#palmoilfree — Public Fediverse posts

How do you boycott the endless #greed of large food companies causing massive #extinction 🦏🐅🐒 and human #health damage? Go #palmoilfree and boycott Colgate, #Unilever, #Pepsi, Ferrero and others. Fight back and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥⛔ @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-EV?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

How do you boycott the endless #greed of large food companies causing massive #extinction 🦏🐅🐒 and human #health damage? Go #palmoilfree and boycott Colgate, #Unilever, #Pepsi, Ferrero and others. Fight back and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥⛔ @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-EV?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

How do you boycott the endless #greed of large food companies causing massive #extinction 🦏🐅🐒 and human #health damage? Go #palmoilfree and boycott Colgate, #Unilever, #Pepsi, Ferrero and others. Fight back and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥⛔ @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-EV?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

How do you boycott the endless #greed of large food companies causing massive #extinction 🦏🐅🐒 and human #health damage? Go #palmoilfree and boycott Colgate, #Unilever, #Pepsi, Ferrero and others. Fight back and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥⛔ @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-EV?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Major #brands making #cleaning products 🧹🧼🫧 #Palmolive #Reckitt #Unilever #PZCussons and others tell lies and destroy rainforests. Don't buy the #greenwash of "sustainable" #palmoil 🌴🤮💀☠️❌ Instead shop #palmoilfree #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetectives https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-cleaning-products/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Major #brands making #cleaning products 🧹🧼🫧 #Palmolive #Reckitt #Unilever #PZCussons and others tell lies and destroy rainforests. Don't buy the #greenwash of "sustainable" #palmoil 🌴🤮💀☠️❌ Instead shop #palmoilfree #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetectives https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-cleaning-products/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Major #brands making #cleaning products 🧹🧼🫧 #Palmolive #Reckitt #Unilever #PZCussons and others tell lies and destroy rainforests. Don’t buy the #greenwash of “sustainable” #palmoil 🌴🤮💀☠️❌ Instead shop #palmoilfree #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetectives https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-cleaning-products/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Major #brands making #cleaning products 🧹🧼🫧 #Palmolive #Reckitt #Unilever #PZCussons and others tell lies and destroy rainforests. Don't buy the #greenwash of "sustainable" #palmoil 🌴🤮💀☠️❌ Instead shop #palmoilfree #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetectives https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-cleaning-products/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Major #brands making #cleaning products 🧹🧼🫧 #Palmolive #Reckitt #Unilever #PZCussons and others tell lies and destroy rainforests. Don't buy the #greenwash of "sustainable" #palmoil 🌴🤮💀☠️❌ Instead shop #palmoilfree #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetectives https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-cleaning-products/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Major #brands making #cleaning products 🧹🧼🫧 #Palmolive #Reckitt #Unilever #PZCussons and others tell lies and destroy rainforests. Don't buy the #greenwash of "sustainable" #palmoil 🌴🤮💀☠️❌ Instead shop #palmoilfree #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetectives https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-cleaning-products/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Want to be beautiful inside and out? Make sure you boycott ugly brands like #Unilever #Revlon and #Maybelline #MAC that use #palmoil in their #makeup. Search for #PalmOilFree brands now ⏬ and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🤮☠️🙈⛔️#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetectives https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-makeup-and-cosmetics/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Major #brands making #cleaning products 🧹🧼🫧 #Palmolive #Reckitt #Unilever #PZCussons and others tell lies and destroy rainforests. Don’t buy the #greenwash of “sustainable” #palmoil 🌴🤮💀☠️❌ Instead shop #palmoilfree #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetectives https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-cleaning-products/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Major #brands making #cleaning products 🧹🧼🫧 #Palmolive #Reckitt #Unilever #PZCussons and others tell lies and destroy rainforests. Don’t buy the #greenwash of “sustainable” #palmoil 🌴🤮💀☠️❌ Instead shop #palmoilfree #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-cleaning-products/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Want to be beautiful inside and out? Make sure you boycott ugly brands like #Unilever #Revlon and #Maybelline #MAC that use #palmoil in their #makeup. Search for #PalmOilFree brands now ⏬ and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🤮☠️🙈⛔️#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-makeup-and-cosmetics/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Major #brands making #cleaning products 🧹🧼🫧 #Palmolive #Reckitt #Unilever #PZCussons and others tell lies and destroy rainforests. Don’t buy the #greenwash of “sustainable” #palmoil 🌴🤮💀☠️❌ Instead shop #palmoilfree #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-cleaning-products/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Want to be beautiful inside and out? Make sure you boycott ugly brands like #Unilever #Revlon and #Maybelline #MAC that use #palmoil in their #makeup. Search for #PalmOilFree brands now ⏬ and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🤮☠️🙈⛔️#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-makeup-and-cosmetics/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Major #brands making #cleaning products 🧹🧼🫧 #Palmolive #Reckitt #Unilever #PZCussons and others tell lies and destroy rainforests. Don't buy the #greenwash of "sustainable" #palmoil 🌴🤮💀☠️❌ Instead shop #palmoilfree #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/11/palm-oil-free-cleaning-products/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis

Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis

IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered (CR)

Location: Vietnam and Laos

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

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

https://youtu.be/Y6mnFEbNmsM

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

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

Appearance & Behaviour

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

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

Threats

Widespread snaring and indiscriminate hunting

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

Bushmeat and traditional medicine trade

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

Road construction and increased human access

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

Deforestation for monocultures like palm oil

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

Ineffective protected area management

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

Population isolation and low genetic diversity

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

Climate and ecological constraints

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

Rising wealth fuelling wildlife demand

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

Geographic Range

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

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

Diet

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

Mating and Reproduction

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

FAQs

How many Saolas are left in the wild?

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

Do Saolas make good pets?

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

Why are Saolas so rare?

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

What is being done to protect Saolas?

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

What type of forest do Saolas live in?

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

Take Action!

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

Protect Saolas by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

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

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

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

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Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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

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

3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.

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Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Gursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae

Sunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus

Western Parotia Parotia sefilata

Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus

Mountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque

Tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis

Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

Read more about RSPO greenwashing

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

Blue-billed Curassow Crax alberti

Blue-billed Curassow Crax alberti

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Location: Colombia

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

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

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

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

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

Appearance and Behaviour

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

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

Diet

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

Reproduction and Mating

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

Geographic Range

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

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

Threats

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take Action!

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

FAQs

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

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

What is the lifespan of a Blue-billed Curassow?

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

What are the predators of the Blue-billed Curassow?

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

Why is the Blue-billed Curassow critically endangered?

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

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

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

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

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

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

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

Blue-billed Curassow Crax alberti

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.

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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

#Bird #birds #Birdsong #BlueBilledCurassowCraxAlberti #BoycottGold #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #coca #Colombia #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #Currasow #Currasows #deforestation #endangered #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #goldmining #hunting #illegalPetTrade #meat #palmoil #palmoilfree #SeedDispersers #seeddispersal #SouthAmericaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #timber #vegan

Storm’s Stork Ciconia stormi

Storm’s Stork Ciconia stormi

IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

Location: Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei

Found in lowland riverine and peat swamp forests of #Borneo, #Sumatra, Peninsular #Malaysia, and southern #Thailand. Core strongholds include the floodplains of Sabah and peat swamps of #Kalimantan.

Storm’s Stork Ciconia stormi is the rarest and most elusive #stork in Asia, and one of the world’s most threatened. Currently listed as #Endangered by the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 500 individuals remaining in the wild, their continued survival hangs by a thread in #Malaysia #Indonesia #Thailand and #Brunei. These elegant, black-and-white #birds once ranged widely across the Sundaic region. Today, their numbers are spiralling due to large-scale #deforestation for #palmoil plantations, logging, and infrastructure projects like dams and roads that slice through their forest home.

Peat swamp #forests—critical for nesting and foraging—are rapidly disappearing. But you can help turn the tide. Use your wallet as a weapon to protect these remarkable birds. Choose products that are 100% #palmoilfree and support indigenous-led conservation. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan

Storm’s #Storks have bright red and yellow faces and live in #Malaysia 🇲🇾 and #Indonesia 🇮🇩. They’re #endangered due to #PalmOil #deforestation 🌴🔥 and hunting 🏹 Fight for them when you #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/05/storms-stork-ciconia-stormi/

Raising two chicks per year, monogamous Storm’s #Storks of #Thailand 🇹🇭 #Malaysia 🇲🇾 and #Indonesia 🇮🇩are #endangered due to #deforestation for #rubber and #palmoil. Resist for them when you shop #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🚜🔥🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/05/storms-stork-ciconia-stormi/

https://youtu.be/YC-5PstWy3A?si=MdZcfzu9in0ZWeL_

Appearance and Behaviour

With their sleek black plumage, brilliant white undertail, and arresting red facial skin encircled by a yellow eye ring, Storm’s Storks are unmistakeable once seen—if seen at all. Adults stand at 75–91 cm tall, their red legs often stained white from perching high in the canopy. They are silent outside the breeding season but may utter soft whistling or a frog-like call at the nest.

Unlike many storks, they are shy and solitary, rarely seen in groups. They glide high above the forest on thermals, and are often seen alone or in pairs near quiet, muddy riverbanks. Nesting high in tall trees, often overhanging rivers, they raise just two chicks a year with intense parental care and secrecy.

Diet

Storm’s Stork feeds primarily on small fish, frogs, worms, aquatic insect larvae and sometimes crustaceans and grasshoppers. They stalk quietly along shaded forest streams and oxbow lakes, moving slowly and deliberately. Parents regurgitate these prey items into the nest for their young, with foraging usually taking place 2–3 km away from their nesting site.

Reproduction and Mating

Monogamous pairs construct large twig nests high in the canopy, often reusing the same nest over several years. Nesting takes place in primary forest close to rivers, with clutches of two eggs and chicks fledging after approximately 90 days. Breeding displays include aerial flips and ground-based mutual bowing. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks, although the female tends to remain longer at the nest.

Geographic Range

Storm’s Stork occurs at extremely low densities across Borneo (Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia), Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and southern Thailand. Borneo is its core range, especially in Kalimantan and Sabah, where it persists in lowland peat swamps and riverine forests. Once present across the Greater Sundas, it is now extinct or nearly so in Thailand and Myanmar. In Sumatra, populations remain on the Kampar Peninsula, Way Kambas, and Siberut. In Peninsular Malaysia, only small relict populations exist, mostly within Taman Negara.

Threats

Ciconia stormi is native to the swamp and plains-level forests of the Greater Sundas, where it occurs at a very low density and nowhere is numerous. Over the past three generations (31 years: 1992–2023), it is suspected of having declined rapidly (40–60%) in response to industrial removal of its habitat for agro-industry plantations, particularly oil-palm and rubber. Its global population size is uncertain, but probably numbers 300–1,750 mature individuals; with ongoing habitat loss compounded by forest fires which may increase with frequency in response to climate change, this species is considered to be a high risk of extinction in the near-term. Accordingly, it is listed as Endangered.

IUCN Red list

• Widespread deforestation for palm oil and rubber plantations has destroyed much of the lowland forest habitat that Storm’s Stork depends on.

• Peat swamp forests, their stronghold in Borneo, are being drained, logged and set alight, especially during El Niño years.

• Logging roads fragment the forest and degrade rivers through erosion and sedimentation, reducing aquatic prey.

• Forest fires intensify due to human activities, especially in drained peatlands, further eliminating habitat and nesting sites.

• Hydropower projects, like the Chiew Larn Dam in Thailand, have flooded large tracts of prime habitat.

• Hunting still occurs, though not the primary driver of decline. These sensitive birds abandon nests if disturbed.

• Captive trade was a minor historic threat; however, tamed birds in zoos are unlikely to be rewilded successfully.

• Climate change and habitat fragmentation create uncertain future conditions, especially for isolated populations on Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.

Take Action!

Storm’s Stork is a symbol of everything we stand to lose through the reckless destruction of rainforests. You have power to stop this.

Use your wallet as a weapon and boycott palm oil. Refuse to buy from companies that drive deforestation. Support indigenous-led agroecology. Speak out against the destruction of Southeast Asia’s peat swamp forests. Take action every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife, be #Vegan!

FAQs

How many Storm’s Storks are left in the wild?

Estimates suggest only 260–500 individuals remain globally. Around 240–1,600 mature individual birds may persist in Borneo, especially in Kalimantan. Sumatra’s population may be as low as 50–100 mature birds, while Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand hold fewer than 10 pairs each (BirdLife International, 2021; Martin et al., 2024).

How long do Storm’s Storks live?

Although exact data is scarce, storks in the genus Ciconia are long-lived, with some individuals living more than 20 years in the wild. Their slow reproductive rate and long lifespan make population recovery difficult after sharp declines (Danielsen et al., 1997; BirdLife International, 2021).

Why is palm oil so destructive for Storm’s Stork?

Palm oil expansion targets the very peat swamp and lowland forests Storm’s Stork calls home. These habitats are easy to access and commercially valuable, making them first to be logged, drained, and cleared. The result is mass habitat loss, water pollution, fire risk, and collapsing food chains that leave the storks with nowhere to nest or feed (Miettinen et al., 2011; Harrison et al., 2016).

Are Storm’s Storks affected by hunting or the pet trade?

They are hunted opportunistically by forest dwellers and poachers, especially as access increases through roads. However, hunting is not the main cause of their decline. The pet trade spiked in the late 1980s, but today, habitat loss remains the overwhelming threat (BirdLife International, 2021; Martin et al., 2024).

Support the conservation of this species

Reko Forest

Further Information

BirdLife International. 2023. Ciconia stormi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023: e.T22697685A224541343. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T22697685A224541343.en. Accessed on 23 March 2025.

BirdLife International. (2021). Ciconia stormi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T22697655A194974787. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22697655A194974787.en

Martin, B., Staniewicz, A., Darmansyah, S., & Karo, I. (2024). Records of the Endangered Storm’s Stork Ciconia stormi in East Kutai, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, and notes on its conservation in Borneo. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381294067

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Storm’s stork. Wikipedia. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm%27s_stork

Storm’s Stork Ciconia stormi

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.

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

Enter your email address

Sign Up

2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.

Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

Read more

Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

Read more

Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

Read more

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

Read more

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

Read more

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

Read more

3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.

https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20

https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20

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

4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.

5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here

#Bird #birds #Borneo #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brunei #climateChange #dams #deforestation #EastKalimantan #endangered #EndangeredSpecies #fires #ForgottenAnimals #hunting #hydroelectric #illegalPetTrade #Indonesia #Kalimantan #Malaysia #mining #palmoil #palmoilfree #poaching #rubber #SouthEastAsia #SouthKalimantan #stork #Storks #StormSStorkCiconiaStormi #Sumatra #Thailand #timber #vegan #Wetlands