#sumatra — Public Fediverse posts

The gigantic Titan Arum #plant better known as the ‘Corpse Flower’ stinks like rotting flesh. They live deep in #Sumatra’s #rainforest. Endangered by #palmoil #deforestation, learn how to protect them! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴👎🛢️⛔ @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bK?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Indonesia has 10 volcanoes that'll blow your mind 🌋

Read more: https://flip.it/tCYP5x

#travel #southeastasia #asean #aseantravel #indonesia #volcano #volcanoes #java #bali #maluku #sumatra #wanderlust

Sporting bold facial stripes, the Thomas’s #Langur is a handsome icon of #Sumatra #Indonesia 🇮🇩 Threats include #palmoil #deforestation and human persecution 🏹😿 Fight for their survival and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔☠️🩸🤮🙊🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetectives https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/24/thomass-langur-presbytis-thomasi/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

https://theconversation.com/could-the-strait-of-malacca-be-the-next-global-flashpoint-281190. "The strait is the shortest sea route connecting the #Indian Ocean to the South #China Sea & #Pacific Ocean, making it the default corridor for #trade between east #Asia & the west. It stretches roughly 900km from the #Malay Peninsula to the #Indonesian island of #Sumatra. At its narrowest point, the Phillips Channel near #Singapore, it is barely 2.8km wide."

Sumatra orangutan shown crossing canopy bridge for first time

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A Sumatran orangutan has been filmed for the first time using a human-made canopy…
#NewsBeep #News #Wildlife #Animals #AsiaPacific #Business #Climate #Climateandenvironment #ErwinAlamsyahSiregar #forests #Generalnews #Indonesia #Science #Sumatra #UK #UnitedKingdom #Worldnews #Zoology
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/554712/

Once widespread across southern #Asia, the animal now only survives on the islands of #Sumatra & #Borneo. Fewer than 14,000 #SumatranOrangutans remain in the wild, alongside just 800 Tapanuli #orangutans & about 104,700 Bornean orangutans, according to #conservation groups.
“These bridges allow orangutans to move, to mix, to maintain healthy populations,” Siregar said. “It reduces the risk of #extinction.”

#SumatraOrangutan #WildlifeConservation #habitat #HumanEncroachment #HabitatFragmentation

Once widespread across southern #Asia, the animal now only survives on the islands of #Sumatra & #Borneo. Fewer than 14,000 #SumatranOrangutans remain in the wild, alongside just 800 Tapanuli #orangutans & about 104,700 Bornean orangutans, according to #conservation groups.
“These bridges allow orangutans to move, to mix, to maintain healthy populations,” Siregar said. “It reduces the risk of #extinction.”

#SumatraOrangutan #WildlifeConservation #habitat #HumanEncroachment #HabitatFragmentation

Once widespread across southern #Asia, the animal now only survives on the islands of #Sumatra & #Borneo. Fewer than 14,000 #SumatranOrangutans remain in the wild, alongside just 800 Tapanuli #orangutans & about 104,700 Bornean orangutans, according to #conservation groups.
“These bridges allow orangutans to move, to mix, to maintain healthy populations,” Siregar said. “It reduces the risk of #extinction.”

#SumatraOrangutan #WildlifeConservation #habitat #HumanEncroachment #HabitatFragmentation

Once widespread across southern #Asia, the animal now only survives on the islands of #Sumatra & #Borneo. Fewer than 14,000 #SumatranOrangutans remain in the wild, alongside just 800 Tapanuli #orangutans & about 104,700 Bornean orangutans, according to #conservation groups.
“These bridges allow orangutans to move, to mix, to maintain healthy populations,” Siregar said. “It reduces the risk of #extinction.”

#SumatraOrangutan #WildlifeConservation #habitat #HumanEncroachment #HabitatFragmentation

Sumatra orangutan shown crossing canopy bridge for first time, conservationists say

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A Sumatran orangutan has been filmed for the first time using a human-made canopy…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Wildlife #Animals #AsiaPacific #Business #Climate #Climateandenvironment #ErwinAlamsyahSiregar #forests #Generalnews #Indonesia #Science #sumatra #Worldnews #Zoology
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/609632/

#News Sumatran #orangutan uses a rope to cross a road between two tiny patches of forest. Article fails to mention: RAINFORESTS ARE MOSTLY GONE in #Sumatra from #palmoil. If you care for #orangutans TAKE ACTION! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴 ☠️ ⛔ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/25/first-footage-endangered-sumatran-orangutan-using-canopy-bridge-cross-road-hope-species-aoe?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News Sumatran #orangutan uses a rope to cross a road between two tiny patches of forest. Article fails to mention: RAINFORESTS ARE MOSTLY GONE in #Sumatra from #palmoil. If you care for #orangutans TAKE ACTION! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴 ☠️ ⛔ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/25/first-footage-endangered-sumatran-orangutan-using-canopy-bridge-cross-road-hope-species-aoe?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News Sumatran #orangutan uses a rope to cross a road between two tiny patches of forest. Article fails to mention: RAINFORESTS ARE MOSTLY GONE in #Sumatra from #palmoil. If you care for #orangutans TAKE ACTION! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴 ☠️ ⛔ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/25/first-footage-endangered-sumatran-orangutan-using-canopy-bridge-cross-road-hope-species-aoe?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News Sumatran #orangutan uses a rope to cross a road between two tiny patches of forest. Article fails to mention: RAINFORESTS ARE MOSTLY GONE in #Sumatra from #palmoil. If you care for #orangutans TAKE ACTION! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴 ☠️ ⛔ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/25/first-footage-endangered-sumatran-orangutan-using-canopy-bridge-cross-road-hope-species-aoe?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News: Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra #indonesia 🇮🇩has lost 78% of primary forest since 2009 due to illegal #palmoil plantations, endangering species like #tigers #orangutans #elephants. @palmoildetectives #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aly?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News: Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra #indonesia 🇮🇩has lost 78% of primary forest since 2009 due to illegal #palmoil plantations, endangering species like #tigers #orangutans #elephants. @palmoildetectives #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aly?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News: Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra #indonesia 🇮🇩has lost 78% of primary forest since 2009 due to illegal #palmoil plantations, endangering species like #tigers #orangutans #elephants. @palmoildetectives #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aly?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News: Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra #indonesia 🇮🇩has lost 78% of primary forest since 2009 due to illegal #palmoil plantations, endangering species like #tigers #orangutans #elephants. @palmoildetectives #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aly?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News: Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra #indonesia 🇮🇩has lost 78% of primary forest since 2009 due to illegal #palmoil plantations, endangering species like #tigers #orangutans #elephants. Help them to survive! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aly?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News: Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra #indonesia 🇮🇩has lost 78% of primary forest since 2009 due to illegal #palmoil plantations, endangering species like #tigers #orangutans #elephants. Help them to survive! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aly?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News: Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra #indonesia 🇮🇩has lost 78% of primary forest since 2009 due to illegal #palmoil plantations, endangering species like #tigers #orangutans #elephants. Help them to survive! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aly?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

#News: Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra #indonesia 🇮🇩has lost 78% of primary forest since 2009 due to illegal #palmoil plantations, endangering species like #tigers #orangutans #elephants. Help them to survive! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aly?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Asian Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus

Asian Small-clawed Otter Aonyx cinereus

IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

Locations: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo, Java), The Philippines (Palawan)

Found in freshwater wetlands, peat swamps, mangroves, hill streams and rice fields across South and Southeast Asia, with a genetically distinct and critically impacted subspecies (Aonyx cinereus nirnai) in the Western Ghats of India.

The Asian Small-clawed #Otter, the world’s smallest otter species — is inquisitive, intelligent, and highly social. They are listed as #Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and are declining rapidly due to #palmoil #tea and #coffee #deforestation, #poaching, #pesticide #pollution, and the illegal pet trade. Their fragile habitat in the Western Ghats, India home to the subspecies Aonyx cinereus nirnai, is being destroyed at an alarming rate for palm oil monocultures, plantations, and hydropower development. Boycott #palmoil and demand protection for these sensitive and intelligent wetland sentinels. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

The Asian Small-Clawed Otter 🦦🩷 is the smallest #otter in the 🌎. A tenacious survivor in #Asia’s vast #rivers, #pesticide pollution and #palmoil #ecocide now pose grave threats. Help them when you #Boycottpalmoil 🌴⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/03/22/asian-small-clawed-otter-aonyx-cinereus/

Communicating with chirps and whistles, endearing Asian Small-Clawed #Otters live in rowdy groups 🦦😘 They’re #vulnerable from the illegal #pet trade and #palmoil #deforestation. #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🩸❌ #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket! @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/03/22/asian-small-clawed-otter-aonyx-cinereus/

https://youtu.be/R9L-N1WgFig

Appearance and Behaviour

With silky chocolate-brown fur, pale undersides and a broad, flat face, the Asian Small-clawed Otter has a distinct charm. Their tiny claws don’t extend past their fingers — an adaptation that gives them remarkable dexterity for catching prey. They weigh only 2.7 to 3.5 kg and reach lengths of 73 to 96 cm, making them the smallest otter species in the world.

Highly vocal and playful, these otters live in tight-knit family groups of up to 15. They communicate with at least a dozen vocalisations — chirps, squeals and whistles — and use communal latrines to mark their territories. In the Western Ghats, they are more active at night and prefer rugged hill streams with dense grasses and rocky pools for cover and escape routes.

Threats

Palm oil deforestation and peat swamp destruction

Across Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia, vast areas of peat swamp forests and mangroves — critical habitats for Asian Small-clawed Otters — have been destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations. These plantations drain wetlands, replace diverse ecosystems with monocultures, and leave otters with no access to food or cover. In India, the expansion of palm oil into the Western Ghats under so-called ‘green development’ initiatives is now destroying the rocky hill stream habitats used by the Aonyx cinereus nirnai subspecies. This deforestation not only eliminates their shelter and food sources but also causes soil erosion and alters the hydrology of entire watersheds.

Conversion of forests to palm oil, tea and coffee plantations in the Western Ghats

In southern India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, large-scale conversion of native forests to palm oil, tea and coffee plantations is reducing the range of Aonyx cinereus nirnai. These monocultures fragment stream habitats and introduce pesticides that poison aquatic life. Studies have found the otters avoiding plantation areas due to lack of vegetation cover and prey (Raha & Hussain, 2016). As a result, the Western Ghats population is now restricted to narrow, isolated pockets, surrounded by human-altered landscapes that are increasingly inhospitable to them.

Capture for the Illegal pet trade and cruel conditions in pet cafés

The Asian Small-clawed Otter is the most heavily trafficked otter species in Asia’s exotic pet trade. Between 2016 and 2017, over 700 individuals were recorded for sale online in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam (Gomez & Bouhuys, 2018). Many are poached from the wild as pups, leading to the death of their parents and collapse of social groups. Captive conditions in pet cafés and private homes cause extreme stress and suffering — and demand is rising due to social media content that normalises otter ownership.

Poaching for pelts and traditional use

Poaching continues to be a severe threat in South Asia. In the Western Ghats, otters are hunted for their pelts and body parts, which are used in traditional medicine or sold on the black market. Reports from protected areas in India reveal organised trapping and trade routes extending across state lines (Prakash et al., 2012). These killings often go undocumented due to weak enforcement, and they rapidly deplete already fragile local populations.

Overfishing and prey depletion

In many parts of Asia, otters face competition from humans for aquatic prey. Overfishing in rivers, lakes, and mangroves has drastically reduced populations of crabs, mudskippers, and fish species that form the core of the otter’s diet. Pollution from fish farms and chemical runoff further weakens these food webs, making otter survival harder during dry or lean seasons. In some areas, otters are also deliberately killed by fishers who perceive them as pests competing for the same resources.

Pesticide run-off pollution from agriculture

Agricultural runoff from palm oil, tea and coffee plantations containing pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals has been shown to poison water sources throughout the otter’s range. In the Western Ghats of India and parts of Southeast Asia, such contaminants accumulate in the food chain and affect the physiology of aquatic mammals. Polluted waterways reduce prey availability and can lead to bioaccumulation of toxins in otters, weakening their immune systems and reproductive capacity. This is especially critical in closed or stagnant freshwater systems like rice paddies and irrigation channels, where contamination is concentrated.

Hydropower development and infrastructure fragmentation

Dams and hydroelectric projects throughout the Western Ghats and Southeast Asia have altered river flow, submerged natural habitats, and fragmented otter territories. These developments destroy riverine connectivity, which otters rely on to forage and disperse. For the nirnai subspecies, hill streams once connected across forest corridors are now interrupted by roads, canals, and dams — leading to isolated, unsustainable populations. Infrastructure development often proceeds without proper environmental assessments, disregarding the needs of aquatic species like otters.

Climate change and habitat drying

Shifts in monsoon patterns, increased droughts, and rising temperatures are affecting the wetlands and rivers that Asian Small-clawed Otters depend on. Reduced water flow in dry seasons can strand otter families and eliminate key feeding pools. In the Western Ghats, erratic rainfall is already altering seasonal resource use patterns for A. c. nirnai, increasing their vulnerability to disturbance (Narasimmarajan et al., 2024). Climate stress, combined with other threats, compounds the likelihood of local extinctions.

Geographic Range

Their range stretches across India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia (including Borneo, Sumatra, Java), the Philippines (Palawan), China and Taiwan. In India, they are found in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. They are absent from large swathes of their historical range, including the Western Himalayas.

The genetically distinct subspecies Aonyx cinereus nirnai is restricted to the Western Ghats’ Moyar River and surrounding hill streams. This biodiverse stronghold is currently being cleared for palm oil plantations, hydropower projects, and invasive monocultures, putting this population in grave danger.

Diet

Asian Small-clawed Otters are primarily crustacean specialists. Their diet includes crabs, snails, molluscs, fish such as mudskippers and catfish, amphibians, insects, snakes, and even rodents. Scat analysis in Malaysia and Thailand revealed crabs to be the most frequent prey, often making up over 80% of their diet.

In rice fields and mangroves, they may leave molluscs out in the sun to soften the shells before eating — a sign of their intelligence and adaptability. Seasonal changes in water levels influence the availability of prey, leading to subtle shifts in their dietary habits throughout the year.

Mating and Reproduction

These otters are monogamous and breed year-round, with gestation lasting 62–86 days. Litters typically include 2–7 pups. In captivity, they start breeding at around 18 months of age, and may live up to 11 years. Parents build nests together before birth and both contribute to raising the young. Pups begin to open their eyes around five weeks old and start swimming with their mothers at around three months.

FAQs

How many Asian Small-clawed Otters are left in the wild?

There is no global population estimate, but their numbers are declining throughout their range. In China and Cambodia, they are now almost locally extinct, with only a few scattered sightings since 2006 (Li & Chan, 2017; Heng et al., 2016). Surveys in India confirm drastic reductions in range, especially from west to east, over the past 60 years (Hussain et al., 2011).

What is the lifespan of the Asian ?

In captivity, Asian Small-clawed Otters can live up to 11 years (Crandall, 1964). Their lifespan in the wild is likely shorter due to environmental pressures and poaching.

Why are Asian Small Clawed Otters endangered?

They are threatened by habitat loss from logging, plantations, palm oil, pollution, and construction of dams. In the Western Ghats, the genetically distinct nirnai subspecies is losing habitat to hydropower development and palm oil monocultures, which destroy the narrow, rocky streams they depend on (Narasimmarajan et al., 2024).

Do Asian Small-clawed Otters make good pets?

Absolutely not. Keeping them as pets is cruel and selfish. They are wild animals with complex social and environmental needs. The illegal pet trade is driving them towards extinction, causing immense suffering and ripping family groups apart (Gomez & Bouhuys, 2018). Buying a pet otter and also sharing pet otter content on social media fuels this horrific industry — if you love otters, protect them in the wild! Do not buy them as pets or support this cruel industry!

How is palm oil affecting their survival?

Palm oil plantations have destroyed vast tracts of mangroves, peat swamps, and wetlands in Malaysia, Indonesia, and now India. In the Western Ghats, forests are being cleared for palm oil under the guise of “afforestation” and “reforestation” using non-native species. This directly threatens the survival of A. c. nirnai (Narasimmarajan et al., 2024).

Take Action!

Raise your voice for the smallest otter in the world. Every time you shop, Boycott palm oil and reject products linked to deforestation and wetland destruction. Support indigenous-led conservation efforts in the Western Ghats and Southeast Asia.

Never buy otters or exotic animals — their capture fuels extinction. Adopt a plant-based lifestyle to protect wetlands, rivers and biodiversity. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

Support Asian Small-Clawed Otters 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

Gomez, L., & Bouhuys, J. (2018). Illegal otter trade: An analysis of seizures in selected Asian countries (1980–2015). TRAFFIC. https://www.traffic.org/site/assets/files/2402/illegal-otter-trade-asia.pdf

Narasimmarajan, K., Mathai, M. T., Hayward, M. W., & Palanivel, S. (2024). Lesser-known sentinels: Role of environmental variables influencing the seasonal resource use patterns of Asian Small-clawed Otters (Aonyx cinereus nirnai) in the Western Ghats Moyar River Biodiversity Hotspots. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull., 41(5), 296–310. https://iucnosgbull.org/Volume41/Narasimmarajan_et_al_2024a.pdf

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Asian small-clawed otter. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_small-clawed_otter

Wright, L., de Silva, P.K., Chan, B.P.L., Reza Lubis, I. & Basak, S. 2021. Aonyx cinereus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T44166A164580923. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T44166A164580923.en. Accessed on 17 April 2025.

How can I help the #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

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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

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

Gursky’s Spectral Tarsier Tarsius spectrumgurskyae

Sunda Flying Lemur Galeopterus variegatus

Western Parotia Parotia sefilata

Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus

Mountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque

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)

The elegant #Sunda flying #lemur AKA #Colugo can glide 100m through trees 🪽🕊️ in #Sumatra #Kalimantan and #Borneo. Totally reliant on trees, #palmoil is a major threat to them 😿 Fight back and🌴🩸🔥☠️🧐🚫 #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/02/08/sunda-flying-lemur-galeopterus-variegatus/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

The elegant #Sunda flying #lemur AKA #Colugo can glide 100m through trees 🪽🕊️ in #Sumatra #Kalimantan and #Borneo. Totally reliant on trees, #palmoil is a major threat to them 😿 Fight back and🌴🩸🔥☠️🧐🚫 #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

http://palmoildetectives.com/2026/02/08/sunda-flying-lemur-galeopterus-variegatus/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Catastrophe brings a reckoning for Sumatra’s oil palm plantations

A 170-hectare oil palm plantation managed by a community-owned enterprise in the West Sumatran village of Lubuk Malako: Revenue from the…
#NewsBeep #News #Environment #AU #Australia #brings #Catastrophe #oil #Palm #plantations #reckoning #Science #Sumatra's
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/463530/

Catastrophe brings a reckoning for Sumatra’s oil palm plantations

A 170-hectare oil palm plantation managed by a community-owned enterprise in the West Sumatran village of Lubuk Malako: Revenue from the…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Environment #brings #Catastrophe #Oil #Palm #plantations #reckoning #Science #Sumatra's
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/453705/

Catastrophe brings a reckoning for Sumatra’s oil palm plantations

A 170-hectare oil palm plantation managed by a community-owned enterprise in the West Sumatran village of Lubuk Malako: Revenue from the…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Environment #brings #Catastrophe #Oil #Palm #plantations #reckoning #Science #Sumatra's
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/453705/

Meat-Stinking Giant Flower Has A Delectable Aroma For Pollinators

The Titan Arum, more commonly known as the ‘Corpse Flower’ is famous for its repulsive meat smell. Designed to repel humans, in contrast pollinators find the putrid aromas irresistible in the plant’s native environment. The Corpse Flower Titan Arum lives deep inside of Sumatra’s imperilled rainforests. endangered by palm oil and mining deforestation. Now researchers have gained greater insight into how the plant warms itself up before blooming – known as thermogenesis and have discovered a new compound called ‘putrescine’ which gives the plant its strong aroma. Help these rare stinking beauties to survive when you #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

The gigantic Titan Arum #plant better known as the ‘Corpse Flower’ stinks like rotting flesh. They live deep in #Sumatra’s #rainforest. Endangered by #palmoil #deforestation, learn how to protect them! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴👎🛢️⛔ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bK

Corpse #Flowers are unusual 🌸 as they emit heat before flowering. Scientists have found the smelly compound causing their aroma: ‘Putrescine’. They’re #endangered by #palmoil #deforestation. Take action! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥❌ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9bK

Alveena Zulfiqar, Beenish J Azhar, Samina N Shakeel, William Thives Santos, Theresa D Barry, Dana Ozimek, Kim DeLong, Ruthie Angelovici, Kathleen M Greenham, Craig A Schenck, G Eric Schaller. Molecular basis for thermogenesis and volatile production in the titan arum. PNAS Nexus, 2024; DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae492

The Titan Arum, more commonly known as the ‘Corpse Flower’, is famous for its repulsive meat smell. While designed to repel humans, this putrid aroma irresistibly attracts pollinators in its native environment—the imperilled rainforests of Sumatra, now under threat from palm oil plantations and mining activities. Researchers have recently uncovered how the plant generates heat before blooming, a process known as thermogenesis, and have identified a new compound called ‘putrescine’, which contributes to its potent stench.

A study led by G. Eric Schaller, Professor of Biological Sciences at Dartmouth College, explored the genetic and biological mechanisms behind the Titan Arum’s remarkable heating and scent production. The research relied on tissue samples from ‘Morphy’, Dartmouth’s 21-year-old Corpse Flower, to analyse RNA sequences. This allowed scientists to pinpoint which genes are active during the phases of heating and scent release.

The Titan Arum is not a single flower but a cluster of tiny flowers hidden within a massive central stalk, known as the spadix, which can reach up to 12 feet in height. It blooms rarely—typically once every 5 to 7 years—and only for a brief period. “The blooms are rare and also short-lived, so we only get a small window to study these phenomena,” Schaller explains.

During blooming, the spadix heats up, raising its temperature by as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit above the surrounding air. This thermogenic phase coincides with the emission of its signature scent, a mixture of sulphur-based compounds designed to attract flies and carrion beetles, which play a vital role in the plant’s pollination.

The RNA analysis revealed that genes associated with alternative oxidases—plant equivalents of animal uncoupling proteins—are highly active during the heating phase, especially in the spadix’s appendix. Additionally, genes involved in sulphur transport and metabolism were expressed, driving the production of the odour. Among these compounds, researchers identified putrescine, an organic chemical not previously recognised as part of the Corpse Flower’s scent profile.

This research sheds light on the evolutionary adaptations of the Titan Arum while highlighting the urgent need to conserve its natural habitat. Protecting the rainforests of Sumatra from deforestation caused by palm oil cultivation and mining is critical for the survival of this extraordinary species. By choosing to #BoycottPalmOil and supporting campaigns such as #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop, individuals can help safeguard the delicate ecosystems these rare flowers depend on, ensuring they continue to thrive for generations to come.

Alveena Zulfiqar, Beenish J Azhar, Samina N Shakeel, William Thives Santos, Theresa D Barry, Dana Ozimek, Kim DeLong, Ruthie Angelovici, Kathleen M Greenham, Craig A Schenck, G Eric Schaller. Molecular basis for thermogenesis and volatile production in the titan arum. PNAS Nexus, 2024; DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae492

ENDS

Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Western Parotia Parotia sefilata

Keep reading

Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus

Keep reading

Mountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque

Keep reading

Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis

Keep reading

Tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis

Keep reading

Frill-Necked Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii

Keep reading

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)

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

#biodiversity #Botany #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CorpseFlower #deforestation #endangered #EndangeredSpecies #flowers #Indonesia #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #plant #plants #pollinator #rainforest #ReasonsToBeHopeful #Sumatra #TitanArum

Sporting bold facial stripes, the Thomas's #Langur is a handsome icon of #Sumatra #Indonesia 🇮🇩 Threats include #palmoil #deforestation and human persecution 🏹😿 Fight for their survival and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔☠️🩸🤮🙊🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/24/thomass-langur-presbytis-thomasi/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Découvrez mon blogue sur le développement soutenable et l'ESS : Toutes les innovations vertes et les grandes tendances de l'écologie, en matière d'habillement, santé et de bien-être, d'alimentation, de transport et d'énergie, en matière de logement, etc...

En savoir plus sur
http://www.revolutionverte.fr

#Borneo #Sumatra #Polynesie #blog #blogue #marketing #journal #finance #financement #banque #Hamburg #Rennes #Avignon #Nancy #Metz #Strasbourg #Dresde #Berlin #Dusseldorf #Heidelberg #Saarbrucken

Viral Gajah Sumatra Dikerahkan Bersihkan Tumpukan Kayu di Aceh Pasca Banjir dan Longsor

Terviral - #ACEH — #Video viral #yang #memperlihatkan #gajah #Sumatra #membantu #membersihkan #tumpukan #kayu #gelondongan di #kawasan #Meureudu, #Kabupaten #Pidie #Jaya, #Aceh, kembali menghebohkan media sosial. Empat ekor gajah jinak milik BKSDA Aceh dikerahkan untuk mengevakuasi gelondongan kayu yang menutup akses jalan dan permukiman warga pasca banjir bandang dan longsor yang…

https://terviral.id/viral-gajah-sumatra-dikerahkan-bersihkan-tumpukan-kayu-di-aceh-pasca-banjir-dan-longsor/

Viral Gajah Sumatra Dikerahkan Bersihkan Tumpukan Kayu di Aceh Pasca Banjir dan Longsor

Terviral - #ACEH — #Video viral #yang #memperlihatkan #gajah #Sumatra #membantu #membersihkan #tumpukan #kayu #gelondongan di #kawasan #Meureudu, #Kabupaten #Pidie #Jaya, #Aceh, kembali menghebohkan media sosial. Empat ekor gajah jinak milik BKSDA Aceh dikerahkan untuk mengevakuasi gelondongan kayu yang menutup akses jalan dan permukiman warga pasca banjir bandang dan longsor yang…

https://terviral.id/viral-gajah-sumatra-dikerahkan-bersihkan-tumpukan-kayu-di-aceh-pasca-banjir-dan-longsor/

Nach den verheerenden Überflutungen auf der indonesischen Insel #Sumatra mit mehr als 880 Toten hat ein örtlicher Gouverneur vor weiteren Todesopfern durch #Hunger gewarnt.
Hilfsorganisationen fürchten, dass die #Flutkatastrophe ein nie da gewesenes Ausmass hat.

https://www.srf.ch/news/international/nach-flutkatastrophe-warnung-vor-hungertoten-in-indonesien

La stirpe doppiamente sconosciuta dei conigli a strisce, spiriti silvani dell’Asia meridionale
https://www.jacoporanieri.com/blog/?p=43470

#animali #creature #conigli #lagomorfi #mammiferi #foreste #alture #montagna #sumatra #Vietnam #laos #cambogia #evoluzione #comportamento #natura #notturni #oriente #asia #ecologia #conservazione #specie #tassonomia #scoperte #mimetismo #erbivori

La stirpe doppiamente sconosciuta dei conigli a strisce, spiriti silvani dell’Asia meridionale
https://www.jacoporanieri.com/blog/?p=43470

#animali #creature #conigli #lagomorfi #mammiferi #foreste #alture #montagna #sumatra #Vietnam #laos #cambogia #evoluzione #comportamento #natura #notturni #oriente #asia #ecologia #conservazione #specie #tassonomia #scoperte #mimetismo #erbivori

Forgotten #primate 🙊🐒 Pig-tailed Snub-nosed #Langur is now critically endangered on tiny islands near #Sumatra #Indonesia 🇮🇩 from #palmoil #deforestation and hunting pressures. Help them survive #BoycottPalmOil 🌴☠️⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/31/pig-tailed-snub-nosed-langur-simias-concolor/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Deforestation Devastates Tesso Nilo National Park’s Endangered Creatures

Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra, #Indonesia, has lost 78% of its primary forest between 2009 and 2023, primarily due to #palmoil plantations. This #deforestation threatens the habitat of critically endangered species like the Sumatran #tiger and #elephant. Advocating for indigenous-led conservation efforts and adopting a vegan lifestyle can help protect these vital ecosystems. #Vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

#News: Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra #indonesia 🇮🇩has lost 78% of primary forest since 2009 due to illegal #palmoil plantations, endangering species like #tigers #orangutans #elephants. Help them to survive! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-aly

https://youtu.be/z7FUBg_AqjA

Tesso Nilo National Park, established two decades ago to safeguard one of Sumatra’s largest remaining lowland forests, is facing severe deforestation. Recent satellite imagery from Global Forest Watch indicates that the park has lost 78% of its primary forest cover between 2009 and 2023.

The primary driver of this deforestation is the expansion of illegal oil palm plantations. A 2018 investigation by the World Wildlife Fund revealed that nearly 75% of the park had been converted into such plantations. The development of these plantations introduces roads, increasing accessibility for poachers and further endangering wildlife.

Tesso Nilo is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 4,000 plant species and nearly 3% of the world’s mammal species, including critically endangered Sumatran tigers and Sumatran elephants. The ongoing deforestation poses a significant threat to these species, leading to palm oil habitat loss and ecosystem disruption.

In addition to biodiversity loss, deforestation contributes to climate change by releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming.

Efforts to combat deforestation in Tesso Nilo include raising awareness about the consequences of palm oil deforestation and promoting indigenous-led conservation initiatives. Make sure you resist against animal and plant extinction when you shop #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife!

For a detailed analysis, read the full article on The Cool Down.

Marino, J. (2024, December 15). Satellite imagery identifies disturbing problem in national park — here’s why experts are concerned. The Cool Down. Retrieved from https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/tesso-nilo-national-park-deforestation-satellite-images/

ENDS

Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry

Protecting India’s Tigers Saves One Million Tonnes of CO2

#India’s fifty year long Project #Tiger has been a successful conservation project. A new research study finds that protecting tigers and their rainforest home has additional benefits to #carbonemissions, saving 1 million tonnes…

Read more

Savage’s Glass Frog Centrolene savagei

Perched on delicate leaves above rushing mountain streams, Centrolene savagei is a rare frog of wonder. The Savage’s Glass Frog, also known as the Savage’s Cochran Frog has translucent emerald skin that shimmers…

Read more

Human Activities Shift Tree Species in Brazilian Forests

Human Activities Shift Tree Species in Brazilian Forests | Research by Lancaster University reveals that human-induced deforestation and degradation in Brazilian forests are causing a shift towards fast-growing, small-seeded tree species. These changes…

Read more

Pesquets Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus

The beguiling Pesquet’s #parrots are sometimes known as ‘Dracula parrots’ due to their unique appearance. This includes black facial features, black feathers and bright red patches that reminiscent of a Dracula-like cloak. This…

Read more

How We Save Sumatra’s Last Living Tigers

Strict global rainforest laws like #EUDR, enforcement of anti #poaching units, and a consumer boycott of #palmoil, hold the key to protecting #Sumatra’s last living #tigers.

Read more

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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

#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #corruption #deforestation #elephant #elephants #Indonesia #News #orangutans #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #Sumatra #SumatranCochoaCochoaBeccarii #SumatranElephantElephasMaximusSumatranus #SumatranGroundCuckooCarpococcyxViridis #SumatranLaughingthrushGarrulaxBicolor #SumatranLeafbirdChloropsisMedia #SumatranMesiaLeiothrixLaurinae #SumatranOrangutanPongoAbelii #SumatranTigerPantheraTigrisSondaica #TessoNiloNationalPark #tiger #tigers #vegan

Internationaler Tag der #Feuerwehr 🚒

Dann mal Bilder aus: #Dublin, Feuerwehrmann in #Sumatra, Stuttgarter Feuerwehr Großraum #RTW in #Freiburg und Feurwehr Freiburg beim #Brandmelder Alarm im Rathaus.

Die #FeuerwehrFreiburg ist übrigens diese Woche 80 geworden.

#Firefighters #FirefightersDay

🦧 Por los #orangutanes y el #clima: es urgente proteger las #turberas en #Indonesia #Sumatra 🦧

https://www.salvalaselva.org/peticion/1290/por-los-orangutanes-y-el-clima-urgente-proteger-las-turberas-en-indonesia

#AceiteDePalma #PalmaAceitera #Tripa #Leuser #Petition #Petición #SharingIsCaring #CompartirEsVivir #Biodiversidad #Naturaleza #SaveThePlanet

🦧 Por los #orangutanes y el #clima: es urgente proteger las #turberas en #Indonesia #Sumatra 🦧

https://www.salvalaselva.org/peticion/1290/por-los-orangutanes-y-el-clima-urgente-proteger-las-turberas-en-indonesia

#AceiteDePalma #PalmaAceitera #Tripa #Leuser #Petition #Petición #SharingIsCaring #CompartirEsVivir #Biodiversidad #Naturaleza #SaveThePlanet

🦧 Por los #orangutanes y el #clima: es urgente proteger las #turberas en #Indonesia #Sumatra 🦧

https://www.salvalaselva.org/peticion/1290/por-los-orangutanes-y-el-clima-urgente-proteger-las-turberas-en-indonesia

#AceiteDePalma #PalmaAceitera #Tripa #Leuser #Petition #Petición #SharingIsCaring #CompartirEsVivir #Biodiversidad #Naturaleza #SaveThePlanet

🦧 Por los #orangutanes y el #clima: es urgente proteger las #turberas en #Indonesia #Sumatra 🦧

https://www.salvalaselva.org/peticion/1290/por-los-orangutanes-y-el-clima-urgente-proteger-las-turberas-en-indonesia

#AceiteDePalma #PalmaAceitera #Tripa #Leuser #Petition #Petición #SharingIsCaring #CompartirEsVivir #Biodiversidad #Naturaleza #SaveThePlanet

#PeticiónSalvaLaSelva para firmar y difundir ✍️

¡Basta de hacer negocios con la industria de papel y celulosa en #Indonesia !

https://www.salvalaselva.org/peticion/1288/basta-de-hacer-negocios-con-la-industria-de-papel-y-celulosa-en-indonesia

www.salvalaselva.org

#Sumatra #salvalaselva #selva #orangutanes #petición

Il vestito invisibile del pipistrello, nudo imperatore nelle grotte dell’Asia orientale

https://www.jacoporanieri.com/blog/?p=38807

#animali #pipistrelli #chirotteri #insettivori #creature #mammiferi #strano #sud-est asiatico #asia #borneo #malesia #filippine #sumatra #predatori #notte #ecologia #scienza #riproduzione #evoluzione #specie #tassonomia #unoscienza

This recalls that even in contexts like #Java or #Sumatra, where the #subduction #megathrust may produce very big #earthquakes, much smaller shallow crustal ruptures may present significant hazards because closer to towns.
2/2

A magnitude Mw6.9 #earthquake offshore south-central #Sumatra.

Mechanism and location suggest rupture on the shallow part of the #subduction #megathrust close to the trench (on the very shallow dipping fault plane). However, modelled depth of ~19km, if true, seems little too deep given the closeness with the trench (USGS gives same depth and mechanism). This means that we cannot exclude a rupture on the steep fault plane within the oceanic plate.

Map with source time function from Geoscope IPGP
http://geoscope.ipgp.fr/index.php/en/catalog/earthquake-description?seis=us7000iqpn
Larger map with epicenter of this event in red from USGS (both not yet on fediverse it seems)

Conservation activists suing Indonesian zoo could inspire global action on endangered species trade

In a court in rural #Indonesia, an environmental group recently filed a lawsuit of global importance. Their case is against a zoo in North #Sumatra that it’s alleged illegally exhibited threatened species, including Komodo dragons and critically endangered Sumatran #orangutans. The illegal wildlife trade is a multibillion-dollar industry that threatens species globally, from #elephants to orchids. Plants, animals and fungi are harvested from the wild and sold to customers around the world as attractions in zoos, as pets, for food, as souvenirs or as medicine. Help animals and #BoycottWildlifeTrade #Boycott4Wildlife

People caught trafficking wildlife are typically tried in criminal law cases, in which courts impose fines or prison sentences that punish the responsible parties in order to deter would-be criminals. But in this recent case, rather than seek punishment against the Indonesian zoo, the activists brought a civil lawsuit ordering the zoo to remedy the harm it allegedly caused by exhibiting these species illegally.

Lawsuit by activists against #zoo in #Indonesia for harm caused by illegally exhibiting endangered #species was successful. It’s a new way to protect #wildlife from illegal and cruel #trafficking #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife Images @CraigJones17 https://palmoildetectives.com/2022/04/03/conservation-activists-suing-indonesian-zoo-could-inspire-global-action-on-endangered-species-trade/

In the press release announcing the lawsuit, the North Sumatra Chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi Sumut) and Medan Legal Aid Institute said they were suing to cover the costs of care for one Sumatran orangutan confiscated from the zoo, and to fund monitoring of orangutan habitat to aid the recovery of their wild population. The resulting bill exceeds US$70,000 (£49,438). The typical criminal sanction for wildlife crime in Indonesia is around US$3,500.

The activists are also asking the zoo to publicly apologise and to create educational exhibits that explain how the illegal trade and use of wildlife harms nature and society. Surprisingly, these types of legal strategies that aim to repair harm – rather than punish perpetrators – have been largely overlooked by conservationists in many countries. The Indonesian zoo lawsuit could demonstrate the value of a new legal approach for protecting threatened wildlife.

Historical precedents

The zoo lawsuit parallels landmark pollution cases, such as the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon oil spills, where the responsible parties (in these cases, oil companies) were sued by government agencies and citizens and required to clean up pollution, compensate victims and restore affected habitats. It is also similar to innovative climate change lawsuits that have argued for the world’s largest oil and gas companies to pay for building protective sea walls, and other measures which help mitigate the effects of global warming.

Similar legal approaches haven’t been a major part of enforcing conservation laws. But through our work in Conservation Litigation – a project led by conservationists and lawyers – colleagues and I are working to bring such lawsuits against offenders globally.

Many countries already have laws that would allow these lawsuits, including in biodiversity hotspots such as Mexico, Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia. The 1992 UN Rio Convention called on states to “develop national law[s] regarding liability compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage”. Although laws that oblige offenders to remedy environmental harm have been established already, the Indonesian zoo case is unique as one of the first times such a law has been applied to address wildlife crime. https://player.vimeo.com/video/510514912

The case could serve to influence public views and policies around biodiversity. This has been an important benefit of litigation in other areas, such as in cases against tobacco companies and opioid manufacturers.

Over the years, these lawsuits have secured compensation for healthcare costs, public admissions of guilt from executives and corrective adversiting to clarify earlier misinformation. These cases have not only benefited individual victims, but helped shift attitudes and reform public health policies and company practices.

The zoo lawsuit could achieve something similar by holding the zoo liable for downstream harms caused by its involvement in the illegal wildlife trade. By requesting public apologies and support for educational programmes, the lawsuit would not only seek to remedy harm to individual animals and species, but to help shape public perceptions and policy.

It’s also significant that this case is being brought by a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Governments can bring criminal cases against offenders, while the NGOs cannot. But in many countries, citizens and civil society groups are permitted to launch civil lawsuits in response to environmental harm, expanding the potential for public conservation action.

These types of lawsuits are often hindered by difficulties paying lawyers, corruption in legal systems and the intimidation of activists. With more than one million species potentially facing extinction, it’s important to recognise and support these rare cases which are testing new ways to protect the planet’s most threatened forms of life.

Jacob Phelps, Senior Lecturer in Conservation Governance, Lancaster University

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

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.

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.

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.

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 or to help pay for ongoing running costs.

Enter your email address

Sign Up

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Share palm oil free purchases online and shame companies still using dirty palm oil!

Don’t forget to tag in #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife to get shared

https://twitter.com/ECOWARRIORSS/status/1625103083175923713

https://twitter.com/MAPICC2021/status/1643269215929999360

https://twitter.com/netzfrauen/status/1806059662703222960

https://twitter.com/JosieAllan4/status/1716432333698392163

https://twitter.com/ChiweenieT14381/status/1872709841040687385

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

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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

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