Songbirds communicate with different species during nocturnal flights sharing vital info about navigation and stopover habitats. Save their fascinating world!
Category Archives: Amazing Animal Adaptations
Why Pangolins Are So Special
Pangolins get their name from the Malay ‘pengguling’ meaning rolling up. These special critically endangered animals deserve a break from savage poaching
Protecting Peru’s Grasslands Vital for Spectacled Bears
Peru’s alpine puna grasslands supports foraging of vulnerable Andean bears AKA Spectacled Bears. They prefer young bromeliad plants, Take action for them!
Javan Rhinos Not Safe from Poachers
Testimony of Illegal poachers in Indonesia finds 26 of the estimated remaining 72 living Javan #Rhinos were slaughtered over the past five years. Shame!
Beef, Palm Oil and Timber: How Wealthy Nations Fuel Deforestation
Beef palm oil, and timber consumption in wealthy nations is driving mass deforestation and species extinction in tropical regions. EUDR is vital to stop this!
Fruit Bats: Super Seed Dispersers Growing African Forests
Fruit bats AKA flying foxes are vital in Africa’s forests as seed dispersers boosting biodiversity. Take action to save these protectors of the rainforest!
Climate Change Driving Mass Bird Deaths in the Amazon
A recent #study has revealed that even in the most isolated parts of the #Amazon, bird #populations are collapsing due to #climatechange. Research published in Science Advances found that a 1°C increase in temperature led to a 63% drop in bird survivability, proving that climate change is pushing avian species towards #extinction. Avoiding deforestation-linked products like #palmoil and #meat is crucial in the fight for their survival. As is calling out corporate greenwashing, be #Vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
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 of CO2 from being spewed into the atmosphere. Conserving tigers as an iconic and legendary species is deeply ingrained into the world’s collective imagination. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Protecting The Rare, Precious Red Colobus Will Safeguard Africa’s Forests
Very few people have heard of the rarest primate in #Africa – The Red Colobus. Featuring funky hairstyles and expressive faces they daringly leap between trees to search for food. Every species of red #colobus is under threat from hunting and rainforest clearing for #palmoil, #cocoa and #meat agriculture. Their disappearance from forests heralds the beginning of the vanishing of other animals: gorillas, chimpanzees and elephants. Another successful conservation effort for the Zanzibar red colobus led to a national park being created to protect this species. Conservationists hope that the same can be done for the Red Colobus species in the form of funding and greater protections. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Leopards’ Roars Are Actually Hidden Big Cat Fingerprints
Every leopard possesses a distinctive roar, allowing individual cats to identify each other with 93% accuracy, save these remarkable animals from extinction!
Bird Song Secrets Revealed: How Habitat Shapes Their Melodies
In the vast soundscape of #nature, #birds have evolved intricate ways to make themselves heard. A groundbreaking global study by University of Madison-Wisconsin has found surprising connections between a bird’s habitat, body size, beak shape, and the frequency of their calls—offering new insight into the evolutionary forces that shape and govern their songs and the jungle symphony as a whole. This discovery sheds light on the intricate relationship between nature and animal communication. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Support Helps Gorilla and Human Child Resilience
Young gorillas often suffer horrific events in their childhood: the death of their mother or father due to poachers, kidnapping and rough handling for the illegal pet trade. A study of 250 gorillas throughout their lifespans have found they share a lot of needs with human children. And just like their human cousins, they thrive after adverse childhood events when given the right social and economic supports. Help gorillas and 1000’s of other animals to survive when you go plant-based and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Nigeria Risks Losing All Its African Forest Elephants – Here’s How To Protect Them
The numbers and ranges of #elephants in #Nigeria have declined greatly over time. The main cause of this has been human activity, like logging, palm oil and cocoa #agriculture, which threaten their survival by reducing their natural habitat. Some elephant populations have been lost. Others exist only in small, fragmented areas. A new study looks at what can be done to protect one of Nigeria’s most treasured #animal icons.
Demystifying the Strange Beauty of the Proboscis Monkey’s Large Nose
Of all the #monkey species around the world, one stands out with its large, bizarre nose. In male proboscis monkeys, their bulbous noses will often hang past their mouths.
But why did they evolve such a strange feature? Are they a visual sign of health and status to potential female mates, and to other males? Or did they evolve to help the monkeys make honks and other loud sounds? New groundbreaking #research has much to reveal about the mysterious large nose of the Proboscis Monkey!
Beyond Cute: All Animals Can Become Social Media Sensations
In the age of cutesy #mammal sensations like pygmy hippo #MooDeng the chubby, pink-cheeked pygmy #hippo baby – many people believe that social media shares are correlated to cuteness. They are wrong, according to a recent study, more obscure and unusual animals like #insects, #amphibians, #reptiles and #insects can enjoy a generous portion of the social media limelight. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
The origins of animal words in SE Asia and what this reveals to us about our connection to them
South East Asia is home to many fascinating creatures and rich biodiversity. The secrets of animal origins and ancient legends are revealed in their names: #Orangutan, #Gibbon, #Binturong and #Siamang in South East Asian languages. Help these animals to survive and #Boycottpalmoil
Research: AI Helps Unlock the Curious Secrets of Orangutan Chatter
A groundbreaking and exciting study has started to decode the complex communication of Bornean orangutans, revealing the intricacies of their vocalisations and offering new insights into their rich and mysterious world. All species of orangutans are critically endangered, primarily due to palm oil deforestation. To help these remarkable great apes, you should always #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop. Learn more about how you can take action.
Marine Biologist and Illustrator Emily Underwood
Sussex-based Emily Underwood, a Marine Biologist and Illustrator, uses her art to celebrate lesser-known endangered species. Take action, boycott palm oil!
Dung Beetles Are Rainforests’ Diligent Regrowth Soldiers
The dung beetle may eat and nest in poop, but their role in nature is anything but humble. These hardshelled scarabs live on every continent except Antarctica, recycling feces and suppressing parasites that could otherwise harm people and animals. Dung beetles also spread both seeds and nutrients into the soil, helping to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Help them and #Boycottpalmoil #BoycottGold and #Boycott4Wildlife
If You Love Moo Deng, Help to Save Her Home!
Moo Deng, the chubby, moody and adorable baby pygmy hippo has highlighted the plight of these elusive large mammals living in Africa’s rainforest and mangrove environments. The message to animal lovers is clear, if you love Moo Deng then take action for her home and boycott products coming from African deforestation like palm oil, cocoa and meat. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Large herbivores such as elephants contribute to tree diversity
A recent study using satellite data has highlighted the critical role that large herbivores play in promoting tree diversity in forest ecosystems. The research showed that areas with abundant large herbivores had more varied tree cover and more tree diversity. This finding underscores the importance of large herbivores in many ecosystems and that they should have primary importance in conservation strategies, particularly in the context of global efforts to combat climate change and extinction. Help big herbivores every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket!
The world’s smallest ‘fanged’ frog found in Indonesia
Researchers have identified a species of frog Limnonectes phyllofolia completely new to science. The tiny Indonesian amphibian is in the possession of little fangs. Researchers think that their fangs may be used to fend off would-be competitors for mating or territory. This species adopts a unique approach by laying their eggs on tree leaves. Adding to their distinct behavior, the male frogs play an active role in guarding and nurturing the nests. This discovery not only enriches our understanding of amphibian biodiversity but also highlights why it is absolutely crucial that we protect their home – rainforests in Indonesia. Help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Amphibians Glow in Ways People Can’t See
Many animals have a colourful, yet largely hidden, trait. Marine creatures like #fish and corals can glow blue, green or red under certain types of light. So can land animals like penguins and #parrots. But until now, experts knew of only one salamander and a few #frogs that could glow. No longer. Among #amphibians, this ability to glow now appears fairly common — even if you can’t see it. Research has found that most amphibians glow as well – even if it’s not visible to human eyes. Protect amphibians and reptiles every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
African Forest Elephants Help Fight Climate Change
Discover the awe-inspiring role of African forest elephants in the Congo Basin—nature’s master gardeners who literally shape the world around them! These gentle giants roam through muddy, mineral-rich paradises called baïs, fostering the growth of carbon-absorbing trees that make our planet healthier. By tending to these unique landscapes, they are the unsung heroes in the fight against climate change. Want to ensure these ecological architects keep doing their vital work? Join the movement to protect their habitat—say no to palm oil and adopt a vegan lifestyle! 🐘🌳#BoycottPalmOil #BeVegan #Boycott4Wildlife
Strange Species Could Vanish Before Discovery
Scientists have described around 1.5 million species on Earth – but how many are still out there to be discovered? This is one of the most heated debates in biology. Discounting microbes, plausible estimates range from about half a million to more than 50 million species of unknown animals, plants and fungi.
Our present knowledge is just scratching the surface. Evolution has had billions of years to create biologically active compounds that can combat human diseases, generate genetic diversity that could save our food crops from disastrous pathogens, and spawn ecological innovations that can inspire marvellous new inventions. Help the rarest and most cryptic animals, plants and fungi to survive when you #BoycottPalmOil adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #Boycott4Wildlife
Apes Enjoy Joking and Teasing Each Other
New research finds that it’s not only human babies who love to playfully tease each other. Researchers reasoned that since language is not required for this behaviour, similar kinds of playful teasing might be present in non-human animals such as chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans. Now cognitive biologists and primatologists have documented playful teasing in four species of great apes. Like joking behaviour in humans, ape teasing is provocative, persistent, and includes elements of surprise and play. Because all four great ape species used playful teasing, it is likely that the prerequisites for humour evolved in the human lineage at least 13 million years ago.
Rethinking Climate and Extinction Crises
Capturing people’s attention about the #climate and #extinction crises is a challenge. Causes mostly move slowly, without the flashy drama that can focus our minds in the midst of 24-hour news cycles and social media distractions. The Netflix film Don’t Look Up cleverly captures humans’ inability to come together to counter such a common existential threat. To change this, we must develop a “slow memory” that can help us care about and act on slow change. Help to fight against extinction when you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Reptiles Facing Extinction: How to Help
#Reptiles are fascinating creatures who are sadly feared, misunderstood and persecuted by humans. It is high time that we stand up for #lizards, #snakes, #terrapins, #crocodiles, caimans, #turtles and more.
Many of these fascinating creatures are feared by humans and inhabit hard-to-traverse places such as swamps. Compared with birds, amphibians and mammals, there is little data available on the distribution, population size and extinction risk of reptiles. This has meant that wildlife conservationists have largely helped reptiles indirectly in the past by meeting the needs of other animals (for food and habitat for example) living in similar places. Here’s how we stand up for them #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
News stories about spiders are unfairly negative – here’s how to tell the truth about spiders
Frequent errors in news reports likely contribute to the animals’ undeserved bad reputation Spiders are pretty remarkable. They live almost everywhere, from rainforests to deserts. Some even spend most of their lives underwater. They are smarter than you think, with some able to make plans and count. Scientists think they might even dream when theyContinue reading “News stories about spiders are unfairly negative – here’s how to tell the truth about spiders”
Uncovering The Glasswing Butterfly’s See-through Wings
Most butterflies sport colourful, eye-catching wings. But some species flit about using mostly transparent wings. Researchers have now uncovered the tricks that one of these — the glasswing butterfly (Greta oto) — uses to hide in plain sight. The tricks of their transparency include sparse, spindly scales and a waxy coated membrane. Many thousands of insect species are threatened by large-scale deforestation for agriculture and especially pesticides. Help them to survive and #BoycottPesticides #BoycottPalmOil!
Palm Oil Detectives 