#omnivore — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #omnivore, aggregated by home.social.
-
Olinguito Bassaricyon neblina
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
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
#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
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterDiscovered 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
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterAppearance & 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.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 3,180 other subscribers2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
Read moreMel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings
Read moreAnthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao
Read moreHealth Physician Dr Evan Allen
Read moreThe World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert
Read moreHow do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy
Read more3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20
https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20
https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pledge your supportLearn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture
Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNGSanta Catarina’s Guinea Pig Cavia intermedia
Keep readingKeel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus
Keep readingAsian Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus
Keep readingMarsupials thought extinct for 6,000 years found in West Papua
Keep readingGursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae
Keep readingSunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus
Keep readingLearn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing
Read more about RSPO greenwashing
Lying Fake labels Indigenous Land-grabbing Human rights abuses Deforestation Human health hazardsA 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)
Read more #animals #Bear #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #carnivores #coffee #Colombia #deforestation #Ecuador #ForgottenAnimals #goldMining #goldmining #hunting #infrastructure #Mammal #mammals #meat #meatAgriculture #meatDeforestation #NearThreatenedSpecies #NearThreatened #nocturnal #OlinguitoBassaricyonNeblina #Olinguitos #omnivore #omnivores #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #palmoilfree #poaching #roads #SeedDispersers #seeddispersal #vegan #VulnerableSpecies -
CW: Recipe: Black Sorghum and Gai Lan
I put this together using what I had on hand. It turned out well, and now I have several meals.
https://leisureguy.ca/2023/11/14/black-lan/
@vegancooking @wfpb
#food #recipe #WFPB #vegan #vegetarian #omnivore #health #cooking #shiitake #GaiLan #blackSorghum -
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/
Share to BlueSky Share to TwitterThe 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 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.
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.
Enter your email address
Sign Up
Join 1,398 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#BanPrimateExperiments #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Colombia #CottonHeadedTamarinSaguinusOedipus #crime #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #illegalPetTrade #Mammal #mining #monkey #monkeys #omnivore #omnivores #palmoil #Primate #primates #SeedDispersers #seeddispersal #soy #tamarin #Tamarins #vegan