mothers provide extensive care, with other group members occasionally assisting in grooming or protecting the young. This communal care highlights their highly social nature. However, the slow reproductive rate makes it difficult for the species to recover from population declines.

Threats

The Bornean banded langur is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, with populations continuing to decline. Conservation efforts focus on habitat restoration and protection in key national parks such as Danau Sentarum and Tanjung Datu. Organisations are also working to combat illegal logging and raise awareness about the impact of palm oil.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

• Palm oil and timber deforestation: Deforestation for palm oil plantations and logging has decimated much of their forest habitat. Between 2000 and 2018, more than 30% of suitable habitat was lost across Borneo.
• Hunting and poaching: Although not commonly targeted, these langurs are occasionally hunted for bushmeat or captured for the exotic pet trade.
• Habitat fragmentation: Habitat fragmentation isolates populations, reducing genetic diversity and increasing the risk of local extinction.
• Climate Change: Rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns threaten the health of their forest ecosystems.

Take Action!

Protect the Bornean banded langur by boycotting palm oil and supporting conservation programs focused on preserving Borneo’s forests. Raise awareness about their plight and advocate for stronger legal protections. Together, we can secure a future for these remarkable primates. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

You can support this beautiful animal

There are no known conservation activities for this animal. Share out this post to social media and join the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife on social media to raise awareness

Further Information

Md-Zain, B. M. (2019). Bornean banded langur in Danau Sentarum National Park.

NePrimate Conservancy. (2024). Bornean banded langur (Presbytis chrysomelas).

Nijman, V., Cheyne, S., Traeholt, C. & Setiawan, A. 2020. Presbytis chrysomelas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39803A17955321. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T39803A17955321.en. Downloaded on 24 January 2021.

Phillipps, Q., & Phillipps, K. (2019). Presbytis chrysomelas population survey in Borneo.

Rustam, A., & Yanuar, A. (2021). Preliminary assessment of group composition and activity pattern of the critically endangered Bornean banded langur (Presbytis chrysomelas) in Tanjung Datu National Park.

Tanjung, H., et al. (2024). Impacts of habitat loss on Presbytis chrysomelas populations.

Bornean Banded Langur Presbytis chrysomelas

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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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

#BorneanBandedLangurPresbytisChrysomelas #Borneo #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brunei #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #endangered #Indonesia #Kalimantan #langur #Malaysia #Mammal #palmoil #Primate #rainforest #SeedDispersers #SouthEastAsia

Sumatran Rhino Dicerorhinus sumatrensis

Sumatran Rhino Dicerorhinus sumatrensis

Critically Endangered

Population: 34-47 living in the wild.

Locations: Indonesia (Sumatra and Borneo)

The Sumatran rhinoceros, the smallest and hairiest of all rhino species, is a living relic of the Pleistocene epoch. Often referred to as “living fossils,” they are more closely related to the extinct woolly rhinoceros than to any other living rhino species. Once widespread across Southeast Asia, their numbers have plummeted to fewer than 80 individuals, primarily due to palm oil deforestation and poaching. To protect the Sumatran rhino, use your wallet as a weapon to fight for their survival every time you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/5kDY8HO0j3Q

Celebrate the world’s smallest rhino 🦏 🩵💔 the critically endangered Sumatran #Rhino. They face imminent #extinction from #palmoil #deforestation and #poaching. Help them to survive and be #vegan #BoycottPalmOil 🔥🌴🚫#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/20/sumatran-rhino-dicerorhinus-sumatrensis/

There are only 34-47 #Sumatran #Rhinos left in the wild! 🦏 They face #extinction from massive #palmoil #deforestation and ruthless ivory #poaching. Fight and resist for them – be #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil 🔥🌴🚫#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/20/sumatran-rhino-dicerorhinus-sumatrensis/

Appearance and Behaviour

Sumatran rhinos are distinguished by their reddish-brown, hairy hides, which provide protection against insects and help them navigate dense forests. They possess two horns, with the front horn typically more prominent. Despite their smaller size—standing about 1.2 to 1.5 meters at the shoulder and weighing between 500 to 800 kilograms—they are agile climbers, adept at traversing steep terrains. These solitary creatures are known for their vocalizations, including whistles and whines, which they use to communicate across dense jungles.

Geographic Range

Historically, Sumatran rhinos roamed from the foothills of the Himalayas in Bhutan and eastern India, through Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia, to the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Today, they are confined to fragmented habitats in Indonesia, primarily on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Their preferred environments include dense highland and lowland tropical forests, where they inhabit hilly and mountainous terrain. The species inhabits tropical rainforest and montane moss forest, and occasionally at forest margins and in secondary forest. Throughout the seasons they move around, migrating uphill during periods of flooding. This shy species is dependent on salt licks, and live mostly in primary forest in protected areas, but wandering into secondary forests outside protected areas, especially in the dry season in search of water.

Diet

As herbivores, Sumatran rhinos have a diverse diet consisting of leaves, fruits, twigs, and bark from a variety of plant species. They are known to consume over 100pecies, playing a crucial role in seed dispersal and maintaining the ecological balance of their forest habitats.

Reproduction and Mating

Female Sumatran rhinos reach sexual maturity around the age of six to seven years, while males mature slightly earlier, between five to six years. od lasts approximately 15 to 16 months, culminating in the birth of a single calf. Calves are born with a dense covering of hair and remain with their mothers for up to two to three years, learning essential survival skills. Due to their critically low population, breeding encounters in the wild are exceedingly rare, exacerbating their risk of extinction.

Threats

The Sumatran rhinoceros is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only around 40 individuals remaining in the wild. Conservation ehabitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and captive breeding programs, are underway to prevent their extinction. Notably, the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia has seen some success in breeding, offering a glimmer of hope for the species’ future.

Habitat Loss: Deforestation for agriculture, particularly palm oil plantations, and infrastructure development has let fragmentation.

Poaching: Despite international protection, Sumatran rhinos are still targeted for their horns, driven by demand in traditional medicine markets. Spoiler: horns made from keratin have no medicinal value whatsoever!

• Slow and complex breeding: With a slow reproductive rate and current population fragmentation, finding mates in the wild has become increasingly challenging, hindering population growth.

Take Action!

Protect the Sumatran rhinoceros by boycotting products linked to deforestation, such as palm oil. Use your wallet as a weapon to support ethical and eco-friee their story and fight for their survival with #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife.

https://youtu.be/JxweByXQcok

We estimate that the probability of extinction in 3 generations (60 years) is 90%, without successful interventions.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Sumatran Rhino Dicerorhinus sumatrensis

Further Information

Ellis, S. & Talukdar, B. 2020. Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T6553A18493355. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T6553A18493355.en. Downloaded on 24 January 2021.

International Fund for Animal Welfare. (n.d.). Sumatran Rhinos: Facts, Threats, & Conservation. Retrieved from IFAW

National Geographic. (n.d.). Sumatran Rhinoceros. Retrieved from National Geographic

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Sumatran Rhinoceros. Retrieved from Wikipedia

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.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• WordPress
• YouTube
• Mail
• Mastodon

Enter your email address

Sign Up

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

#Borneo #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #extinction #Malaysia #palmoil #poaching #Rhino #Rhinos #SouthEastAsia #Sumatran #SumatranRhinoDicerorhinusSumatrensis #vegan