Author Archives: Palm Oil Detectives

The Plight of the Pangolin

My favourite animal changes all the time. When I was younger, I cycled through various large, majestic cats such as tigers, jaguars and snow leopards. At one point, I considered the polar bear among my favourites; another time, the hippo. But now I much prefer stranger, more obscure, more underappreciated animals. And a weird, elusive,Continue reading “The Plight of the Pangolin”

Gibbon song may be music to the ears of human language students

#Gibbons and humans have more in common than might immediately seem apparent. Among many behavioural traits shared by our two species is singing. Not just that – the songs of gibbons have the potential to teach us about the origin of our own human capacities. Many are threatened by #palmoil #deforestation 🌳✨ #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🎶Continue reading “Gibbon song may be music to the ears of human language students”

South America: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

As the lush equatorial rainforests of South East Asia are exhausted, increasingly focus is being placed on parts of Central and South America. Oil Palm is a growing commodity there and is found in Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico. Help the rare and beautiful animals of South and Central America to survive the scourge of palm oil and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket. Learn more

Pernambuco Pygmy-owl Glaucidium mooreorum

The Pernambuco Pygmy Owl Glaucidium mooreorum is among the rarest birds on Earth, known from just two museum specimens and a few recorded vocalisations. Officially described in 2002, this tiny owl is no larger than 13 cm and is likely the rarest bird in the world. They have not been sighted since 2001, and may already be extinct. Rampant #deforestation for sugarcane plantations, #palmoil, #soy and #meat and ongoing habitat destruction have decimated their native range. If this species still survives, fewer than 50 adults remain. The continued decimation of #Brazil’s Atlantic Forest leaves no margin for error. Act now to protect what remains. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

Pied Tamarin Saguinus bicolor

Pied #Tamarins are fascinating and vibrant black-faced #monkeys with a shock of white fur around their muzzle and chest and expressive brown eyes. They are found only in the shrinking forests of Manaus, #Brazil. As bulldozers carve roads and cities sprawl, their home is being destroyed for #palmoil, #soy, #beef farming, #gold #mining, and relentless urban expansion. These tamarins also face threats from disease, predators, and the illegal pet trade. Use your wallet as a weapon and BoycottPalmOil, Boycott4Wildlife, BoycottGold4Yanomami, and be #Vegan to help their survival.

Blue-billed Curassow Crax alberti

Help save Colombia’s Blue-billed Curassow, a critically endangered bird facing extinction from habitat loss due to palm oil and coca plantations!

Western Red Colobus Piliocolobus badius

The Western Red Colobus Piliocolobus badius is one of West Africa’s most #endangered #primates, facing an escalating crisis of habitat loss and overhunting. Once abundant in mature forests across the region, they have been driven to the brink of #extinction by rampant deforestation for charcoal, palm oil and mining and the increasing demand for #bushmeat. Widespread clearing of forests for industrial #palmoil plantations, #mining, and #timber has fragmented their habitat, isolating populations and making them more vulnerable to #poaching. Without urgent intervention, their future remains uncertain. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh

The Timneh Parrot, a smaller and darker cousin of the African Grey Parrot, captivates with their intelligence, vibrant personalities, and ability to mimic speech. However, their beauty and charm have contributed to their decline. The illegal pet trade is depleting wild populations, with poachers raiding nests to meet global demand. Meanwhile, habitat destruction driven by out-of-control palm oil plantations, meat agriculture, and crops like cocoa, coffee, and tobacco is eroding their forest homes.

Research shows that the parrot trade, facilitated by social media, has expanded into new regions like Algeria, where demand for exotic pets continues to fuel poaching. The population declines are staggering—studies in Cameroon show local reductions of up to 99% over 14 years due to trapping and habitat loss. Protecting these parrots requires ending the demand for wild-caught birds and halting deforestation in West Africa. Take action today: #BoycottPalmOil #BoycottMeat #Boycott4Wildlife.

White-thighed Colobus Colobus vellerosus

The White-thighed Colobus (Colobus vellerosus), also known as the Ursine Colobus or Geoffroy’s Black-and-White Colobus, is a striking primate of West Africa and is currently listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their numbers have plummeted by over 80% in just three generations due to rampant deforestation driven by logging, agriculture, and expanding palm oil plantations. Intense bushmeat hunting and weakening traditional taboos have further accelerated their decline. With fewer than 1,500 individuals thought to remain in the wild, urgent action is needed to save them. Use your wallet as a weapon—boycott products that contain palm oil and support ethical, indigenous-led conservation. BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat

Krokosua Squeaking Frog Arthroleptis krokosua

Help save one of Africa’s most endangered amphibians, the Krokosua Squeaking Frog from logging and palm oil deforestation. Take action, boycott palm oil

Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus Piliocolobus waldroni

xMiss Waldron’s Red Colobus, a secretive old world primate sport chestnut, black, and white white fur that surrounds their expressive faces. They live in the dense canopies of West Africa’s dwindling forests. Their story is one of ever-increasing fragility, on the edge of survival. Sightings of these magnificent primates have faded away since 1978. The last evidence, a skin, emerged in 2002.

These monkey species have been driven towards the extinction by palm oil, cocoa, and rubber plantations along with hunting for bushmeat. Their calls, once a common cacophony are now nearly permanently silenced. Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus serve as a living warning for forest health. They disappear before most other mammals wherever the forests fall. Support indigenous sovereignty and safeguarding of ecosystems—use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Africa’s Palm Oil Boom Threatens Forests, People, Animals

A estimated 3mil ha of community-owned rainforests in Africa are at risk from palm oil expansion, stronger protection is urgently needed for people, animals.

Borneo’s bearded pig: forest gardener and eocosysem protector!

Borneo – fourth-largest island in the world, home to more than 20 million people. With so many well known species on the island like elephants, rhinos and orangutans, one species continues to fly under the radar. Sus barbatus AKA the Borneo Bearded Pig should be the most emblematic animal on the island. This wild boarContinue reading “Borneo’s bearded pig: forest gardener and eocosysem protector!”

Brands Using 100% Deforestation Free Palm Oil

These brands have been proven to have already ceased deforestation for palm oil, soy, meat and timber. Verification of this status has been sought from Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network and Chain Reaction Research.

Nestlé

Nestlé is destroying rainforests, releasing mega-tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere, and killing hundreds of endangered species. Once these animals are gone – they are gone for good. See Nestlé’s full list of mills where they buy palm oil, six of these are actively destroying forest.

Titiwangsa Horned Tree Lizard Acanthosaura titiwangsaensis

The Titiwangsa Horned Tree Lizard is a stunning and elusive reptile found exclusively in the cool montane forests of Peninsular Malaysia’s Titiwangsa Mountain Range. First described in 2009, they are known for their striking spines and intricate camouflage, which allow them to blend seamlessly into their forested environment. They are threatened by palm oil deforestation and urban expansion in Peninsular Malaysia. Help them to survive when you #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket!

The Counterpunch: Consumer Solutions To Fight Extinction

Although the world is highly complex, every person can make a difference. That previous sentence almost sounds like a cliche right? Really it’s not. If every person on the planet made a few simple lifestyle changes, it would result in less demand on land and resources and soften the impact of deforestation on endangered species.Continue reading “The Counterpunch: Consumer Solutions To Fight Extinction”

Tonkin Black Crested Gibbon Nomascus concolor ssp. concolor

The Tonkin Black Crested #Gibbon of the genus Nomascus are also known as the Indochinese black-crested gibbon. They are critically endangered #primates native to the misty mountain forests of northern #Vietnam, southern #China, and parts of #Laos. These highly intelligent and social #primates are famous for their morning duets, with pairs singing in species specific harmony to reinforce familial bonds and mark their territory. Research has shown that different populations have unique vocal accents, much like human dialects, making their songs distinct across their range. Despite their unique and sparkling vocal range, they are tragically on the edge of extinction. Only around 300 individuals are left in the wild, their survival is threatened by deforestation for palm oil, coffee, and rubber plantations, along with hunting for the illegal pet trade and traditional medicine. Help them to survive every time you shop boycott palm oil and call-out the exotic pet trade! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Wrinkled Hornbill Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus

Discover the fascinating world of the Wrinkled Hornbill. These ancient and magnificent birds thriving in lush primary evergreen and swamp forests up to 1,000 meters above sea level. Unfortunately, their habitat faces threats from forest fires and the conversion of lowland forests into large-scale palm oil and rubber plantations, along with small-scale agriculture. These majestic creatures rely on large trees for nesting, putting them at risk due to logging. But we can help! By boycotting palm oil and adopting a #vegan lifestyle, we can protect the Wrinkled Hornbills and their precious home. Let’s come together and make a positive impact for wildlife preservation. 🌳🐦💚 #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

Malayan Forest Gecko Cyrtodactylus pulchellus

The Malayan Forest Gecko, a rare reptile endemic to Peninsular Malaysia’s dense rainforests, is in grave danger due to deforestation for palm oil plantations

Masked Finfoot Heliopais personatus

The Masked Finfoot is vanishing before our eyes. These rare and secretive waterbirds are in freefall due to palm oil expansion and habitat destruction.

Bornean Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron schleiermacheri

Protect Borneo’s elusive Peacock-Pheasant. These rare birds, known for their iridescent plumage, face a grave threat from out-of-control palm oil plantations

Siberut Flying Squirrel Petinomys lugens

The Siberut Flying Squirrel is one of the world’s most elusive gliders, found only in the #Mentawai Archipelago’s humid forests. At dusk, the Siberut Flying Squirrel launches from high branches, spreading their soft, square-shaped patagium to drift silently between ancient trees. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and moss, and the only sound is the faint rustle of leaves as the Siberut Flying #Squirrel lands. Their world is shrinking fast—logging and #palmoil plantations are destroying the last forests on #Siberut, #Sipora, and North Pagai. No conservation actions protect the Siberut Flying Squirrel. Stand with indigenous communities and use your wallet as a weapon. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Vordermann’s Flying Squirrel Petinomys vordermanni

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

Smoky Flying Squirrel Pteromyscus pulverulentus

The Smoky Flying Squirrel (Pteromyscus pulverulentus) is a rare and elusive creature silently and gracefully gliding between the towering canopies of Southeast Asia’s rainforests. With their smoky-grey fur, expansive gliding membrane, and bushy tail, these squirrels are perfectly adapted to a dynamic life on the move in the treetops.

Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, their populations are dwindling and at a critical all time low due to habitat destruction from timber logging, palm oil plantations, and agricultural expansion. This fleet footed nocturnal marvel symbolises the fragile ecosystems of Southeast Asia. Protect them by boycotting palm oil and fighting deforestation. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Southeast Asian Box Turtle Cuora amboinensis

The Southeast Asian Box #Turtle Cuora amboinensis, also known as the Amboina Box Turtle, Malayan Box Turtle, or Indonesian Box Turtle, is a freshwater #reptile species found across much of Southeast Asia. This species is under severe pressure due to overexploitation for food, traditional medicine, and the #pettrade, particularly in Australia, #China, Europe, and the United States. Their semi-aquatic nature allows them to thrive in swamps, rice paddies, and slow-moving rivers, but habitat destruction from #palmoil plantations, #timber and wetland drainage threatens their survival. Their population is rapidly declining due to these threats, making urgent protections necessary. Resist destruction and fight for their survival every time you shop – #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Bornean Ferret Badger Melogale everetti

The Bornean Ferret Badger is an enigmatic nocturnal omnivore is endangered due to palm oil and timber deforestation in Malaysia, take action boycott palm oil!

Lowlands Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus spadix

The Lowlands Tree #Kangaroo Dendrolagus spadix is a #Vulnerable species endemic to the forests of #PapuaNewGuinea. Unlike their ground-dwelling relatives, they are agile climbers, leaping through lush rainforest canopies with ease despite their bulky size. However, their survival is in peril due to widespread #deforestation driven by #palmoil plantations, #timber logging, and expansion of #roads, which has led to habitat destruction and increased #hunting pressures. If urgent action is not taken, this unique species faces further decline. Take action and resist for this species every time you shop and go #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket.

Eastern Long-beaked Echidna Zaglossus bartoni

The Eastern long-beaked echidna Zaglossus bartoni is one of the planet’s most extraordinary mammals—a living relic from the dawn of mammalian evolution. Found only in the rugged, remote mountains of New Guinea, this remarkable creature is genetically and physically unlike any other animal alive today. Their existence bridges ancient evolutionary traits with the survival needs of modern species, representing a fascinating link to the distant past.

Tragically, these rare monotremes face the threat of extinction due to hunting and habitat loss for palm oil, timber and gold mining. Support indigenous-led conservation and fight for their survival. Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.