#ivorycoast — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #ivorycoast, aggregated by home.social.
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Campbell’s Mona Monkey Cercopithecus campbelli
Campbell’s Mona Monkey Cercopithecus campbelli
Red List: Near Threatened
Extant (resident): Gambia; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Liberia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Ivory Coast.
Inquisitive and highly social Campbell’s Mona Monkeys are known for their intense hazel eyes and bright yellow brows. They use their large puffy cheeks to store food while they climb to the top of tree canopies to eat it. Males will engage in a dawn and dusk symphony of calling along with other species in a coordinated ritual. They are Near Threatened due to hunting and extensive forest loss throughout their range in West Africa for palm oil, coffee, cocoa and mining. Help them every time you shop by using your wallet as a weapon – #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Social and cheeky Campbell’s Mona Monkeys 🐵🐒🤎 use their puffy cheeks to store food. Threats include #hunting #cocoa #palmoil #deforestation in #Gambia 🇬🇲 #Liberia 🇱🇷 Help save them! #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🩸🔥☠️🚜⛔️ @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2024/01/28/campbells-mona-monkey-cercopithecus-campbelli/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterBeautifully coloured male Campbell’s Mona #Monkeys 🐵🐒🤎 sing in chorus ✨🎵🪇 with other species at dawn 🌄🌅 and dusk in #Liberia 🇱🇷 #SierraLeone 🇸🇱 Fight for them and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2024/01/28/campbells-mona-monkey-cercopithecus-campbelli/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance & Behaviour
Male Campbell’s Mona Monkeys are known for engaging in interpecies dawn and dusk choruses. Sounds carry for at least a kilometre in low rumbling booms and other males join in. Interspecies songs and calling obey ritualised rules. The Campbell’s Mona Monkey has an advanced form of communication with rudimentary and basic syntax.
They are a highly social and gregarious species, preferring to stay in groups of about eight individuals.
They are slow and careful foragers and will look for wild and cultivated fruit, seeds and vegetables along with small invertebrates, lizards, amphibians and worms.
Threats
Campbell’s Guenons or Campbell’s Mona Monkeys are still common to some areas of their range and are relatively flexible and adaptable to their environment. However, their habitat is rapidly declining and becoming fragmented due to forest loss and deforestation for agriculture – mainly palm oil, coffee and cocoa.
[Campbell’s Guenons] have been impacted by, first and foremost, bushmeat hunting, and secondly, habitat loss.
IUCN Red LIST
Due to their small body size, they are not the prime target for hunters. However in recent years with unregulated hunting and removal of other larger monkey species – the Campbell’s Mona Monkey have now become a target for the illegal bushmeat trade.
In Mount Nimba, Liberia, Bené et al. (2013) monitored hunters’ activities in 2009–2011 and found a high rate (0.7 per km) of encountering hunters carrying the carcasses of this species.
IUCN RED LIST
Habitat
Campbell’s Mona Monkeys Cercopithecus campbelli are also known by the name Campbell’s guenon. They are endemic to the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia and Ghana. They are found in lowland forest, gallery forest, mangroves, riverine environments and within farms and agricultural land.
This species once thrived in disturbed habitats and farmbush, but many of these habitats have been converted to plantations of non-native species.
IUCN RED LIST
Diet
Campbell’s Mona Monkeys are slow, deliberate foragers. The greater part of their diet is wild fruit and agricultural crops. However, they will also eat seeds, invertebrates, grubs, small amphibians and lizards. They use their puffy cheeks to store food and then climb high into the boughs of trees to eat it.
Support Campbell’s Mona Monkey by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Matsuda Goodwin, R., Gonedelé Bi, S. & Koné, I. 2020. Cercopithecus campbelli. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T136930A92374066. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T136930A92374066.en. Accessed on 25 May 2023.
Campbell’s Mona Monkey: Wikipedia article
Campbell’s Mona Monkey: Animalia.bio article
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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Join 3,172 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#africa #animals #boycott4wildlife #boycottpalmoil #campbellsMonaMonkeyCercopithecusCampbelli #cocoa #coffee #deforestation #forgottenAnimals #gambia #guinea #hunting #ivoryCoast #liberia #mammal #monkey #monkeys #palmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poaching #primate #primates #primatology #sierraLeone #sierraleone #vulnerableSpecies
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Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata
Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata
Red List Status: Vulnerable
Extant (resident): Cameroon; Côte d’Ivoire; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Liberia; Mali; Nigeria; Senegal; Sierra Leone
Possibly Extinct: Togo
The yellow-casqued hornbill is one of the most remarkable hornbills in the world and one of the largest birds in the rainforests of West Africa weighing up to two kilos. Sporting a shock of russet coloured feathers and a striking blue coloured face, they prefer to live high up in the rainforest canopy in Côte d’Ivoire, #Ghana, #Liberia, Mali and #SierraLeone. Their main threat is hunting and human persecution and they are possibly extinction now in some countries. Recent mass deforestation for #mining, #palmoil, #cocoa and #meat is also a threat and they are now classified as #vulnerable. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan, #Boycottpalmoil, #Boycott4Wildlife
Yellow-casqued hornbills 🕊️🪽 are #vulnerable in #WestAfrica 🇱🇷🇬🇼🇳🇬 due to #hunting, #palmoil 🌴🔥#meat 🥩🔥 and #cocoa 🍫🔥 #deforestation across their range. Help save them and be #vegan 🥕🍅#Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/09/17/yellow-casqued-hornbill-ceratogymna-elata/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterA shock of fiery red feathers 🪶❤️💕 and blue rimmed 👁️👀😎 eyes announce the arrival of the majestic yellow-casqued #hornbill 🦜🕊️ They are vulnerable from #deforestation and #hunting in #WestAfrica. Fight for them! #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/09/17/yellow-casqued-hornbill-ceratogymna-elata/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance & Behaviour
One of the largest birds in West African the yellow-casqued hornbill has a shock of russet coloured feathers and a striking blue coloured face. They live in the forest canopy and rarely venture to the ground. Generally, they live in family groups of generally one adult female and male birds and two juveniles.
When a large ant or termite nest is discovered occasionally the birds will gather in large flocks to penetrate the nest. These hornbills are predated upon by crowned hawk eagles. Under threat from these eagles, a flock of hornbills will mob the birds as a group and call together loudly. This collective alarm call may serve to deter the eagles from hunting them.
Threats
Rapid destruction of their range across several countries in West Africa has meant that the yellow-casqued hornbill is now classified as vulnerable.
The Yellow-casqued Hornbill faces numerous anthropogenic threats including:
- Hunting is a major threat: Humans have predated upon these birds and overhunted them causing serious decline in their numbers.
- Deforestation for palm oil, meat and cocoa: Increasing fragmentation of rainforests in West Africa has meant the birds are restricted in food sources and their populations have reduced as a result.
- Climate change: Is also thought to be an additional threat to these large African birds.
The species is on the way out in eastern Ghana, and it is likely extinct in Togo (F. Dowsett-Lemaire in litt. 2016). Its disappearance from Bia NP, where there have been no records since 1991 (Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett 2011a), is probably related to uncontrolled hunting and the logging of the southern section in the 1990s. The species’s fate in south-western Ghana is very unfavourable, with most habitat expected to be lost to timber extraction and agricultural encroachment, and habitat in reserves expected to be lost by the early 2030s (Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett 2014).
IUCN Red List
Habitat
Yellow-casqued hornbills prefer to live their lives high up in the tree canopy of primary forest. However they are known to also survive in logged, riverine or secondary forests. They migrate according to food availability.
Diet
These birds are primarily folivores and insectivores who consume seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions. The birds congregate in large flocks to invade termite mounds.
Support yellow-casqued hornbills by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
BirdLife International. 2016. Ceratogymna elata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22682627A92954374. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22682627A92954374.en. Accessed on 31 October 2022.
Yellow-casqued hornbill Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-casqued_hornbill
Yellow-casqued hornbill Animalio.bio: https://animalia.bio/yellow-casqued-hornbill
Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elataHow can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,172 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#africa #africanNews #animals #bird #birdsong #boycott4wildlife #boycottpalmoil #cameroon #cocoa #deforestation #forgottenAnimals #ghana #hornbill #hunting #ivoryCoast #liberia #meat #mining #nigeria #palmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poachers #poaching #sierraLeone #sierraleone #song #songbird #songbirds #vegan #vulnerable #vulnerableSpecies #westafrica #yellowCasquedHornbillCeratogymnaElata
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Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh
Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
Location: Timneh Parrots inhabit the lowland forests, mangroves, and savannahs of West Africa, from Guinea-Bissau to western Côte d’Ivoire.
The Timneh Parrot, a smaller and darker cousin of the African Grey Parrot, captivates with their intelligence, vibrant personalities, and ability to mimic speech. However, their beauty and charm have contributed to their decline. The illegal pet trade is depleting wild populations, with poachers raiding nests to meet global demand. Meanwhile, habitat destruction driven by out-of-control palm oil plantations, meat agriculture, and crops like cocoa, coffee, and tobacco is eroding their forest homes.
Research shows that the parrot trade, facilitated by social media, has expanded into new regions like Algeria, where demand for exotic pets continues to fuel poaching. The population declines are staggering—studies in Cameroon show local reductions of up to 99% over 14 years due to trapping and habitat loss. Protecting these parrots requires ending the demand for wild-caught birds and halting deforestation in West Africa. Take action today: #BoycottPalmOil, boycott the pet trade #BoycottMeat #Boycott4Wildlife.
Smart and beautiful Timneh #Parrots 🦜💚live in #CoteDIvoire 🇨🇮 #SierraLeone 🇸🇱 they’re endangered from the illegal #pet trade #palmoil and #mining #deforestation. They deserve better! Fight for them #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/timneh-parrot-psittacus-timneh/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterTimneh #Parrots 🦜💚 are endangered due to people’s selfishness, wanting them as #pets driving illegal trade. Boycott the #PetTrade for them! #PalmOil is another threat to their forest in #WestAfrica. #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/timneh-parrot-psittacus-timneh/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterThis species has been uplisted to Endangered because it is subject to heavy trapping pressure across much of its range. In combination with the high rate of ongoing habitat loss, the species is therefore suspected to be declining rapidly over three generations (47 years).
IUCN Red List
Appearance and Behaviour
Timneh Parrots are smaller than African Greys, measuring 28–33 cm in length and weighing 275–375 grams. Their smoky grey plumage is complemented by maroon tail feathers and an ivory-coloured upper mandible, giving them a subtle but elegant appearance.
Highly intelligent and social, Timneh Parrots thrive in flocks, using a range of vocalisations to communicate. Known for their exceptional ability to mimic human speech, they are sought after as pets, which is contributing massively to their population decline in the wild. In their forest home where they belong, their vocal talents serve a vital role in maintaining flock cohesion and avoiding predators.
Threats
Capture for the Illegal Pet Trade:
The global demand for Timneh Parrots as exotic pets is the primary driver of their decline. Social media platforms have exacerbated this issue by making it easier for poachers and traders to connect with buyers. Research published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research highlights the growing role of online platforms in the parrot trade in Algeria, a region where this market is expanding rapidly. Poachers often destroy nests to capture chicks, causing irreparable harm to wild populations.
Palm oil, cocoa, meat and coffee deforestation:
Expansion of palm oil plantations, meat agriculture, and crops like cocoa, coffee, and tobacco are devastating the forests of West Africa. These activities fragment and degrade the lowland forests and mangroves that Timneh Parrots rely on for nesting and feeding.
Trapping for the Pet Trade Leading to Massive Population Loss:
Research published in the African Journal of Ecology confirms catastrophic population losses in regions like Cameroon’s Korup National Park, where grey parrot populations (including Timneh Parrots) have declined by 99% between 2002 and 2016. These declines are attributed to both trapping for the pet trade and extensive habitat loss.
Hunting for Bush Meat:
In addition to the pet trade, Timneh Parrots are hunted for bushmeat or kept as pets in local communities. This practice, while small-scale, compounds the pressures on their dwindling populations.
Extreme Weather from Climate Change:
Shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures from climate change disrupt the ecosystems these parrots depend on, further limiting their already fragmented habitats.
Diet
Timneh Parrots are frugivores and granivores, feeding on a diet of seeds, nuts, fruits, and berries. Their role as seed dispersers is critical to forest health. By consuming fruit and scattering seeds over wide areas, they help regenerate forests and maintain biodiversity. The loss of these parrots would have cascading effects on the ecosystems they support.
Reproduction and Mating
Timneh Parrots nest in tree cavities, laying 2–4 eggs that are incubated for approximately 28–30 days. Both parents participate in raising the chicks, which fledge around 10–12 weeks after hatching.
Suitable nesting sites are increasingly scarce due to deforestation and logging, leaving parrots to compete for the few remaining mature trees. This scarcity directly impacts their reproductive success, pushing them closer to extinction.
Geographic Range
Timneh Parrots are endemic to West Africa, with a range spanning Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and western Côte d’Ivoire. They inhabit lowland rainforests, mangroves, and savannahs but are increasingly restricted to isolated forest patches due to deforestation.
Efforts to conserve these parrots require protecting their remaining habitats and restoring degraded forests to expand their range.
FAQ
Are Timneh Parrots good pets?
Timneh Parrots are intelligent and bond strongly. However a strong warning and reminder – keeping Timneh Parrots as pets is an incredibly selfish act, as it is contributing to their extinction. Many parrots sold in the pet trade are illegally caught from the wild, causing immense suffering, the destruction of family units of birds and decimating populations. If you care about these parrots, you must advocate against the demand for exotic pets instead.
What is the lifespan of a Timneh?
In captivity, Timneh Parrots can live up to 50–60 years or more. In the wild, their lifespan is shorter due to the challenges posed by predation, disease, and habitat destruction. Timneh Parrots are not suitable pets because their species is going extinct due to the pet trade.
What is the difference between African Grey and Timneh?
Timneh Parrots are smaller and darker than African Greys. They have maroon tails and ivory-coloured upper mandibles, compared to the African Grey’s bright red tails and black bills. Timnehs are also considered less nervous and more adaptable.
What are the threats to Timneh Parrots?
The main threats include the illegal pet trade, deforestation for palm oil, cocoa, and coffee plantations, hunting for bushmeat, and climate change. Social media platforms have worsened the pet trade by facilitating connections between poachers and buyers.
Take Action!
The Timneh Parrot is on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade. Refuse to support the exotic pet market, boycott products linked to deforestation, and demand conservation efforts to protect their habitats. Every choice you make can help save them: #BoycottPalmOil #BoycottMeat #Boycott4Wildlife.
Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh
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
Ameziane, I. N., Razkallah, I., Zebsa, R., Bensakhri, Z., Bensouilah, S., Bouslama, Z., Nijman, V., Houhamdi, M., & Atoussi, S. (2024). Disentangling the role of social media in the online parrot trade in Algeria. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 70(68). Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10344-024-01821-3
BirdLife International. 2019. Psittacus timneh (amended version of 2018 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22736498A155462561. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22736498A155462561.en. Downloaded on 15 February 2021.
BirdLife International. (n.d.). Species factsheet: Timneh Parrot. Retrieved from: https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/timneh-parrot-psittacus-timneh/text
Birds of the World. (n.d.). Timneh Parrot. Retrieved from https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grypar10/cur/introduction
Reinhold, N., Wobker, J., Schröder, T., Kemnade, C., Bobo, K. S., & Waltert, M. (2020). Confirmation of strong declines of grey parrots in the Korup region, Cameroon, between 2002 and 2016. African Journal of Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/aje.12837
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Timneh Parrot. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timneh_parrot
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 1,391 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#Bird #birds #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #CoteDIvoire #deforestation #EndangeredSpecies #ForgottenAnimals #Guinea #GuineaBissau #IvoryCoast #Liberia #mining #palmoil #Parrot #Parrots #pet #pets #pettrade #SierraLeone #SierraLeone #TimnehParrotPsittacusTimneh #WestAfrica
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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/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterWith 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/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance 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
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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
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#Benin #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #BurkinaFaso #Colobus #CoteDIvoire #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #dams #deforestation #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #Ghana #hunting #hydroelectric #IvoryCoast #Mammal #meatDeforestation_ #mining #monkey #monkeys #Nigeria #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poachers #poaching #Primate #primates #primatology #tobacco #Togo #vegan #WestAfrica #WhiteThighedColobusColobusVellerosus
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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.
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/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterDeep 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.
Source: Sustain Round GlassThe 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
Krokosua Squeaking Frog Arthroleptis krokosua
Support the conservation of this species
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
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,526 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Health Physician Dr Evan Allen
The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your support#Africa #Amphibian #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #cocoa #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #ForgottenAnimals #Frog #Frogs #Ghana #herpetology #herps #IvoryCoast #IvoryCoast #KrokosuaSqueakingFrogArthroleptisKrokosua #palmoil #WestAfrica