#omnivore — Public Fediverse posts

@AlexanderKingsbury @mrsimoto
»taste« is often used by omnivores to justify eating the flesh of others (when they're not in an extreme survival situation).

you don't consider taste a good enough reason to eat someone, when you have the option not to, or what?

it just doesn't sound very #omnivore to me to not only exclude tasty sources of protein from your own diet but to go so far as to judge others for their choice of diet.

@pelle @mrsimoto

"if you're real #omnivore, and don't see any ethical problem in eating whatever is edible,"

That's not the case.

@AlexanderKingsbury @mrsimoto
if you're real #omnivore, and don't see any ethical problem in eating whatever is edible, what's your issue with #cannibalism then?

the taste?

Can someone recommend me an alternative to murdered #getpocket or #omnivore that has offline storage capabilities for #ios ?

Olinguito Bassaricyon neblina

Olinguito Bassaricyon neblina

IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

Location: Colombia, Ecuador

Found in the Andean cloud forests of western Colombia and Ecuador, at elevations between 1,500 and 2,800 metres.

One of the cutest #mammals recently discovered is already at risk. With their bear-like faces, cat-like bodies, and lush tawny fur, the olinguito Bassaricyon neblina is an adorable button-nosed mammal of #Ecuador and #Colombia. They first made themselves known to the western world in 2006 in Ecuador and were officially described in 2013 and are considered ‘Near Threatened’ mainly from deforestation and forest clearing for #palmoil agriculture along with road building, infrastructure and gold mining throughout their range. Native to the misty cloud forests of the northern Andes, they are increasingly threatened by industrial agribusiness, palm oil plantations, and agriculture. Over 40% of their habitat has already been destroyed. Use your wallet as a weapon: always choose #palmoilfree products and be #vegan to help protect olinguitos and other species of the Andean Cloud Forest#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/6_ir48JWkRI

#Olinguitos are button-nosed #mammals 😻🦦 of the Cloud Forests in #Ecuador 🇪🇨 and #Colombia 🇨🇴 Their lives are threatened by #goldmining 🥇 #meat 🥩and #palmoil 🌴 #deforestation. Help them! Be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-bBX

Discovered not long ago, #Olinguitos are #bear-like tenacious survivors. Despite hiding well, their forests are rapidly disappearing for #palmoil and #meat agriculture. Help them survive! Be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil 🌴⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-bBX

Appearance & Behaviour

The olinguito is reminiscent of teddy bear and a domestic cat, with thick, soft, russet and tawny coloured fur, a short snout with a button-like nose, small ears, and a long fluffy tail used for balance in the treetops. Typically weighing under one kilogram, they are the smallest member of the raccoon family (Procyonidae). Nocturnal and arboreal, they live high in the forest canopy and are rarely seen. Solitary by nature, they are also reclusive and actively avoid human interaction.

Threats

Despite being classified as Near Threatened, there are no known large-scale conservation programmes or protected areas specifically designed to safeguard the olinguito or their habitat. Many of the forests where they live are under private ownership or are unprotected, leaving them at the mercy of logging companies, agribusiness, and illegal land grabs. Without legal safeguards and ecological corridors between forest remnants, olinguito populations will continue to decline unnoticed. Over 42% of their potential range has already been cleared or degraded for mining and agriculture.

Widespread deforestation of Andean cloud forests for agriculture, livestock, and infrastructure

Much of the olinguito’s Andean cloud forest habitat has already been cleared for cattle pasture, coffee plantations, and crop fields. This is especially concerning given the species’ limited elevational range and dependence on specific microclimates. Habitat loss fragments populations and prevents them from moving between forest patches, leading to genetic isolation and increased vulnerability. According to Helgen et al. (2013), 42% of the olinguito’s historical range has already been lost to agriculture and urban development.

Palm oil and timber plantations rapidly consuming native forest habitat.

Large swathes of cloud forest are being destroyed to establish oil palm and timber plantations. These monocultures are ecological deserts that offer no food or shelter for frugivorous mammals like the olinguito. Although oil palm expansion is often focused in lowland regions, it is encroaching into higher elevations in parts of Colombia and Ecuador due to market demand and land speculation. This spells danger for highland endemics like the olinguito, whose misty habitat is already shrinking.

Urbanisation and road development, fragmenting their canopy habitat

As human populations expand into previously remote areas, forest is cleared for roads, settlements, and industrial development. Even if some patches of cloud forest remain, roads cut through ecosystems, isolating wildlife and increasing mortality from vehicle collisions. Urban sprawl also brings dogs and other invasive species that can harass, predate, or outcompete native animals. The olinguito’s canopy-dependent, arboreal lifestyle makes it especially susceptible to the effects of fragmentation and edge habitat.

Climate change, which threatens the stability of montane ecosystems.

Cloud forests are highly sensitive to temperature and moisture changes. As global temperatures rise, the delicate balance of mist, rainfall, and cool air that defines this biome is shifting. Suitable habitat may move upslope, but mountaintops provide a limited refuge. Once a species is pushed beyond its climatic limit, local extinction becomes inevitable. The olinguito already lives at the uppermost altitudes suitable for its survival, making it dangerously vulnerable to climate-induced habitat contraction.

Geographic Range

Olinguitos live in humid montane forests between 1,500 and 2,800 metres in elevation in western Colombia and Ecuador, including forests near Medellín in Colombia and the Otonga Forest Reserve in Cotopaxi, Ecuador. This species occupies the highest known range of any member of the genus Bassaricyon. Though only officially recognised in 2013, museum specimens had been mislabelled for decades prior to that.

Diet

Despite belonging to the carnivoran order, olinguitos are primarily frugivores. They feed on cloud forest fruits such as figs, as well as insects, nectar, and occasionally small vertebrates like birds and lizards. Their faeces are said to resemble small blueberries due to their fruit-heavy diet.

Mating and Reproduction

Very little is known about the reproductive behaviour of the olinguito, but it is believed they produce a single offspring at a time. Females have one pair of mammae. Their solitary lifestyle and canopy-based habits make studying them in the wild extremely difficult.

FAQs

How many olinguitos are left in the wild?

No population estimates exist for the olinguito, but scientists agree numbers are declining. Habitat modelling shows over 60% of their potential habitat is already deforested or degraded, suggesting a significant threat to survival (Helgen et al., 2013).

What is the lifespan of an olinguito?

Captive individuals like Ringerl—an olinguito unknowingly housed in US zoos for years—lived over a decade. Wild lifespan is presumed to be shorter, but specific data are lacking.

What are the main threats to the olinguito?

The biggest threats are deforestation and habitat loss driven by palm oil plantations, agriculture, and urbanisation. These activities have destroyed over 40% of their cloud forest habitat (Helgen et al., 2013). Climate change is also a growing concern due to their dependence on cool, moist mountain forests.

Do olinguitos make good pets?

No. Olinguitos are solitary, nocturnal, and specialised to live in misty canopy forests. Keeping them as pets is cruel and contributes to wildlife trafficking. Their capture disrupts family groups and decimates populations. If you care about olinguitos, do not fuel demand—speak out against the pet trade.

Take Action!

Olinguitos are an emblem of the hidden biodiversity in the world’s cloud forests—ecosystems that are vanishing fast.

• Boycott palm oil and demand truly forest-free alternatives.
• Support indigenous-led agroecology and forest protection efforts in the Andes.
• Refuse meat and dairy that drives deforestation in Colombia and Ecuador.
• Never support zoos or exotic pet collectors that remove wildlife from their habitats. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

Support the Olinguito 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

Helgen, K. M., Pinto, C. M., Kays, R., Helgen, L. E., Tsuchiya, M. T. N., Quinn, A., Wilson, D. E., & Maldonado, J. E. (2013). Taxonomic revision of the olingos (Bassaricyon), with description of a new species, the olinguito. ZooKeys, 324, 1–83. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.324.5827

Helgen, K., Kays, R., Pinto, C., Schipper, J. & González-Maya, J.F. 2020. Bassaricyon neblina (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T48637280A166523067. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T48637280A166523067.en. Accessed on 02 May 2025.

Lee, T. E., Tinoco, N., Allred, F. G., Hennecke, A., Camacho, M. A., & Burneo, S. F. (2022). Small mammals of Otonga Forest Reserve, Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador. The Southwestern Naturalist, 66(1), 48–53. https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909-66.1.48

NBC News. (2013, August 16). ‘Cutest new animal’ discovered: It’s an olinguito! https://www.nbcnews.com/sciencemain/cutest-new-animal-discovered-its-olinguito-6C10925572

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Olinguito. Wikipedia. Retrieved 2 May 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olinguito

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

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

Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Santa Catarina’s Guinea Pig Cavia intermedia

Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus

Asian Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus

Marsupials thought extinct for 6,000 years found in West Papua

Gursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae

Sunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus

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)

Minced up #MuiChoy - #preserved #mustard fried up with garlic & #GroundPork. Savoury, classic cultural dish that is simple to make. It goes very well with congee or steamed rice.
Speaking in #Teochew with English #translations.

I'm saving the other large mui choy for a traditional braised pork dish.

#AsianMastodon #AsianFood #Chinese #Linguistics #ListenAndLearn #WatchAndLearn #food #FoodPreparation #PreservedVegetables #TraditionalFood #POCfoods #GlobalSouthFood #EthnicEats #CulturalFood #GlobalSouthLanguages #AsianLanguages #languages #WhatsInMyWok #cooking #omnivore

i have found my replacement for #omnivore, which shut down.

i now self-host an instance of #readeck and i've installed #httpShortcuts on my #android phone to share to it. works a treat!

luckilly i'd exported all my links from omnivore, and through some simple scripting i got them imported into readeck.

Vordermann’s Flying Squirrel Petinomys vordermanni

Vordermann’s Flying Squirrel Petinomys vordermanni

Red List Status: Vulnerable

Locations: Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia (Borneo, Belitung Island, Riau Islands), Myanmar (southern regions), Brunei

In #Borneo’s twilight, the Vordermann’s flying #squirrel emerges from her nest, resplendent with orange cheeks and black-ringed eyes. This small, #nocturnal #mammal is a master of the rainforest canopy. They use an ingenious membrane called a patagium to effortlessly glide between trees. A flying squirrel’s world is one of constant motion and quiet vigilance. Don’t let this world disappear! The forests that sustain them are vanishing at an alarming rate. Palm oil-driven deforestation, logging, and land conversion are tearing through their habitat, leaving only fragmented forest. Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Vordermann’s Flying #Squirrels 🪽🦦🤎 are spectacular gliding #mammals of #Borneo who are #vulnerable due to #palmoil #deforestation in #Malaysia 🇲🇾 and #Indonesia 🇮🇩 Support them and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🚜🔥☠️❌ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/05/vordermanns-flying-squirrel-petinomys-vordermanni/

Appearance and Behaviour

Vordermann’s flying squirrel is one of the smallest flying squirrels, with a head and body length of 92–120 millimetres and a tail of equal length, weighing between 22 and 52 grams. Their fur is a striking mix of black with rusty tips, and their underparts are a soft, rusty white. Each eye is ringed with black, and their orange cheeks and tufts of whiskers beneath the ears give them a distinctive, expressive face. The squirrel’s patagium—a skin flap between the limbs is like an airborne sail. Meanwhile their flattened bushy tail is akin to an airborne rudder helping them with precise movements through the air.

Vordermann’s flying squirrel is strictly nocturnal and arboreal, spending their days hidden in tree holes and emerging at night to forage and glide. They are agile climbers, using their sharp claws and keen senses to navigate the dense canopy. Their glides are silent and graceful, covering distances of several metres between trees. The squirrel’s world is one of constant movement and quiet communication, with little known about their social structure or vocalisations. Their nests are typically found 0.3 to 6 metres above the ground, often in partially cut primary forest, secondary forest, or forest bordering swamps.

Threats

This squirrel is threatened by forest loss due to logging and agricultural conversion.

IUCN Red list

Palm oil and other industrial agriculture

Vordermann’s flying squirrel is classified as Vulnerable on the Red List, with habitat loss the primary threat to their survival. Across Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra, forests are being cleared for palm oil plantations and agricultural expansion. These industrial-scale operations strip away the dense, multi-layered vegetation that the squirrel depends on for food and shelter. The once-continuous canopy is reduced to isolated patches, forcing squirrels into ever-smaller territories and increasing competition for resources.

Roads, infrastructure and timber logging

Logging operations further fragment the remaining forest habitat of Vordermann’s flying squirrel. Roads and clearings cut through the forest, severing the connections that squirrels rely on for movement and foraging. Fragmentation isolates populations, reducing genetic diversity and increasing vulnerability to disease and environmental change. In many areas, only small, isolated groups of squirrels remain, cut off from neighbouring populations by expanses of cleared land.

Hunting and illegal pet trade

While hunting and the illegal pet trade are not explicitly cited as major threats for Vordermann’s flying squirrel in current literature, the broader context of wildlife exploitation in Southeast Asia raises concerns. Any increase in human activity and access to remote forests could put additional pressure on this already vulnerable species.

Climate change and pollution

Climate change adds further pressure, altering rainfall patterns and the availability of food. The squirrel’s world is becoming hotter, drier, and less predictable, with the forests they depend on shrinking year by year. Extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, can destroy habitat and isolate populations even further. Pollution from mining and agriculture can poison rivers and soil, further degrading the squirrel’s environment.

Diet

Vordermann’s flying squirrel is omnivorous, feeding on a variety of plant materials, including fruits, seeds, leaves, and bark, as well as insects and other small invertebrates. Their foraging is a quiet, nocturnal activity, carried out in the safety of the canopy. The rhythm of their feeding is woven into the life of the forest, as they play a vital role in seed dispersal and the regeneration of their ecosystem. The availability of food is closely tied to the health of the forest, and the loss of habitat threatens their ability to find enough to eat.

Reproduction and Mating

Vordermann’s flying squirrel is monogamous, with each female mating with a single male. Breeding occurs seasonally, typically in the spring months of February and March, and can extend into April. Females give birth to one to three young per litter, usually in tree holes. The gestation period and time to weaning are not well documented, but in similar species, mothers provide food and milk for several weeks until the young are able to forage on their own. Cooperative breeding may occur, with other group members assisting in the care of the young, but the exact social structure of Vordermann’s flying squirrel remains poorly understood.

Geographic Range

Vordermann’s flying squirrel is found in the lowland rainforests of southern Myanmar, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, and the Indonesian islands of Belitung and Riau. Their habitat includes primary and secondary forests, orchards, rubber plantations, and forests bordering swamps. The squirrel’s historical range has contracted due to deforestation and human encroachment, and they are now restricted to the few remaining patches of suitable habitat. The sounds of Vordermann’s flying squirrel—rustling leaves and silent glides—are now heard in fewer and fewer places.

FAQs

How many Vordermann’s flying squirrels are left?

There are no precise population estimates for Vordermann’s flying squirrel, but their numbers are believed to be declining due to ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the Red List, with a suspected population decline of more than 30% over three generations. The squirrel’s survival is threatened by the continued destruction of their forest home.

What are the characteristics of Vordermann’s flying squirrel?

Vordermann’s flying squirrel is one of the smallest flying squirrels, with a head and body length of 92–120 millimetres and a weight of 22–52 grams. They have striking black fur with rusty tips, a white underside, and distinctive orange cheeks with black rings around their eyes. Their flattened, bushy tail and patagium allow them to glide silently through the forest canopy. Vordermann’s flying squirrel is strictly nocturnal and arboreal, spending their days in tree holes and emerging at night to forage.

Where does the Vordermann’s flying squirrel live?

Vordermann’s flying squirrel is found in the lowland rainforests of southern Myanmar, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, and the Indonesian islands of Belitung and Riau. They inhabit primary and secondary forests, orchards, rubber plantations, and forests bordering swamps. Their historical range has contracted due to deforestation and human encroachment, and they are now restricted to the few remaining patches of suitable habitat.

What are the threats to the survival of the Vordermann’s flying squirrel?

The main threats to the survival of Vordermann’s flying squirrel are habitat loss and fragmentation caused by palm oil-driven deforestation, logging, and agricultural expansion. The forests of Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra are being cleared at an alarming rate, leaving only isolated patches where the squirrel can survive. Fragmentation isolates populations, reducing genetic diversity and increasing vulnerability to disease and environmental change. Climate change and pollution add further pressure, altering the availability of food and shelter.

Do Vordermann’s flying squirrels make a good pets?

Vordermann’s flying squirrels most definitely do not make good pets. Captivity causes extreme stress, loneliness, and early death for these highly specialised forest animals. The illegal pet trade rips families apart and fuels extinction, as animals are stolen from their natural habitat and forced into unnatural, impoverished conditions. Protecting Vordermann’s flying squirrel means rejecting the illegal pet trade and supporting their right to live wild and free in their forest home.

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology. Reject products linked to deforestation, mining, and the illegal wildlife trade. Adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #BoycottMeat to protect wild and farmed animals alike. Every choice matters—stand with Vordermann’s flying squirrel and defend the forests of Southeast Asia.

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

Clayton, E. 2016. Petinomys vordermanni (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T16740A115139026. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16740A22241246.en. Downloaded on 04 February 2021.

Gliding Mammals of the world

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Vordermann’s flying squirrel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vordermann%27s_flying_squirrel

Wilson, D. E., Lacher, T. E., & Mittermeier, R. A. (2016). Sciuridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I. Lynx Edicions. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6840226

Vordermann’s Flying Squirrel Petinomys vordermanni

Caption: This beautiful painting is by My YM

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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• 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 #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #Brunei #climateChange #deforestation #ForgottenAnimals #glidingMammal #hunting #illegalPetTrade #Indonesia #Malaysia #Mammal #mammals #Myanmar #nocturnal #omnivore #omnivores #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #PapuaNewGuineaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #SouthEastAsia #Squirrel #Squirrels #timber #vegan #VordermannSFlyingSquirrelPetinomysVordermanni #vulnerable #VulnerableSpecies

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

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

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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

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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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