Research: Boycotts Are Worthwhile and Effective

Despite sustained and vigorous attempts by corporate FMCG giants and industry certification schemes like RSPO, MSC and FSC to downplay the impact and effectiveness of consumer boycotts, it turns out that boycotts are worthwhile and drive social change. They force profit-first and greedy corporations to change their ways and do better. Participating in boycotts creates a tangible sense of empowerment and agency for consumer-citizens who want to participate in civil society in a meaningful way. Ideal for those who want to unsettle the status quo to improve the world, both as individuals and in collective groups.

Consumer #boycotts are aggressively attacked by whole industries and #greenwashing #ecolabels like #RSPO as being ineffective. Yet a strong body of evidence shows they galvanise social change and empower citizens #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-2aA

Share to Twitter

Cast as ‘rabble-rousers’ or ‘trouble-makers’, citizens who vote with their wallets and choose to #Boycott #palmoil and #meat are the vanguard protectors of our fragile future on earth! 🌿🫶 #Vegan #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil🌴⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-2aA

Share to Twitter

Over 4 years #Boycott4Wildlife’s 15,000+ advocates have consolidated their effectiveness on Twitter and altered the message on palm oil irrevocably during this time. In the process, the #Boycott4Wildlife global collective have educated people about the products they buy and the most environmentally damaging brands that hide behind the greenwashing veil “sustainable” palm oil.

Thanks to the collective efforts of all those in the movement, the idea of “sustainable” palm oil is now well-known to be a greenwashing fabrication by the palm oil industry itself. No supply chain members of the industry certification the RSPO have actually ceased deforestation for palm oil. In 2024, the RSPO further diluted their definition of deforestation and weakened their standard further. Read in-depth about this in a ten part series on “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing.

#deforestation via NodeXL https://t.co/1yqp0ilrSW @palmoildetect @mikehudema @sadhgurujv @msesingapore @earth_buddy_@nparksbuzz @rspotweets
@ukwondering@iucnredlist
@frasierharry

Top hashtags:#deforestation #boycott4wildlife #palmoil #climatecrisis #nature /
— Palm Oil Detectives #BoycottPalmOil (@PalmOilDetect) May 20, 2022

Research Insight:

The expansion of oil palm plantations is under intense public scrutiny as it causes tropical deforestation and biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia. Little is known regarding the international public’s perceptions of palm oil’s impacts on environmental issues. This study used a large dataset of 4260 online posts gleaned from YouTube and Reddit. Our major findings are: (1) the public has negative views on palm oil. Several drivers of environmental destruction are greed, corruption, profit, and capitalism; (2) social media campaigns against palm oil are highly successful. However, negative sentiments from consumers reveal ongoing institutional failures; (3) public opinion is polarized in terms of viewpoints on socioeconomics and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil; (4) global consumers’ response to boycott palm oil products and seek for other solutions are driven by corporations’ profit-driven malpractice and weak governmental legislation and governance.

This study is the first attempt to apply big data of social media accounts to analyze consumers’ perceptions of palm oil and its environmental impacts. It also proposes a predictive model for understanding factors and mechanisms of how social media applications can potentially stimulate and influence an international sustainability debate over palm oil.
Palm oil and its environmental impacts: A big data analytics study

Shasha Teng, Kok Wei Khong, Norbani Che Ha, Palm oil and its environmental impacts: A big data analytics study, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol 274, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122901.

Research Insight:

Figure 1. Three-dimensional matrix of social movement studies.

(Tarrow, 2011, p. 4). ‘When their actions are based on dense social networks and effective connective structures and draw on legitimate, action-oriented cultural frames, they can sustain actions even in contact with powerful opponents. in such cases – and only in such cases – we can speak of the presence of a social movement’ (Tarrow, 2011, p. 16). For the mobilization of individuals to contribute to collective action is largely based on shared beliefs and identification as well as social networks that foster connective structures and suggest suitable forms of political action.
Repression, resistance and lifestyle: charting (dis)connection and activism in times of accelerated capitalism (2020)

Anne Kaun & Emiliano Treré (2020) Repression, resistance and lifestyle: charting (dis)connection and activism in times of accelerated capitalism, Social Movement Studies, 19:5-6, 697-715, DOI: 10.1080/14742837.2018.1555752

Research Insight:

Hashtags and viral images are expressions of collective identification with political causes and organizations in the context of digital media. ‘Social media, as a language and a terrain of identification’, Gerbaudo argues, ‘becomes a source of coherence as shared symbols, a centripetal focus of attention, which participants can turn to when looking for other people in the movement’
Anne Kaun & Emiliano Treré (2020) Repression, resistance and lifestyle: charting (dis)connection and activism in times of accelerated capitalism, Social Movement Studies, 19:5-6, 697-715, DOI: 10.1080/14742837.2018.1555752

Research Insight:

Large-scale individualised collective action is coordinated through digital technologies: Individuals are mobilised according to personal lifestyle issues, environmental protection, animal rights, workers rights and human rights

This article proposes a framework for understanding large-scale individualized collective action that is often coordinated through digital media technologies. Social fragmentation and the decline of group loyalties have given rise to an era of personalized politics in which individually expressive personal action frames displace collective action frames in many protest causes. This trend can be spotted in the rise of large-scale, rapidly forming political participation aimed at a variety of targets, ranging from parties and candidates, to corporations, brands, and transnational organizations. The group-based “identity politics” of the “new social movements” that arose after the 1960s still exist, but the recent period has seen more diverse mobilizations in which individuals are mobilized around personal lifestyle values to engage with multiple causes such as economic justice (fair trade, inequality, and development policies), environmental protection, and worker and human rights.

Bennett WL. The Personalization of Politics: Political Identity, Social Media, and Changing Patterns of Participation. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 2012;644(1):20-39. doi:10.1177/0002716212451428

Research Insight:

Individuals who boycott value minimalism, individuals who ‘buycott’ value hedonism

Consumers boycott companies that they deem to be irresponsible or they may deliberately buy from companies that they perceive to act responsibly (‘buycott’). Using a unique, representative sample of 1833 German consumers, this study reveals that the effects of environmental concerns and universalism on buycotting are amplified by hedonism, while the effects of social concern on buycotting and boycotting are attenuated by hedonism and simplicity, respectively. These results have far-reaching implications for organizations and policy planners who aim to change corporate behavior.
Under Which Conditions Are Consumers Ready to Boycott or Buycott? The Roles of Hedonism and Simplicity

Stefan Hoffmann, Ingo Balderjahn, Barbara Seegebarth, Robert Mai, Mathias Peyer,
Under Which Conditions Are Consumers Ready to Boycott or Buycott? The Roles of Hedonism and Simplicity, Ecological Economics, Vol 147, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.01.004.

Research Insight:

Consumers pledge participation in boycotts for moral reasons and identify with the cause reflected by the boycott

Boycott pledgees explicitly express their desire for the target company to abolish its egregious behavior, their anger about the behavior in question, and their desire for punitive actions. Consumers pledge participation for moral reasons and identify with the cause reflected by the boycott. Boycott motivations also include the belief that consumers have the power to impact the boycott target’s bottom line and/or behavior as well as the belief that the boycott will succeed in forcing the target to cease its egregious behavior.
What motivates consumers to participate in boycotts: Lessons from the ongoing Canadian seafood boycott

Karin Braunsberger, Brian Buckler, What motivates consumers to participate in boycotts: Lessons from the ongoing Canadian seafood boycott, Journal of Business Research, Vol 64, Issue 1, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2009.12.008.

Research Insight:

Consumers avoid brands when the brand is incongruent with the individual’s identity, or when the consumers values, beliefs clash with the brand, or the brand has a negative impact on society

There are three types of brand avoidance: experiential, identity and moral brand avoidance. Experiential brand avoidance occurs because of negative first hand consumption experiences that lead to unmet expectations. Identity avoidance develops when the brand image is symbolically incongruent with the individual’s identity. Moral avoidance arises when the consumer’s ideological beliefs clash with certain brand values or associations, particularly when the consumer is concerned about the negative impact of a brand on society.
Anti-consumption and brand avoidance

Michael S.W. Lee, Judith Motion, Denise Conroy, Anti-consumption and brand avoidance, Journal of Business Research, Vol 62, 2009, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2008.01.024.

Research Insight:

Brand hate is linked to negative word-of-mouth, online and offline complaining and non-repurchase intention

Findings reveal that brand hate causes offline negative word-of-mouth, online complaining, and non-repurchase intention. A mediated path was identified, which starts from brand hate and ends with non-repurchase intention through online complaining and offline negative word-of-mouth.
Brand hate and non-repurchase intention: A service context perspective in a cross-channel setting,

Ilaria Curina, Barbara Francioni, Sabrina M. Hegner, Marco Cioppi, Brand hate and non-repurchase intention: A service context perspective in a cross-channel setting, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Vol 54, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.102031.

Insight:

~ Prof Bill Laurance, James Cook University.

Campaigns and boycotts get the attention of these large corporations, because they hit them where it hurts: their reputation and market share.

Globally, some of the most impressive environmental achievements have come via boycotts, or at least the threat of them.

Across the globe, boycotts have helped to rein in predatory behaviour by timber, oil palm, soy, seafood and other corporations.
Professor Bill Laurance, James Cook University, ‘Boycotts are a crucial weapon to fight environment-harming firms’,The Conversation (2014).

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife and fight deforestation by using your wallet as a weapon!

Find out more

Greenwashing Tactic 8: Design & Words

Using design principles and greenwashing language in order to trigger emotional and unconscious responses in consumers

Design & Words

Using subliminal design principles and greenwashing language that signals ‘greenness’ to consumers

#Greenwashing Tactic #8: #Design and #Words: Using subliminal #design principles and #greenwashing #language to convey ‘greenness’ to #consumers. We #Boycott4Wildlife #Boycottpalmoil #FightGreenwashing
Tweet

Jump to section

Greenwashing: Design Principles

Greenwashing Design Example: Palm Done Right

Greenwashing Design Example: WWF Palm Oil Scorecard 2021

Greenwashing with Words: Vegan Versus Plant-Based

Greenwashing with Words: Destructive Global Brands Claiming to be Vegan

What is Veganism?

Greenwashing with Words and Phrases that Signal ‘Greenness’

Explore the Series

Say thanks for this guide by donating to my Ko-Fi

Greenwashing: Design Principles

Some examples of design principles that signal ‘greenness’ in advertising

Hand-drawn typography and fonts.

Pastel colours or blue and green hues.

Hand-drawn or vintage and nostalgic animals and children illustrations in packaging and advertising design that bring to mind children’s books.

Happy, uplifting and nostalgic music.

Visual storytelling involving nature.

Green clothing, natural ambient noise and reassuring happy colours set the scene for storytelling by Palm Done Right

Dr Jennifer Lucy’s research, which is funded by the RSPO and industry sets out the minimum amount of rainforest that can be left over for endangered species by the palm oil industry.

Forest-inspired pie charts and hand-drawn icons tell the story of RSPO members in the 2021 WWF Palm Oil Scorecard

The WWF scorecard ranks RSPO member supermarket brands according to whether or not they have stopped with deforestation or other corrupt practices.

The WWF scorecard uses phrases like:

“9% of respondents have a deforestation and conversion free commitment.”

“88% of respondents have a human rights commitment”

What this means in reality…is absolutely nothing.

The most critical information is not included on the WWF Palm Oil Scorecard

That NONE of these supermarket brands (RSPO members) have ceased deforestation, land-grabbing, human rights abuses for palm oil. Instead, consumers are lulled into reassurances to purchase by the green, forest-inspired pie charts and positive, reassuring phrases.

Greenwashing with Words

Vegan Versus Plant-Based

Global brands are now claiming ‘eco-friendly’ status by saying that their products are vegan. This is despite these same brands causing global ecocide for palm oil, putting at risk thousands of endangered species

This hijacking of the vegan label is deeply problematic for many vegans. They are all too aware of the devastation of palm oil on rainforest ecosystems and endangered forest species. Most environmentally aware vegans DO NOT agree that palm oil is vegan. The definition of veganism is not only if an ingredient is ‘plant-based.’

Veganism is the strong rejection of all cruelty, death and slavery of animals. Palm oil is a global scourge to all tropical animal species – it is therefore NOT VEGAN.

Greenwashing with Words

Destructive Global Brands Claiming to be Vegan

The Body Shop: An RSPO member that uses so-called ‘sustainable’ palm oil, the Body Shop is able to persuade consumers of its green eco-friendly nature with the aid of forest-themed hand-drawn illustrations. Via Twitter

Nestle’s Vegan Kitkat: The world’s biggest consumer food brand has not suddenly become ‘green’. They continue with human rights abuses, deforestation, illegal landgrabbing for palm oil. However, claiming ‘Vegan’ status is a way to label themselves as green.

L’Oreal: is another brand cashing in on the vegan trend. By filling their cosmetics, hair care and skincare ranges with palm oil they claim vegan status. Via Twitter

Nestle Wunda drink: Nestle, one of the world’s most notorious brands linked to global ecocide and destruction, can now claim vegan status, despite causing ecocide for palm oil, soy and other ingredients. Via Twitter

Palm oil is plant-based, so why isn’t it vegan?

Endorsement of palm oil as a vegan ingredient is both lazy and greedy on behalf of vegan organisations like Peta and the Vegan Society. These animal organisations receive sponsorship funding from corporates to endorse products containing palm oil. This ignores the immense global damage of palm oil. For any serious animal activist and vegan – veganism means more than a product being simply plant-based.

Veganism is:

A philosophy and a consumer lifestyle of avoidance of brands and products where these brands or products cause harm to animals. This harm could be:

Animal murder for human consumption.
The enslavement of animals for the benefit of humans.
Cruelty, violence or murder of animals for human entertainment or sport.
Animal testing or experimentation that benefits humans.
The destruction of rainforests where the highest concentration of endangered species live, for palm oil, meat, soy or other commodities in order to create consumer products.

True veganism is a philosophy that respects and appreciates all ecosystems and the lives of non-human beings within them. It does not make excuses for ecocide and animal extinction, just for the sake of cheap supermarket goods.

Greenwashing

Words and Phrases that Signal ‘Greenness

These words trigger automatic, emotional and unconscious responses in consumers. Language works effortlessly in conjunction with greenwashing design to hit the right emotional buttons and to have a positive and rewarding emotional effect on consumers’ minds

Vector natural, organic food, bio, eco labels and shapes on white background. Hand drawn stains set.

Explore the series

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife and fight palm oil deforestation and greenwashing by using your wallet as a weapon!

Find out more

Contribute to my Ko-Fi

Did you enjoy visiting this website?

Palm Oil Detectives is 100% self-funded

Palm Oil Detectives is completely self-funded by its creator. All hosting and website fees and investigations into brands are self-funded by the creator of this online movement. If you like what I am doing, you and would like me to help meet costs, please send Palm Oil Detectives a thanks on Ko-Fi.

Say thanks on Ko-Fi

Dorias Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus dorianus

African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis

Location: Central and West Africa – Guineo-Congolian tropical forests, including Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and surrounding regions.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

The African Forest #Elephant is a Critically Endangered species found in the dense #rainforests of Central and #WestAfrica. They are smaller than their savanna relatives, with straighter tusks and rounder ears, uniquely adapted to their forested habitat. As ecosystem engineers, these elephants play a crucial role in maintaining Afrotropical forests by dispersing seeds and mitigating against climate change by shaping forest composition. However, relentless #poaching for ivory, habitat destruction due to #palmoil, #cocoa and #tobacco agriculture, and human-elephant conflict have decimated their population. Recent studies have shown that African Forest Elephants’ movement patterns vary significantly between individuals, with some elephants exploring vast distances while others remain in small home ranges. This variation poses unique challenges for conservation efforts. Resist and fight for their survival each time you shop, be #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

African Forest #Elephants are ecosystem engineers fighting #ClimateChange in #WestAfrica. Yet #poaching and #palmoil #deforestation have rendered them critically endangered 😿🐘 Help them and be #vegan #BoycottPalmOil 🌴⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/09/11/african-forest-elephant-loxodonta-cyclotis/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Supremely intelligent and sensitive African Forest #Elephants 🐘🩶 face several grave threats, incl. #PalmOil #Deforestation and #poaching in #Gabon 🇬🇦 #Congo 🇨🇩 #WestAfrica. Fight for them when you #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/09/11/african-forest-elephant-loxodonta-cyclotis/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Rapid land use change, including palm oil plantations across their range is driving the direct loss and fragmentation of habitat, is an increasing threat to African elephants across their range.
IUCN red list

African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis

Appearance and Behaviour

African Forest Elephants are smaller than their savanna counterparts, with a shoulder height of 2 to 3 metres. They have a more compact build, rounded ears, and long, narrow tusks that point downward, (Gobush et al., 2021). Their grey skin is often darker due to the humid rainforest environment. They live in small, matriarchal family groups and display remarkable individual variation in movement behaviours. Some elephants, known as “explorers,” travel vast distances, while others, the “idlers,” remain within confined home ranges. These behavioural differences complicate conservation efforts, as strategies must account for their diverse space-use needs.

These elephants are highly intelligent and social, living in small, matriarchal family groups that navigate the rainforest together. Their deep infrasonic rumbles travel through the ground, allowing communication over vast distances, even in the thickest jungle. Recent research has revealed that their vocalisations have a structure akin to human syntax—complex combinations of calls used to convey intricate meanings (Hedwig & Kohlberg, 2024).

Other research has found that the foraging, seed dispersal and exploration of African Forest Elephants helps to mitigate African forests against climate change. A 2019 study from the Ndoki Forest in the Republic of Congo (ROC) and LuiKotale in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) estimated that if elephants were removed from these sites, the loss of their forest-shaping food preferences would reduce the forest’s carbon capture by 7%.

Diet

Forest Elephants are frugivorous and play an irreplaceable role as seed dispersers, particularly for large fruiting trees. They are responsible for spreading the seeds of over 41 timber species, including Bobgunnia fistuloides (pao rosa), a tree prized for its high-value wood (Blake et al., 2009; Campos-Arceiz & Blake, 2011). Without these elephants, the rainforest’s ability to regenerate and store carbon would be drastically diminished.

Reproduction and Mating

With a gestation period of 22 months—the longest of any land mammal—female African Forest elephants give birth only once every four to six years (Gobush et al., 2021). Due to their slow reproductive rate, population recovery is incredibly difficult, making conservation efforts even more urgent. Calves remain under their mother’s care for over a decade, learning crucial survival skills in the rainforest.

Geographic Range

African Forest Elephants roam vast home ranges, some spanning over 2,000 km² (Beirne et al., 2021). Their movements are largely dictated by fruiting cycles, water availability, and human encroachment. A recent study found that they exhibit remarkable individual variation in movement patterns—some acting as ‘explorers,’ roaming far and wide, while others remain within familiar territories (Beirne et al., 2021). Roads and logging concessions disrupt these traditional routes, forcing elephants into human settlements and escalating conflict.

Threats

African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis playing a river boycott for their survival

Illegal Wildlife Trade and Poaching: The illegal and criminal trade in elephant ivory continues to drive rampant poaching. Despite international bans, demand remains high in black markets (Wittemyer et al., 2014; Maisels et al., 2013).
Palm Oil Agriculture Expansion: Forests are being obliterated for palm oil, cocoa, tobacco and rubber plantations, erasing habitat at an alarming rate (Scalbert et al., 2022).
Logging, Mining, and Infrastructure Expansion: The development of roads and infrastructure for timber and mining grants poachers greater access to once-inaccessible forest areas (Beirne et al., 2021).
Human-Elephant Conflict: Shrinking forests push elephants into farmland, leading to fatal clashes with farmers trying to protect their crops (Ngama et al., 2016).
Climate Change: Disruptions in rainfall patterns and fruiting cycles impact the food supply of African Forest Elephants, forcing them into riskier migration routes where they can come into contact with poachers or conflict with farmers.
Slow Reproduction Rate: African Forest Elephants have a long gestation periods and high calf mortality, their populations cannot recover quickly from losses.

Elephants and Language: Call Combinations and Syntax

Groundbreaking research has revealed that African Forest Elephants use complex call combinations, akin to human syntax, to communicate in high-stakes situations (Hedwig & Kohlberg, 2024). Their vocal repertoire includes:

Low-frequency rumbles: Used to coordinate movements and social interactions. These deep sounds can travel several kilometres through dense rainforest.
Broadband roars: Express distress, urgency, or aggression, particularly in response to predators or conflict.
Combined calls: When rumbles and roars are merged, they create new meanings. These combinations are more frequently used in competitive situations, suggesting that elephants alter their vocal signals to convey specific messages in dangerous or high-emotion contexts.

The ability to combine calls strategically may help elephants navigate social disputes, secure access to resources, or reunite with separated family members. This discovery sheds light on the cognitive abilities of these animals and their sophisticated social lives.

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…

Keep reading

Echoes of the Ancients: The Wisdom and Power of Elephants

World Elephant Day, celebrated on August 12th, honours the gentle and nurturing giants of Asia and Africa, who are revered for their deep…

Keep reading

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…

Keep reading

African Forest Elephants and Timber Concessions

Timber and palm oil concessions now cover vast portions of forest elephant habitat, with little understanding of how these logging operations impact elephant populations (Scalbert et al., 2022). While elephants can persist in selectively logged forests, they require large, undisturbed areas to sustain viable populations. Key findings include:

African Forest Elephants regenerate forests: By dispersing seeds of high-carbon tree species, they facilitate the regrowth of timber species, making their role essential for maintaining the economic value of these forests.
Logging alters movement patterns: While some elephants adapt to fragmented landscapes, others are displaced, forced into human-dominated areas where they are at greater risk of poaching and conflict.
Forest loss drives ecological collapse: Without elephants maintaining seed dispersal, many commercially valuable trees may struggle to regenerate, ultimately degrading the timber industry’s long-term viability.

You can support this beautiful animal

Sheldrick Wildlife

Virunga National Park

Africa Conservation Foundation

Traffic

Further Information

Beirne, C., Houslay, T. M., Morkel, P., Clark, C. J., Fay, M., Okouyi, J., White, L. J. T., & Poulsen, J. R. (2021). African forest elephant movements depend on time scale and individual behavior. Scientific Reports, 11, 12634. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-91627-z

Gobush, K.S., Edwards, C.T.T, Maisels, F., Wittemyer, G., Balfour, D. & Taylor, R.D. 2021. Loxodonta cyclotis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T181007989A181019888. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T181007989A181019888.en. Downloaded on 08 June 2021.

Hedwig, D., & Kohlberg, A. (2024). Call combination in African forest elephants Loxodonta cyclotis. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299656

Scalbert, M., Vermeulen, C., Breuer, T., & Doucet, J. L. (2022). The challenging coexistence of forest elephants Loxodonta cyclotis and timber concessions in central Africa. Mammal Review, 52(3), 501–518. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12305

African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

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

Join 3,176 other subscribers

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.

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Dayak Indigenous Ethnographer Dr Setia Budhi

Dr Setia Budhi: In His Own Words

Dayak Ethnographer, Senior Lecturer, Indigenous Advocate, Rainforest Conservationist in Borneo

Bio: Dr Setia Budhi

Dr Setia Budhi is a senior lecturer in Anthropology and Sociology at Universitas Lambung Mangkurat. He is an indigenous advocate, forest conservationist and a research specialist in Dayak ethnography in South, Central and East Kalimantan. He completed his PhD in 2010 at UKM Malaysia under the supervision of Prof. Awang Hasmadi Awang Moeis and Prof. Aishah Bt Mohamed. He now serves as Head of the Sociology Department and a member of the Indonesian Anthropology Association of South Kalimantan-Indonesia.

His research relates to the Dayak people and impact of socio-cultural changes, exploitation of natural resources and modernisation on their lives. In particular, he investigates how the depletion of the forest affects the availability of food sources for Indigenous Dayak peoples.

‘I support the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife because so far, all brands in the @RSPOtweets have been linked to #deforestation. We should replace those brands with ones that have nothing to do with #palmoil’ @setiabudhi18
Tweet

‘Before #palmoil there was almost never #conflict over #land. Over 2 decades there’s been 345 conflicts between #Dayak and #palmoil companies in #Borneo. I support the #Boycott4wildlife #Boycottpalmoil movement’ @setiabudhi18
Tweet

I am proud of your concern for the Borneo, which I happen to be here. For years there have been sharing stories, sad and angry. These are the days when we connect with each other. Against those who destroy rainforests. I said "many thanks". Don't get tired of fighting.🙏 pic.twitter.com/L9Nu2g2WLj
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) October 1, 2021

‘So far, indigenous peoples have not benefited from the development of the palmoil industry’ Dr Setia Budhi @setiabudhi18 Dayak Ethnographer #Boycott4wildlife #Boycottpalmoil
Tweet

‘The expansion of #palmoil has created detrimental environmental impacts: #deforestation, loss of #biodiversity, #landgrabbing human rights abuses’ Setia Budhi @setiabudhi18 Dayak Ethnographer #Boycott4wildlife #Boycottpalmoil
Tweet

‘#Palmoil causes the loss of forests where indigenous people obtain food via hunting and medicine. I support the #Boycott4wildlife #Boycottpalmoil movement’ @setiabudhi18 Dayak Ethnographer
Tweet

‘Many methods have been tried before, yet #palmoil #deforestation continues to become more of a massive problem. I think the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife sends a strong message to big food companies’ @setiabudhi18 #Boycott4wildlife #Boycottpalmoil
Tweet

My research focuses on the indigenous Dayak peoples of South, Central and Eastern Kalimantan

Photo: Dayak man, Kalimantan. PxFuel.

I’ve been doing ethnographic field research since early 2013, by visiting several villages of the Dayak Siang, Dayak Bakumpai and Dayak Oot Danum tribes. My field research is related to the Dayak peoples. How the exploitation of natural resources, modernisation and the depleted forests affects their ability to find food.
dr setia budhi

“I wanted to know if the younger Dayak generation were still familiar with Dayak cultural life”

In particular, how the Dayak people of the Upper Barito River responded to the extinction of animal species, depletion of forests and the impact of mining and oil palm companies. Were they still connected to the ancestral tradition of using rainforest herbs for medicine? I interviewed the traditional head known as the Damang.

[Pictured] Dr Setia Budhi

“I have watched the forests here thin out and for some time, the logs in the Barito River are pulled to the river’s mouth in South Kalimantan by large timber companies, does it include Barito Pacific Timber?”

~ Dr Setia Budhi

Dayak communities make beautiful rattan and Ayaman Purun handicrafts and have been farming peatland rice for hundreds of years and fishing along the Barito river.

“The forest is where our rattan grows and propagates. If the trees in the forest are cut down, our rattan will be exhausted. If there is no rattan, we don’t know how we will make a living to make a living, our children need to go to school.

“We have a well where we keep fish. In the dry season, we take fish from the well. Now the wells where fish are stored have been evicted by oil palm plantations”
Respondents to Dr Budhi’s research.

The Barito river

This is inland from Kalimantan with dozens of different ethnicities and languages. For the journey during Ramadan in 2021, I recorded many events, one of them was the Sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples.

Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on May 14, 2021.

One of a rainforest tree’s functions is as a Barbershop! – Don’t cut down trees!

Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on August 17, 2021.

The Forest is the father, land is the mother and rivers are blood

“That’s the spirituality of most Dayak people in Kalimantan. They understand the interdependent nature of everything in nature.”

~ Dr Setia Budhi

Photo: Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

The land is mother – where they plant fruit, vegetables and grains for their families. The soil is mother where trees grow and develop.

On these trees they harvest an abundance of creeping rattan for medicine, food and crafts.

The forest has a ritual function, a medicinal function and a family protection function.

Just compare these pictures…

https://travel.okezone.com/read/2018/02/19/406/1861409/pohon-raksasa-ditemukan-di-hutan-kalimantan-selatan-besarnya-luar-biasa
https://geotimes.id/opini/deforestasi-merusak-hutan-kalimantan/

Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on July 27, 2021.

The Batang Garing symbol means to live in harmony with life

The Batang Garing Tree or the Tree of Life in Central Kalimantan is a symbol of collective identity, togetherness and is used in rituals by the Ngaju Dayak community. It’s also part of the spirituality of the Kaharingan religion.

~ Dr Setia Budhi

Photo: Wrinkled Hornbill of Borneo by Steve Wilson. CC Licence

In the forest gaps, indigenous Dayak farmers plant rice;

If there is no rice, then there is no ceremony;

if there is no ceremony, then they lose their religion.

A Banjarese woman, grows beans, pumpkins and spinach and later sells them to buy sugar, tea and soap, She is a farmer on peatland. (ethnographic study in a peat village July 2021).

Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on July 24, 2021.

Local people are often often victims, as they defend their territory so as not to be displaced by oil palm

The expansion of oil palm has a massive impact on the lives of indigenous peoples

Before the existence of oil palm, there was almost never any conflict over land…

Since the palm oil industry expanded, in two decades there have been 345 conflicts between local people and palm oil companies in Borneo around the development and management of palm oil plantations. From an economic and individual perspective, this conflict is detrimental to local communities.

‘Before #palmoil there was almost never #conflict over #land. Over 2 decades there’s been 345 conflicts between #Dayak and #palmoil companies in #Borneo. I support the #Boycott4wildlife #Boycottpalmoil movement’ #landrights @setiabudhi18
Tweet

Apakah akhir dari sebuah skenario bahwa Hutan dan Masayarakat Adat di Kalimantan ini akan dijadikan tempat berwisata ? dan jikalau itu maka orang Dayak akan menjadi “transmigran” di tanahnya sendiri?

Will this be used as a tourist spot? and if so, then will the Dayaks become “transmigrants” in their own land?

The most common complaint, according to reports relate to the way the company obtained (or did not obtain) approval from local communities of land acquisition

Palm oil causes the loss of forests where indigenous people obtain food via hunting and medicine. It is the loss of sacred places that have immense cultural value for indigenous Papuans.

Pollution run-off in an RSPO member palm oil plantation in Sumatra. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

There is an erosion of customary values of kinship and mutual cooperation, because nowadays everything is measured by money

Women don’t want their land to be sold, they know once their land is gone, their children won’t live tomorrow

I asked these students to draw what they thought of the earth. So they drew trees, houses, ricefields, mountains and the sea.

Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on August 22, 2021.

The weaving culture of women is fading and is being replaced by the cultural influence of oil palm plantations

Ulap Doyo is a weaving art by the Benuaq in Tanjung Isuy East Kalimantan. It’s called Doyo because the main ingredients are strong Doyo leaves that are woven together as a yarn. When the forest changed to palm oil, the Dayak lost their weaving culture.

Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on August 27, 2021.

Ulap Doyo weaving Dr Setia Budhi 1 — Ulap Doyo weaving Dr Setia Budhi

The women have lost their forest where they take daily necessities for cultural purposes. For weaving from leaves, tree bark, rattan, bamboo and other swamp plants.

Photo: Dayak men, Kalimantan. PxFuel

“So far, indigenous peoples have not benefited from the development of the palm oil industry”

~ Dr Setia Budhi

There was a promise by the palm oil industry to improve the lives of indigenous peoples through plasma plantations. However, in practice plasma plantations have not had a positive impact on their lives.

Image: Dayak man, PxFuel.

The expansion of industrial land in the long term overrides Indigenous land

Field studies show that in the beginning, the community benefits from the development of the oil palm industry in terms of employment, the formation of cooperatives, and plasma schemes. However, later on, once the indigenous community become aware of the threat, they do not get anything from the palm oil companies.

I don’t believe the RSPO has a positive impact on deforestation or land-grabbing

Photo: Craig Jones Photography, the aftermath of industrial-scale destruction of a rainforest in Sumatra

The expansion of oil palm plantations has created many detrimental environmental impacts, such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, land conflicts, labour conflicts, and social conflicts around plantations.
Dr Setia Budhi

Environmental damage and social injustice were reasons why the global palm oil certification, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established. There was also a rival certificate established in Indonesia in 2009: Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO).

In practice, requirements for oil palm certifications are easily violated

Lots of things are problematic. Often location permits are issued by the central and local governments and they neglect important social responsibilities to indigenous peoples.

Many methods have been tried before, yet deforestation continues to get more and more massive problem. I think brand boycotts send a very clear message to big food companies
dr setia budhi

I support the #Boycott4Wildlife

So far, all brands that are members of the RSPO have been linked to deforestation. The important thing is, we actually replace those brands with ones that have nothing to do with palm oil.
Dr Setia Budhi

There must be a stronger way to voice the interests of indigenous peoples and the dangers of rainforest threats for them!

‘I support the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife because so far, all brands in the @RSPOtweets have been linked to #deforestation. We should replace those brands with ones that have nothing to do with #palmoil’ @setiabudhi18
Tweet

Most palm oil deforestation risk in Indonesia is concentrated on Kalimantan

[Source: Trase Insights]

Fire and destruction of orangutan habitat in RSPO palm oil plantations in Sumatra (May 2021)

The growing demand for #PalmOil threatens Indonesia’s rainforests – with #satellite images & data @ConradinZ, @BarJack and I analysed plantations with the RSPO label to see if they hold their promise of sustainability. We looked at three common issues 👇🛰️

https://www.nzz.ch/international/nachhaltiges-palmoel-bedroht-regenwald-indonesien-ld.1610359

1) Fire outbreaks in and around palm oil concessions (often starting from slash-and-burn fires to clear land for plantations).

2) Concession that stand on former peat forests (and are thus more fire-prone).

3) The clearing of primary rainforests for new plantations.

We used #map data provided by @globalforests and @UMBaltimore, #sentinel2 images from @esa, concession boundaries from @RSPOtweets and #fire hotspot data (#VIIRS) from @NASAEarth. Oh the wonders of #OpenData #OSINT.

Read the entire article

The problem & potential of #ecolabels in 3 images: The left concession detains fires from outside thanks to mandatory fire management. On the right concession, the fire starts within and destroys orang-utan habitats. The fire was not investigated by RPSO. #SWIR #satellite 🛰️

Originally tweeted by Adina Renner (@adinarenner) on May 10, 2021.

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - Virgin and untouched rainforest in Sumatra — [Photos: Craig Jones Photography]

Deforestation - Craig Jones Wildlife Photography — [Photos: Craig Jones Photography]

The rainforests of Kalimantan and Papua rank 3^rd largest in the world – we are very proud of this. This region’s rainforests are decreasing by millions of hectares per year for investment purposes…

Oil palm plants need pesticides. And the effect of pesticides kills fireflies Photuris lucicrescens

We have lost the light and the story of romantic night…

Oil palm plants need pesticides. And the effect of pesticides kill fireflies (photuris lucicrescens). We lost the light and the story of a romantic night. pic.twitter.com/93vXPDEv1O
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 19, 2021

When “forest” is defined solely on the basis of tree cover – this puts rainforests, animals and indigenous peoples in jeopardy

We use the word “forest” to describe a wide variety of situations

This leads to excuses for the environment being destroyed. These practices give rise to a false sense of accomplishment when the forests that are reported to cover substantial parts of the tropical landscape hardly resemble “old growth”.

Bornean Banded Langur Presbytis chrysomelas

Bornean Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron schleiermacheri

Borneo Pygmy Elephant Elephas maximus borneensis

A winged seed sower of the rainforest: Megabat Acerodon jubatus, a giant flying fox. — A winged seed sower of the rainforest: Megabat *Acerodon jubatus*, a giant flying fox. *Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on August 24, 2021.*

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

by Palm Oil Detectives

Borneo Bay Cat Catopuma badia

by Palm Oil Detectives

Painted Terrapin Batagur borneoensis

by Palm Oil Detectives

Bornean Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron schleiermacheri

by Palm Oil Detectives

Bornean White-bearded Gibbon Hylobates albibarbis

by Palm Oil Detectives

Bornean Orangutan Pongo pygmaeus

by Palm Oil Detectives

Bornean Ferret Badger Melogale everetti

by Palm Oil Detectives

Borneo Pygmy Elephant Elephas maximus borneensis

by Palm Oil Detectives

Bornean Banded Langur Presbytis chrysomelas

by Palm Oil Detectives

Sulawesi Hornbill Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus

by Palm Oil Detectives

Sulawesi Crested Black Macaque Macaca nigra

by Palm Oil Detectives

Hornbill species are present in every traditional Dayak ritual

They are a regional symbol in Balinese Dayak dances. Almost all places in Borneo, Malaysia and Brunei revere the hornbill as a special bird. Even the logo at my university where I teach is a hornbill!

As they fly around, these hornbills disperse seeds of the fruit they eat around 100 kilometres away.

There are many species of hornbill found only in Borneo

Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on July 31, 2021.

As they fly around, these hornbills disperse seeds of the fruit they eat around 100 kilometres away.

Hornbills are underappreciated workers and unpaid farmers helping to expand the majestic forests of Kalimantan!

I’m deeply sad that these Hornbills are likely to go extinct from deforestation

Their breeding grounds in the forest are getting thinner by the day! Hunting for hornbills is still happening despite them being declared as protected species. We should all love hornbills as forest farmers who work voluntarily and unpaid.

Sulawesi Hornbill Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus

The Sulawesi hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus) is a striking and large yellow and black bird endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Known for their unique vocalisations and social nature, including communal shared…

by Palm Oil Detectives

Knobbed Hornbill Rhyticeros cassidix

Knobbed Hornbills are important seed dispersers in Indonesia. Known for their unique social nature, save this striking bird, when you shop boycott palm oil!

by Palm Oil Detectives

I like seeing Proboscis monkeys because it’s a sign that the rainforest is still in a good condition

The proboscis monkey is in danger of extinction

I’m head of the proboscis monkey community on Sebuku, a small island in Southeast Kalimantan. The Proboscis Monkey Nasalis larvatus is endemic to coastal areas of rivers and mangroves. They have many names in different regions and are known as Bangkatan in Brunei.

Proboscis monkeys give birth only once per season and this gestation lasts about 166 days. Newborns have a blue face and sparse almost black fur. At the age of 3 to 4 months there is a change in colour which indicates their maturity to adulthood.

Their peat forest home is starting to narrow as the mangroves are being cut down, causing the proboscis monkey colonies to be pushed out.

Proboscis Monkey Nasalis larvatus

Proboscis Monkeys are known for their large noses and pot bellies. These arboreal monkeys of Borneo are great swimmers, help them when you boycott palm oil

by Palm Oil Detectives January 25, 2021October 15, 2025

A ‘mystery monkey’ in Borneo may be a rare hybrid between a Proboscis Monkey and Silvery Lutung

A new study has found that fragmentation of forests in Malaysian Borneo due to palm oil and mining has pressured two species of monkey (the Proboscis Monkey and Silvered Leaf Monkey/Silvery Lutung) to…

by Palm Oil Detectives August 18, 2022April 10, 2025

Most woodpecker species live in forests or woodland habitats, but I’ve never seen them in palm oil plantations

Woodpeckers are part of the family Picidae, that also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide.

Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on August 27, 2021.

It is the people who live in the tropics who will determine the fate of rainforests

~ Dr Setia Budhi

Photos: Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Global campaigns may go a long way in slowing the rate of loss of natural tropical forests, but in the end it is the people living in the tropics who will determine the fate of these forests.

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography. A female orangutan at dawn in Sumatra

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - Sumatran virgin rainforests

A Sumatran Orangutan clings to a broken tree. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

An RSPO palm oil plantation where an orangutan mother and baby were found struggling to stay alive in Sumatra. By Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Palm oil tinted with orangutan's blood - Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Research: Palm Oil Deforestation and its connection to retail brands

Photos: Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Menjadi Petani (bahasa Dayak Ngaju “Malan”), hidup damai dan berkah. Tanam sendiri, penen sendiri dan yang penting tidak ada Korupsi.

Be a farmer (Dayak Ngaju “Malan”), live in peace and blessings. Plant yourself, harvest yourself and most importantly there is no corruption.

Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on July 7, 2021.

In Indonesia, a forest functions simply as a mode of investment and production

Together we can gain insights from people working in economics, geography, sociology and political science. Tropical forest conservation should remain an interdisciplinary and multi-scale endeavour.

Indonesia is rich with natural foods such as sago and tubers. However the government’s food security program: indigenous food sources continue to be destroyed.
Dr Setia Budhi

The full range of forest users must be considered in the policy-making process, which should be developed and implemented with the involvement of indigenous activists.

Cempedak Artocarpus integer is a rainforest fruit in Borneo

*Originally tweeted by Dr.Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) on August 22, 2021.*

The supermarket should provide natural foods for indigenous peoples

Sago, cinnamon, palm sugar, and root foods. Not preservative filled, unhealthy convenience foods.

Existing CSR programs were generally conceived to centralise the community around an oil palm area, not to empower the community with cultural knowledge.
Dr Setia Budhi

Palm oil companies should instead study the knowledge and culture of local people, their local wisdom. Companies should not ignore social hierarchies. Instead they should invite indigenous peoples to sit together to build agency and autonomy in their own ways and for their own environmental and cultural priorities.

A great CSR program should empower the indigenous community to enrich their indigenous traditions

Here are some examples:

Establishing forest areas to restore important cultural functions with endemic plants.
Mobilising and educating indigenous youth to protect against the extinction of traditional medicine.
The promotion of natural forest-based jobs.
Programs that protect local people’s food so that they can obtain this from the forest and rivers, in a sustained, long-term manner.

In my observation, there are phases to conflicts between Indigenous people and palm oil companies…

Photo: Dayak Longhouse, PxFuel.

1. Location and plantation permits

The permit issued by the central government and local government often differs from the physical land area. Instead, the land on the permit overlaps with land managed by the indigenous community long before the plantation permit was issued.

**Photo: Craig Jones Wildlife Photography.**

2. Plasma Plantation development

This cooperation is not balanced, so the community is often disadvantaged in this agreement. The land set aside for the community for plasma plantations is also included in the Business Use Rights (Hak Guna Usaha) document.

Plasma smallholders are farmers who took part in the Plasma Transmigration Program (Perkebunan Inti Rakyat, also known as PIR-Trans), set up by the Indonesian government in 1987. Under the scheme, villagers from rural parts of Indonesia were relocated to oil palm growing areas and given two hectares of land to farm, as well as another 0.5 ha for their housing and food crops.
The plasma farmers were partnered with a local company which provided employment while the land was prepared, and after four years the oil palms were ready for harvesting.
The plasma farmers agree to sell their produce to the company at a price set by the government.
Asian Agri: Indonesia’s Plasma Farmer Scheme Explained (2018)

3. Plasma plantation promises

Oil palm companies are often not strategic in their development of plasma plantations. Commonly these are located far from farmers’ homes making them hard to access. The plasma plantation will have inappropriate and less fertile land with poor seedlings and a small number of plants set aside for plasma plantations.

As consumers, we can all do our part to help keep the forests standing

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

Artist and Indigenous Rights Advocate Barbara Crane Navarro

Zoologist and TV Presenter Dr George McGavin

The Orangutan with the golden hair by Setia Budhi

Dayak Indigenous Ethnographer Dr Setia Budhi

Wildlife Vet Dr Richard K Ssuna

Primatologist Cleve Hicks on Chimpanzee cultures, Palm Oil deforestation

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

You can find and follow me on Twitter if you wish @Setiabudhi18

Weaving Ulap Doyo is an art weave cloth of the tribe of Benuaq in Tanjung Isuy EastKalimantan.Doyo called because its main ingredient is fiber leaf Doyo.Doyo leaves are a strong woven material to be used as yarn. When the forest changed palm oil,Dayak lost their culture weaving. pic.twitter.com/CiJymeCutY
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 27, 2021

Megabats (acerodon jubatus), giant flying fox. "Winged sower in the Rainforest". #saveborneorainforest #deforestation #mangrove pic.twitter.com/2cESkjYQ25
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 24, 2021

Launch my short story Forest House. Bengkayang West Kalimantan. A chapter about evicted village. #SaveBorneoRainforest #deforestación pic.twitter.com/Wb8t635QWt
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 21, 2021

There must be power to protect indigenous peoples on their lands.https://t.co/Cedli69lO2 pic.twitter.com/51IlWRaTFm
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) July 29, 2021

Woodpeckers are part of the family Picidae, that also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide. Most species live in forests or woodland habitats. But I've never seen it in palm oil. #deforestation pic.twitter.com/YcPIKJaqQe
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 27, 2021

Left and right of this road is a rubber plantation, it has been around for a long time. Hopefully it's not replaced with palm oil. (my trip from south to central Borneo). #saveborneorainforest #deforestation #orangutan #indigenouspeople pic.twitter.com/N3qXKD0rpM
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 25, 2021

Sunday, as before, enjoy the bamboo rafting. #SaveBorneoRainforest #Orangutan #deforestation pic.twitter.com/ql3QhshBFA
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 8, 2021

If the rainforest replaced with oil palm, these Dayak women will no longer weave Rattan. Rattan cannot grow in palm oil. #saveborneorainforest #deforestation pic.twitter.com/XcA4VP0GoX
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 17, 2021

One of the tree functions, "barbershop". #DontCutdownTrees pic.twitter.com/WmYEtfkse8
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 17, 2021

We leave a trail of planting, not a trail of cutting down forests. #SaveBorneoRainforest #deforestation #Orangutan pic.twitter.com/2DoUcbt17s
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 8, 2021

True, we can list 1000 aspects of oil palm plantations that are working to destroy Orangutans and other rainforest species. https://t.co/2PfW7BA1qM
— Setia Budhi @BerukHutan @Ethnographer (@setiabudhi18) August 25, 2021

Photography, Art: Craig Jones, Jo Fredricks, Dr Setia Budhi, PxFuel.

Words: Dr Setia Budhi

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on supermarket brands causing palm oil deforestation

Find out more

Greenwashing Tactic #5: Irrelevance and Deflection

Claiming a brand, commodity or industry is green based on irrelevant information. A common greenwashing tactic is to shift the conversation towards an irrelevant issue that deflects from the environmental issue at hand.

#Greenwashing Tactic 5. Irrelevance and Deflection: A greenwashing tactic that shifts conversation away from criticising “sustainable’ #palmoil towards an irrelevant topics #Boycott4Wildlife #Boycottpalmoil #Fightgreenwashing @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/09/02/greenwashing-tactic-5-irrelevance-and-deflection/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Jump to section

Greenwashing: Irrelevant Topics

Greenwashing: Colonial Racism

Research: Palm oil greenwashing and its link to climate denialism

Reality: RSPO Certification Doesn’t Stop Deforestation, Human Rights Abuses etc.

Reality: Global Witness report links supermarket brands (RSPO members) to palm oil plantation deaths

RSPO 14 Years of Failure to Eliminate Violence and Destruction from the Industrial Palm Oil Sector

Quote: Greenpeace: Destruction Certified (2021)

Research: Certification is a weak tool for sustainability

Explore the Series

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife

Say thanks for this guide by donating to my Ko-Fi

Greenwashing: Irrelevant Topics

Palm oil lobbyists steer people’s online conversations away from criticising sustainable palm oil or calling for a boycott of palm oil, towards other topics that are irrelevant

RSPO Lobbyists such as Bart Van Assen, Michelle Desilets and Jane Griffiths of Orangutan Land Trust often combine this tactic with abuse and harassment. This is done to intimidate individuals and stop them spreading awareness about the corruption of so-called ‘sustainable’ palm oil.

Much of Europe was deforested for agricultural production. Do you feel the same about crops grown on land that was deforested hundreds of years ago? Since 2018 the #RSPO strengthened its standards to include no deforestation or planting on peat. It’s forward steps.
— Jane Griffiths (@griffjane) October 10, 2022

We couldn't have said it better ourselves! https://t.co/Ay2LQJpPoa
— Orangutan Land Trust🦧 (also on Bluesky) (@orangulandtrust) August 24, 2021

Oh, look. Another egocentric #consumerist "solution" joining the #BoycottPalmOil cult. Creating massive food waste and garbage and unconcerned with the deforestation for their ingredients. Their "excuse": it's #palmoil free. https://t.co/yzJYHDCgro
— Bane of the #boycottPalmoil #ecoFascism (@apes4forests) October 6, 2021

https://twitter.com/KiwiButts/status/1578193115143290880?s=20&t=FkZDtmmXP-27Lj2hSs5IDw

Agreed, the #consumerism of 'the west' is killing our planet. #BanFastFood, #BanSUVs, etc, etc, etc and demand ingredients that are #ForestFriendly, #CommunityFriendly and #WorkerFriendly!
— Bane of the #boycottPalmoil #ecoFascism (@apes4forests) August 20, 2021

This… this is the very quacktivism that is destroying the planet: don't touch "my" chocolate, coffee, etc despite it destroying rainforest and boycott only "their" meat and palm oil. From a closet vegan, that's really rich!!! https://t.co/r4FtPnkTIR pic.twitter.com/LvA0y1FPmE
— Bane of the #boycottPalmoil #ecoFascism (@apes4forests) October 2, 2021

Considering that there are multiple causes of deforestation, pinning the failure to eradicate deforestation on one voluntary sustainability standard for palm oil is illogical. pic.twitter.com/4n9KKG8PO6
— Michelle Desilets🦧 (Bluesky: @savetheorangutan) (@orangutans) July 18, 2019

Greenwashing: Colonial Racism

Palm oil lobbyists divert consumers’ attention away from exposing the corruption of ‘sustainable’ palm oil.

They do this by claiming that people from wealthy nations want to halt the growth of palm oil in developing nations and that this is unfair and a form of ‘colonial racism’

The gist of this argument is:

‘Europeans have destroyed their forests for agriculture, so why can’t we do the same in the tropics? Stopping our economic development is hypocrisy and colonialism’

Research analysing media and social media messages around palm oil in Malaysia and Indonesia finds that palm oil lobbyists use an ‘Us’ Versus ‘Them’ narrative, in other words, they invoke colonial racism.

Four mutually complementary narratives were used by Indonesian and Malaysian media to construe denialism, which closely resemble the four climate denialist narratives identified by Elsasser and Dunlap (2013). These denialist narratives draw heavily upon information advocated by divergent knowledge communities (Goldstein 2016) and appeal to a nationalist sentiment of ‘us’ – palm oil-producing developing countries – and ‘them’ – western developed countries producing research critical of the industry.
Liu, Felicia & Ganesan, Vignaa & Smith, Thomas. (2020). Contrasting communications of sustainability science in the media coverage of palm oil agriculture on tropical peatlands in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Environmental Science & Policy. 114. 162-169. 10.1016/j.envsci.2020.07.004.

Sadly, Activists Inc poisoned the well for decades in Europe with their shallow solutions. And now they have lost control over their creature and it runs amok throughout its governments. That's a mighty uphill battle against the wilful ignorance of Europe's lazy consumerism. https://t.co/riCPiLmu6t
— Bane of the #boycottPalmoil #ecoFascism (@apes4forests) July 29, 2021

Thank you @zuraida_my for highlighting @palmoilmonitor efforts to point out hypocrisy of Europeans banning and discriminating against Asian palm oil https://t.co/gZKXgbt1WJ
— Palm Oil Monitor (@palmoilmonitor) October 6, 2021

Shameless rich countries Australia, NZ, UK, US were busted asking #Indonesia to clean their hazardous mess, just like asking Indonesia's #forest to clean their cumulative #CO2 by demonising #palmoil
.https://t.co/HSINmtO4ek
— Hypocrite Buster (@HypocrisyKiller) December 27, 2020

We had the luck to be born into a developed country, I believe we need to acknowledge the right of lesser-developed countries to develop. We simply have no right to tell a country like Indonesia to forgo economic development, but we can help to steer that development in a sustainable direction.
Michelle Desilets, Director, Orangutan Land Trust. The Switch Report, 2014

Reality

RSPO palm oil certification has not improved worker’s incomes and has not stopped human rights abuses, violence, slavery or illegal indigenous land-grabbing, since the RSPO’s inception 17 years ago

Global Witness October 2021 Report: Violence and death for palm oil connected to household supermarket brands (RSPO members)

“One palm oil firm, Rimbunan Hijau, [Papua New Guinea] negligently ignored repeated and avoidable worker deaths and injuries on palm oil plantations, with at least 11 workers and the child of one worker losing their lives over an eight-year period.

The True Price of Palm Oil - Global Witness Report, Papua New Guinea deaths, violence and slavery linked to RSPO members Kelloggs, Nestle, Hersheys, Danone

“Tainted palm oil from Papua New Guinea plantations was sold to household name brands, all of them RSPO members including Kellogg’s, Nestlé, Colgate, Danone, Hershey’s and PZ Cussons and Reckitt Benckiser”

The true price of palm oil: How global finance funds deforestation, violence and human rights abuses in Papua New Guinea – Global Witness, 2021

Read report

Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 is home to the world's third-largest remaining rainforest.

Yet this vital ecosystem is being destroyed at an alarming rate to make way for #PalmOil plantations.

Our new report takes a deep dive inside this destructive industry: https://t.co/BDeFXpYFOD pic.twitter.com/MKqoJbeADr
— Global Witness (@Global_Witness) October 7, 2021

RSPO has fallen short of achieving zero deforestation and palm oil certification schemes can't currently be trusted. If something contains 'sustainable' or RSPO certified palm oil, sadly we can't be certain deforestation hasn't been part of its process 😥 https://t.co/XBoqvSZf81
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) October 4, 2021

Swiss multinational @Nestle identified over 1,000 cases of #deforestation per day in #palmoil areas https://t.co/ciAvifxRKy #Indonesia #Malaysia pic.twitter.com/5JyIQFmUgk
— Environmental Investigation Agency (@EIA_News) September 16, 2020

“Please pay attention to our lives.” @AP spoke to dozens of women on palm oil plantations who describe rapes, harassment and punishing physical effects of their brutal work, which feeds into top Western beauty brands.

READ MORE: https://t.co/WYrP7hzPKN pic.twitter.com/IwPR1tNbre
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 21, 2020

RSPO has fallen short of achieving zero deforestation and palm oil certification schemes can't currently be trusted. If something contains 'sustainable' or RSPO certified palm oil, sadly we can't be certain deforestation hasn't been part of its process 😥 >https://t.co/qUKzZ519J2
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) August 16, 2021

RSPO: 14 years of failure to eliminate violence and destruction from the industrial palm oil sector

Friends of the Earth and 100 other human rights and environmental NGOS co-signed this letter in 2018

Read original letter

Letter

During its 14 years of existence, RSPO – the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil – has failed to live up to its claim of “transforming” the industrial palm oil production sector into a so-called “sustainable” one. In reality, the RSPO has been used by the palm oil industry to greenwash corporate destruction and human rights abuses, while it continues to expand business, forest destruction and profits.

RSPO presents itself to the public with the slogan “transforming the markets to make sustainable palm oil the norm”. Palm oil has become the cheapest vegetable oil available on the global market, making it a popular choice among the group that dominates RSPO membership, big palm oil buyers.

They will do everything to secure a steady flow of cheap palm oil. They also know that the key to the corporate success story of producing “cheap” palm oil is a particular model of industrial production, with ever-increasing efficiency and productivity which in turn is achieved by:

Planting on a large-scale and in monoculture, frequently through conversion of tropical biodiverse forests
Using “high yielding” seedlings that demand large amounts of agrotoxics and abundant water.
Squeezing cheap labour out of the smallest possible work force, employed in precarious conditions so that company costs are cut to a minimum
Making significant up-front money from the tropical timber extracted from concessions, which is then used to finance plantation development or increase corporate profits.
Grabbing land violently from local communities or by means of other arrangements with governments (including favourable tax regimes) to access land at the lowest possible cost.

Those living on the fertile land that the corporations choose to apply their industrial palm oil production model, pay a very high price.

Violence is intrinsic to this model:

violence and repression when communities resist the corporate take over of their land because they know that once their land is turned into monoculture oil palm plantations, their livelihoods will be destroyed, their land and forests invaded. In countless cases, deforestation caused by the expansion of this industry, has displaced communities or destroyed community livelihoods where
companies violate customary rights and take control of community land;
sexual violence and harassment against women in and around the plantations which often stays invisible because women find themselves without possibilities to demand that the perpetrators be prosecuted;
Child labour and precarious working conditions that go hand-in-hand with violation of workers’ rights;
working conditions can even be so bad as to amount to contemporary forms of slavery. This exploitative model of work grants companies more economic profits while allowing palm oil to remain a cheap product. That is why, neither them or their shareholders do anything to stop it.

exposure of workers, entire communities and forests, rivers, water springs, agricultural land and soils to the excessive application of agrotoxics;
depriving communities surrounded by industrial oil palm plantations of their food sovereignty when industrial oil palm plantations occupy land that communities need to grow food crops.

RSPO’s proclaimed vision of transforming the industrial oil palm sector is doomed to fail because the Roundtable’s certification principles promote this structural violent and destructive model.

The RSPO also fails to address the industry’s reliance on exclusive control of large and contingent areas of fertile land, as well as the industry’s growth paradigm which demands a continued expansion of corporate control over community land and violent land grabs.

None of RPSO’s eight certification principles suggests transforming this industry reliance on exclusive control over vast areas of land or the growth paradigm inherent to the model.

Industrial use of vegetable oils has doubled in the past 15 years, with palm oil being the cheapest. This massive increase of palm oil use in part explains the current expansion of industrial oil palm plantations, especially in Africa and Latin America, from the year 2000 onward, in addition to the existing vast plantations areas in Malaysia and Indonesia that also continue expanding.

On the ground, countless examples show that industrial oil palm plantations continue to be synonymous to violence and destruction for communities and forests. Communities’ experiences in the new industrial oil palm plantation frontiers, such as Gabon, Nigeria, Cameroon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Peru, Honduras, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, are similar to past and ongoing community experiences in Indonesia and Malaysia.

RSPO creates a smokescreen that makes this violence invisible for consumers and financiers. Governments often fail to take regulatory action to stop the expansion of plantations and increasing demand of palm oil; they rely on RSPO to deliver an apparently sustainable flow of palm oil.

For example, in its public propaganda, RSPO claims it supports more than 100,000 small holders. But the profit from palm oil production is still disproportionally appropriated by the oil palm companies: in 2016, 88% of all certified palm oil came from corporate plantations and 99,6% of the production is corporate-controlled.

RSPO also claims that the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is key among its own Principles and Criteria. The right to FPIC implies, among others, that if a community denies the establishment of this monoculture in its territory, operations cannot be carried out. Reality shows us, however, that despite this, many projects go ahead.

Concessions are often guaranteed long before the company reaches out to the affected communities. Under these circumstances, to say that FPIC is central to RSPO is bluntly false and disrespectful.

RSPO also argues that where conflicts with the plantation companies arise, communities can always use its complaint mechanism. However, the mechanism is complex and it rarely solves the problems that communities face and want to resolve.

This becomes particularly apparent in relation to land legacy conflicts where the mechanism is biased against communities. It allows companies to continue exploiting community land until courts have come to a decision. This approach encourages companies to sit out such conflicts and count on court proceedings dragging on, often over decades.

Another argument used by RSPO is that industrial oil palm plantations have lifted millions of people out of poverty. That claim is certainly questionable, even more so considering that there is also an important number of people who have been displaced over the past decades to make space for plantations.

Indigenous communities have in fact lost their fertile land, forests and rivers to oil palm plantations, adversely affecting their food, culture and local economies.

The RSPO promise of “transformation” has turned into a powerful greenwashing tool for corporations in the palm oil industry. RSPO grants this industry, which remains responsible for violent land grabbing, environmental destruction, pollution through excessive use of agrotoxics and destruction of peasant and indigenous livelihoods, a “sustainable” image.

What’s more, RSPO membership seems to suffice for investors and companies to be able to claim that they are “responsible” actors. This greenwash is particularly stunning, since being a member does not guarantee much change on the ground. Only recently, a company became RSPO member after it was found to deforest over 27.000 hectares of rainforest in Papua, Indonesia.

Certification is structurally dependent on the very same policies and regulation that have given rise to the host of environmental devastation and community land rights violations associated with oil palm plantations. These systemic governance issues are part of the destructive economic model, and embedded in state power.

For this reason, voluntary certification schemes cannot provide adequate protection for forests, community rights, food sovereignty and guarantee sustainability. Governments and financiers need to take responsibility to stop the destructive palm oil expansion that violates the rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples.

As immediate steps, governments need to:

Put in place a moratorium on palm oil plantations expansion and use that as a breathing space to fix the policy frameworks;
Drastically reduce demand for palm oil: stop using food for fuel;
Strengthen and respect the rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples to amongst others, self-determination and territorial control.
Promote agro-ecology and community control of their forests, which strengthens local incomes, livelihoods and food sovereignty, instead of advancing industrial agro-businesses.

Signatures

Aalamaram-NGOAcción Ecológica, Ecuador
ActionAid, France
AGAPAN
Amics arbres
Arbres amics
Amis de la Terre France
ARAARBA (Asociación para la Recuperación del Bosque Autóctono)
Asociación Conservacionista YISKI, Costa Rica
Asociación Gaia El Salvador
Association Congo Actif, Paris
Association Les Gens du Partage, Carrières-sous-Poissy
Association pour le développement des aires protégées, Swizterland
BASE IS
Bézu St Eloi
Boxberg OT Uhyst
Bread for all
Bruno Manser Fund
CADDECAE, Ecuador
Campaign to STOP GE Trees
CAP, Center for Advocacy Practices
Centar za životnu sredinu/ Friends of the Earth Bosnia and Herzegovina
CESTA – FOE El Salvador
CETRI – Centre tricontinental
Climate Change Kenya
Coalición de Tendencia Clasista. (CTC-VZLA)
Colectivo de Investigación y Acompañmiento Comunitario
Collectif pour la défense des terres malgaches – TANY, Madagascar
Community Forest Watch, Nigeria
Consumers Association of Penang
Corporate Europe Observatory
Cuttington University
Down to Earth Consult
El Campello
Environmental Resources Management and Social Issue Centre (ERMSIC) Cameroon
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria
FASE ES , Brazil
Fédération romande des consommateurs
FENEV, (Femmes Environnement nature Entrepreneuriat Vert).
Focus on the Global South
Forum Ökologie & Papier, Germany
Friends of the Earth Ghana
Friends of the Earth International
GE Free NZ, New Zealand
Global Alliance against REDD
Global Justice Ecology Project
Global Info
Gobierno Territorial Autónomo de la Nación Wampís , Peru
GRAIN
Green Development Advocates (GDA)
CameroonGreystones, Ireland
Groupe International de Travail pour les Peuples Autochtones
Grupo ETC
Grupo Guayubira, Uruguay
Instituto Mexicano de Gobernanza Medioambiental AC Instituto Mexicano de Gobernanza Medioambiental AC
Integrated Program for the Development of the Pygmy People (PIDP), DRC
Justica Ambiental
Justicia Paz e Integridad de la Creacion. Costa Rica
Kempityari
Latin Ambiente, http://www.latinambiente.org
Les gens du partage
LOYOLA SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, MANILA
Maderas del Pueblo del Sureste, AC
Maiouri nature, Guyane
Mangrove Action Project
Milieudefensie – Friends of the Earth Netherlands
Movimento Amigos da Rua Gonçalo de Carvalho
Muyissi Environnement, Gabon
Nature-d-congo de la République du Congo
New Wind Association from Finland
NOAH-Friends of the Earth Denmark
Oakland Institute
OFRANEH, Honduras
Ole Siosiomaga Society Incorporated (OLSSI)
ONG OCEAN : Organisation Congolaise des Ecologistes et Amis de la Nature et sommes basés en RD Congo.
OPIROMA, Brazil
Otros Mundos A.C./Amigos de la Tierra México
Paramo Guerrrero Zipaquira
PROYECTO GRAN SIMIO (GAP/PGS-España)
Quercus – ANCN, Portugal
Radd (Reseau des Acteurs du Développement Durable) , Cameroon
Rainforest Foundation UK
Rainforest Relief
ReAct – Alliances Transnationales
RECOMA – Red latinoamericana contra los monocultivos de árboles
Red de Coordinacion en Biodiversidad , Çosta Rica
REFEB-Cote d’Ivoire
Rettet den Regenwald, Germany
ROBIN WOOD
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia)
Salva la Selva
School of Democratic Economics, Indonesia
Serendipalm Company Limited
Sherpa , The Netherlands
SYNAPARCAM, Cameroon
The Corner House, UK
Towards Equitable Sustainable Holistic Development
TRAFFED KIVU ,RD. CONGOUNIÓN UNIVERSAL DESARROLLO SOLIDARIO
University of Sussex, UK
UTB ColombiaWatch Indonesia!
WESSA
World Rainforest Movement
Youth Volunteers for the Environment Ghana

Certification is a weak tool to address global forest and ecosystem destruction.
By improving the image of forest and ecosystem risk commodities and so stimulating demand, certification risks actually increasing the harm caused by the expansion of commodity production.
Certification schemes end up greenwashing products linked to deforestation, ecosystem destruction and rights abuses.
Greenpeace: destruction certified

Destruction Certified by Greenpeace 2021

Read full report

We find positive effects on prices and income from sale of certified products. However, we find no change in overall household income and assets for workers. The wages for workers are not higher in certified production.
Oya, C., Schaefer, F. & Skalidou, D. The effectiveness of agricultural certification in developing countries: a systematic review. World Dev. 112, 282–312 (2018).

We find that, while sustainability standards can help improve the sustainability of production processes in certain situations, they are insufficient to ensure food system sustainability at scale, nor do they advance equity objectives in agrifood supply chains.
Meemken, EM., Barrett, C.B., Michelson, H.C. et al. Sustainability standards in global agrifood supply chains. Nat Food (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00360-3

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife and fight deforestation and greenwashing by using your wallet as a weapon!

Find out more

Contribute to my Ko-Fi

Did you enjoy visiting this website?

Palm Oil Detectives is 100% self-funded

Say thanks on Ko-Fi

Africa’s rainforests are different. Why it matters that they’re protected

Around 2 million km² of #Africa is covered by tropical #rainforests. They are second only in extent to those in #Amazonia, which cover around 6 million km². Rainforests are home to vast numbers of species of #primates #birds #insects and more. For example, the world’s tropical rainforests are estimated to be home to at least 40,000 tree species, with up to 6,000 in African forests. Protect all rainforests before it’s too late, every time you shop use your wallet as a weapon and be #Vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boyott4Wildlife

#Rainforests in #Africa are poorly studied compared to the #Amazon yet demand for #palmoil and #mining is growing threatening #forest animals. Take action! #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🩸🤮🙊⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/09/01/africas-rainforests-are-different-why-it-matters-that-theyre-protected/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

African rainforests are poorly studied compared to those in Amazonia and South East Asia. And the continent’s rainforests are being lost to deforestation at a rate of 0.3% every year. This is slower than in Amazonia (estimated to be 0.5% per year in Brazil) and South East Asia (1% in Indonesia).

But greater losses are likely in the future if palm oil production, driven by growing global demand, expand. Another major threat is logging which is also on the rise.

Help for African rainforests may come from an unexpected source: international policies to tackle climate change.

The world’s tropical forests store 250 billion tonnes of carbon. If global temperature increases are to be kept well below 2°C this carbon needs to be kept locked away in trees rather than released into the atmosphere. Because of this, incentives to conserve forests for their carbon were officially recognised at the Paris climate summit in 2015. Examples include the United Nations REDD+ policy framework.

But our research into the relationship between the amount of carbon forests store and their biodiversity produced two interesting findings. The first suggests that carbon focused approaches like REDD+ will miss many forests with high biodiversity. This is because the forests that store the most carbon are not necessarily home to the most species.

The second is that Africa’s rainforests have unique characteristics. In particular, we found that they store more carbon than those in the Amazon. This makes designing policies that protect them all the more important, and more complex.

Tree diversity and carbon storage

At first glance, incentives to protect forests for their carbon should also benefit biodiversity. This is because they encourage more forests to be protected. But protecting one area often diverts threats to other areas. So, protecting some forests for their carbon could increase human pressure on others. It’s therefore crucial to know the relationship between biodiversity and carbon storage to assess whether carbon-focused conservation will also protect the most biodiverse forests. That’s what we set out to research.

Africa’s rainforests have unique characteristics that distinguish them from forests elsewhere. Sophie Fauset

Previous studies have found that ecosystem functions like carbon storage increase with biodiversity. So, it may be expected that the forests with the most tree species also have the most carbon. But it’s unknown whether this positive effect of biodiversity would be evident in high-diversity tropical forests.

To see how carbon and biodiversity were related in mature tropical forests we – a team of 115 scientists from 22 countries – surveyed 360 plots situated across the lowland rainforests of South America, Africa and Asia. In each 1 hectare (100 by 100 m) plot we identified and measured the diameter of every tree. From here, we could estimate the amount of carbon the forest stored.

GIF - before and after a rainforest is cut down for palm oil — GIF – before and after a rainforest is cut down for palm oil

Surprisingly, we found that tree diversity and carbon storage were completely unrelated, even after we accounted for the effect of climate and soil.

The absence of a relationship between tree diversity and carbon storage means that strategies like REDD+ – that only promote the conservation of forests with the most carbon – will miss some high diversity forests.

That’s not to say that carbon-focused conservation isn’t still important. Conserving forests for their carbon will be vital to reducing the amount the planet warms, and programmes like REDD+ are needed if this is to happen.

But our results indicate that biodiversity has to be explicitly considered when planning protected areas, and not just assumed to automatically benefit from carbon-focused conservation.

Unique characteristics

Our results also contribute to the growing understanding that African rainforests are unique. For example, they store more carbon than those in the Amazon. On average, a hectare of African rainforest stores 183 tonnes of carbon compared to 140 tonnes in the same area of Amazonian rainforest – but do so with 170 fewer trees per hectare.

The extra carbon in African forests comes from trees being larger; the average diameter of a tree in an African rainforest is 1.5 times larger than that of a tree in the Amazon. Trees in African rainforests are also taller than their Amazonian counterparts.

African forests also have fewer tree species than tropical forests in other continents. If you were to identify 300 trees in an African forest you would find, on average, 65 species, compared to 109 species in the Amazon and 120 species in South East Asia. This low diversity may partly be a legacy of past climate, with dry periods in the past wiping out species that require wet conditions all year round.

African rainforests are still important centres of biodiversity despite having fewer tree species than other rainforests. Forests need to be protected to safeguard both the huge number of species that live in them and the vast amounts of carbon they store.

Our results show that it’s not safe to assume that protecting one of these will automatically protect the other. Instead, both biodiversity and carbon need to be considered when planning how to protect Africa’s rainforests.

Martin Sullivan, Postdoctoral researcher, School of Geography, University of Leeds; Oliver Phillips, Professor of Tropical Ecology, University of Leeds, and Simon Lewis, Professor of Global Change Science at University of Leeds and, UCL

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

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

Wildlife Photographer Craig Jones

Wildlife Photojournalist and Animal Advocate Dalida Innes

Animal Rights Advocate and Artist Jo Frederiks

Nicole McLaren

Wildlife Artist Szabolcs Kókay

Wildlife and Environmental Advocate Winnie Cheche

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Black Bearded Saki Chiropotes satanas

Red List Status: Endangered

Locations: North-eastern Amazon, Brazil (specifically from the Tocantins River in Pará east to around the Grajaú River in Maranhão)

Beneath the towering canopy of the Amazon’s north-eastern forests, the Black Bearded Saki moves with quiet purpose, their distinctive shaggy beard and robust body a testament to their resilience in a world under siege. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and the distant calls of unseen creatures, but the forest is changing—#roads, #dams, and #agriculture are carving scars across the landscape, fragmenting the Black Bearded Saki’s ancestral home. The black bearded saki’s survival is threatened by relentless deforestation and hunting, their fate bound to the fate of the forest—fight for their survival every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Black Bearded #Sakis are #endangered large #monkeys 🐒 endemic to #Brazil 🇧🇷 #SouthAmerica they are #endangered by #timber #palmoil #hydroelectric dam #deforestation. Help save them and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🩸🔥🙊⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/08/28/black-bearded-saki-chiropotes-satanas/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Appearance and Behaviour

Black bearded sakis are medium-sized primates, their bodies draped in thick, dark fur and their faces framed by a distinctive, flowing beard. Adults typically measure around 50 centimetres in length, with a tail nearly as long as their body, and weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 kilograms. Their robust build and strong limbs allow them to move with surprising agility through the upper canopy, where they spend most of their lives. The black bearded saki’s most remarkable feature is their powerful jaw and specialised teeth, which enable them to crack open the hard shells of unripe fruits to reach the nutritious seeds inside. This adaptation makes them one of the most efficient seed predators and seed dispersers in the Amazon, and their foraging habits play a vital role in shaping the forest ecosystem.

Black bearded sakis live in groups of up to 40 individuals, though smaller groups are more common. They are highly social, with strong bonds between group members, and communicate through a variety of vocalisations, including chirps, whistles, and alarm calls. Their days are spent foraging, resting, and moving through the canopy, rarely descending to the forest floor. The black bearded saki’s presence is often marked by the sound of falling fruit and the rustle of leaves as they leap from branch to branch.

Threats

The greatest risks for the future survival of the Black Bearded Saki, also known as the Black Cuxiú are the loss and fragmentation of their habitat and hunting pressure.
IUCN Red list

Palm oil, meat, and soy deforestation

The black bearded saki is classified as Endangered on the Red List, with the loss and fragmentation of their forest habitat the primary threat to their survival. In the north-eastern Amazon, large-scale infrastructure projects—such as highways and the Tucurúi Dam—have destroyed vast tracts of forest, while smaller-scale logging and agriculture continue to fragment the remaining habitat. The forest, once a living, breathing entity, is being replaced by roads, fields, and settlements, leaving only isolated patches where the black bearded saki can survive. This fragmentation isolates populations, reduces genetic diversity, and increases the risk of disease and local extinction. The black bearded saki’s ability to adapt to habitat loss is limited, and their long-term survival depends on the protection and restoration of connected forest landscapes.

Hunting and poaching

Hunting for bushmeat is a persistent threat to the black bearded saki, with individuals targeted for their meat and, in some cases, their tails, which are used as dusters. The influx of people into previously uninhabited areas of the Amazon has increased hunting pressure, and the loss of habitat makes sakis more vulnerable to capture. Hunting disrupts social groups, reduces population numbers, and threatens the genetic health of remaining populations. The black bearded saki is already locally extinct in much of its original range, and continued hunting could push them closer to extinction.

Habitat fragmentation and climate change

The fragmentation of the Amazon’s forests has profound effects on the black bearded saki. Small, isolated forest patches limit the availability of food and mates, and groups living in these fragments often show reduced movement and vocalisation, as well as increased resting. Population densities in small fragments can increase, leading to higher rates of disease and parasite transmission. Climate change adds further pressure, altering rainfall patterns and the availability of key food sources. The black bearded saki’s world is becoming hotter, drier, and less predictable, with the forests they depend on shrinking year by year.

Diet

Black bearded sakis are among the most specialised seed dispersers in the Amazon, with seeds making up the majority of their diet. They spend at least 75% of their feeding time consuming seeds from more than 50 different fruit species, using their powerful jaws and specialised teeth to crack open hard-shelled fruits that few other animals can access. Their diet also includes ripe fruit, flowers, leaf stalks, and arthropods such as caterpillars, termites, and gall wasps. The black bearded saki’s foraging habits are closely tied to the seasonal availability of fruit, with peak feeding activity during the rainy season when many trees are fruiting. Their role as seed predators helps shape the composition of the forest, and their ability to exploit hard-shelled fruits gives them a unique niche in the ecosystem.

Reproduction and Mating

Little is known about the reproductive habits of black bearded sakis in the wild, but observations in captivity and from related species suggest that births occur at the beginning of the rainy season, typically in December or January. Gestation is estimated to last four to five months, and females give birth to a single infant. The mother is the primary caregiver, nursing and carrying her young until the infant is weaned at around three months of age. After weaning, infants remain close to their mothers for protection, and strong social bonds within the group help ensure the survival of young sakis. The reproductive success of black bearded sakis is closely tied to the availability of food and the stability of their forest home.

Geographic Range

The black bearded saki is endemic to the far eastern Amazon in Brazil, with a range restricted to a relatively small region from the Tocantins River in Pará east to around the Grajaú River in Maranhão. They inhabit primary terra firme forests and, occasionally, regenerating forests, rarely descending to the forest floor. The natural home range of a black bearded saki group can vary from 200 to 250 hectares, but habitat loss and fragmentation have reduced the size and connectivity of these ranges. The black bearded saki is already locally extinct in much of its original range, and the remaining populations are increasingly isolated and vulnerable.

FAQs

How many black bearded sakis are left?

Estimates suggest that fewer than 2,500 mature black bearded sakis remain in the wild, with populations continuing to decline due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and hunting. The species is already locally extinct in much of its original range, and the remaining individuals are scattered across increasingly isolated forest fragments.

What are the characteristics of the black bearded saki?

The black bearded saki is a medium-sized primate with thick, dark fur and a distinctive, flowing beard. Adults typically measure around 50 centimetres in length, with a tail nearly as long as their body, and weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 kilograms. They are highly specialised seed predators, with powerful jaws and unique dentition that allow them to crack open hard-shelled fruits. Black bearded sakis live in social groups, communicate through a variety of vocalisations, and spend most of their lives in the upper canopy.

What do black bearded saki eat?

Black bearded sakis are highly specialised seed predators, with seeds making up the vast majority of their diet. They spend at least 75% of their feeding time consuming seeds from more than 50 different fruit species, using their robust jaws and specialised teeth to crack open hard-shelled fruits that many other animals cannot access. Their diet also includes fleshy fruits and, to a lesser extent, insects. They are particularly fond of plants from the Sapotaceae, Lecythidaceae, and Chrysobalanaceae families. This dietary flexibility allows black bearded sakis to adapt to changing forest conditions, but their reliance on certain tree species makes them vulnerable to habitat loss and selective logging.

Is the black bearded saki a monkey?

Yes, the black bearded saki is a monkey—specifically, a New World monkey native to the Amazon rainforest. Unlike apes, monkeys have tails, and the black bearded saki’s long, muscular tail helps them balance as they move through the trees. They are part of the bearded saki group, known for their robust build, thick fur, and specialised feeding habits.

What are the main threats to the survival of the black bearded saki?

The main threats to the survival of the black bearded saki are habitat loss and fragmentation caused by infrastructure projects, logging, and agriculture, as well as hunting for bushmeat. The loss of forest isolates populations, reduces genetic diversity, and increases the risk of disease and local extinction. Hunting further reduces population numbers and disrupts social groups.

How does habitat fragmentation affect the black bearded saki?

Habitat fragmentation isolates black bearded saki groups, reducing the availability of food and mates and increasing the risk of disease. Groups living in small, isolated forest patches often show reduced movement and vocalisation, as well as increased resting. Population densities in small fragments can increase, leading to higher rates of disease and parasite transmission. The black bearded saki’s ability to adapt to habitat loss is limited, and their long-term survival depends on the protection and restoration of connected forest landscapes.

Do black bearded sakis make good pets?

Black bearded sakis do not make good pets. Captivity causes extreme stress, loneliness, and early death for these highly social, intelligent primates. The pet trade and hunting for bushmeat rip families apart and fuel extinction, as infants are stolen from their mothers and forced into unnatural, impoverished conditions. Protecting black bearded sakis means rejecting the illegal pet trade and supporting their right to live wild and free in their forest home.

Where do bearded sakis live?

Bearded sakis, including the black bearded saki, are endemic to the Amazon rainforest in South America. The black bearded saki specifically inhabits a small region in north-eastern Brazil, from the Tocantins River in Pará east to the Grajaú River in Maranhão. They prefer primary tropical rainforests with dense, continuous canopies, which provide safety from predators and abundant food sources. Their natural home ranges can vary from 200 to 250 hectares, but habitat fragmentation has dramatically reduced the size and connectivity of these ranges. Today, black bearded sakis are found only in scattered forest fragments, making their survival increasingly precarious.

What is the lifespan of a black bearded saki?

The lifespan of the black bearded saki is estimated to be up to 18 years in the wild, with sexual maturity typically reached at around 4 years of age. Females usually give birth every two years, and the long interval between births suggests a relatively slow reproductive rate. Closely related bearded saki species have been known to live up to 20 years in the wild, though specific data for the black bearded saki remains limited. Their longevity is closely tied to the quality and continuity of their forest habitat, with threats such as habitat destruction and hunting potentially reducing average lifespans in fragmented environments

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology. Reject products linked to deforestation, mining, and the illegal wildlife trade. Adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #BoycottMeat to protect wild and farmed animals alike. Every choice matters—stand with the black bearded saki and defend the forests of the Amazon.

You can support this beautiful animal

There are no known conservation activities for this animal. Share out this post to social media and join the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife on social media to raise awareness

Further Information

Boubli, J. P., de Lima, E. M., Silva, M. N. F., & Silva Júnior, J. S. (2009). Bearded sakis in south-eastern Amazonia—back from the brink? Oryx, 43(2), 283–288. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/bearded-sakis-in-southeastern-amazoniaback-from-the-brink/703BC0853B02C2FB8017AD73EDA6BAB8

Neprimateconservancy.org. (n.d.). Black Bearded Saki, Chiropotes satanas. https://neprimateconservancy.org/black-bearded-saki/

Port-Carvalho, M., Muniz, C.C., Fialho, M.S., Alonso, A.C., Jerusalinsky, L. & Veiga, L.M. 2021. Chiropotes satanas (amended version of 2020 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T39956A191704509. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T39956A191704509.en. Downloaded on 05 June 2021.

van Roosmalen, M. G. M., Mittermeier, R. A., & Fleagle, J. G. (1988). Diet of the northern bearded saki (Chiropotes satanas chiropotes): A neotropical seed predator. American Journal of Primatology, 14(1), 11–35. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.1350140103

Veiga, L. M., & Ferrari, S. F. (2007). Conservation status of the black-bearded saki Chiropotes satanas in Maranhão, Brazil. International Journal of Primatology, 28(2), 347–358. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-007-9146-6

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Black bearded saki. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_bearded_saki

Black Bearded Saki Chiropotes satanas

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Why join the #Boycott4Wildlife?

According to a 2021 survey by Nestle of 1001 people, 17% of millennial shoppers (25-45 years old) completely avoid palm oil in the supermarket. 25% said that they actively check to see if products contain palmoil.

As a generation, we now have the opportunity to push our local communities and our children away from harmful palm oil towards buying products from local, small-scale businesses with small local supply chains.

We have the opportunity to rethink the out-of-control global food industry and using our wallet as a weapon to fight deforestation, greenwashing and illegal land-grabbing of rainforests from Indigenous peoples. On a personal basis, we have the ability to foster a healthier relationship to the things we buy – because the things we buy are destroying our planet!

The solution to the problem of palm oil is to get global brands to drop it completely because despite promises of WWF and The RSPO, after 18 years, the certification has failed to stop deforestation, many organisations have called the RSPO out for corruption and greenwashing. Palm oil, certified or not – is still destroying rainforests and sending thousands of rare and beautiful animals extinct, displacing Indigenous people and spewing massive plumes of Co2 into the atmosphere.

Industrial agriculture for other ingredients is doing exactly the same thing as palm oil – certification for these ingredients is also a greenwashing lie. So the #Boycott4Wildlife includes global supermarket brands that are causing tropical deforestation and Indigenous land-grabbing for soy, meat, palm oil, cocoa and any other ingredients.

Pledge your support now to the #Boycott4Wildlife

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Thank you for supporting the global movement towards the #Boycott4Wildlife and a new Steady State Economics model of looking after our planet.

amazon-deforestation — Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Wikipedia.

Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Wikipedia.

A #Boycott4Wildlife is a #boycott on out-of-control industrial agriculture causing #deforestation for #soy #palmoil #meat #cocoa #coffee. Learn how to use your wallet as a weapon and hold corporate #greed to account.
Tweet

What’s the alternative?

New economic models such as Donut Economics and the Centre of the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (CASSE) offer hope and show a new way for industrial agriculture, the energy sector and other major polluting industries that is closely aligned to living in harmony and balance with ecosystems, animals, Indigenous peoples and with the finite, limited resources that we have on our planet. Learn more about this model here.

Economic growth” (GDP growth) encourages wasteful overconsumption. This adds to economic throughput and is considered good for the economy- boosting GDP. In a steady state economy, people consume enough to meet their needs and lead meaningful, joyful lives without undermining the life-support systems of the planet.
martin tye, director, Australian Regional Communities Division- CASSE

Pledge to join CASSE

Wildlife Vet Dr Richard K Ssuna

Dr Richard K Ssuna: In His Own Words

Wildlife and Domestic Animal Vet, Conservationist, Animal Advocate

Bio: Dr Richard K. Ssuna

Dr Richard K. Ssuna has been caring for (wild and domesticated) animals as a Veterinarian for over 20 years. In the past he’s worked for the Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (USPCA), the Jane Goodall Institute and Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Wildlife Conservation Trust on Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre. Dr Ssuna also established the Lilongwe Society and Protection of Animals (LSPCA) and also worked as the technical advisor for the Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge in Liberia. He is currently the Founder of All Creatures Animal Welfare Trust in Malawi, Lesotho and Uganda.

Over the years, Dr Ssuna has received many awards for animal welfare, and veterinary practice including:

The William Wilberforce Award in 2012.
The Africa Animal Advocate Award by Humane Society International (HSI) in 2014.
Special Recognition for Outstanding Leadership for Ngamba Island in 2018.
World Animal Day Ambassador for Malawi.

Along with a veterinary degree, Dr Ssuna holds a Masters of Science in Wild Animal Health (Royal Veterinary College, University of London) and a Masters of International Animal Welfare Ethics & Law (Royal School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh).

Dr Ssuna is an absolute inspiration to animal lovers and conservationists all over the world. It is an honour to showcase his work and stories on Palm Oil Detectives.

Respected #wildlife and #pet #vet @RichardSsuna talks about @africacreatures saving #animals in #Uganda #Lesotho #Malawi and also #palmoil #landgrabbing #animalrights and the #Boycott4Wildlife #Africa
Tweet

Dr Ssuna and an assistant help to save a dog in Lilongwe. Used with permission from Joseph Murphy https://www.josephmurphyphotography.com/new-page-3

Dr Ssuna helps a leopard with arthritis.

The team save a cat who has fractured her leg

Dr Richard Ssuna - wildlife and pet vet, animal advocate

Helping to vaccinate dogs against rabies

A dog getting a rabies vaccination - Dr Richard Ssuna

Community education about care for animals - Dr Richard Ssuna

Respected #wildlife and #pet #vet @RichardSsuna talks about @africacreatures saving #animals in #Uganda #Lesotho #Malawi and also #palmoil #landgrabbing #animalrights and the #Boycott4Wildlife #Africa
Tweet

‘Foreign #palmoil companies (RSPO members) have claimed the Kalangala Islands, Uganda for #palmoil. The locals have lost their food sources. I support the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife’ #Wildlife and #Pet Vet @RichardSsuna
Tweet

“In my view product certifications like @RSPOtweets when their operations adversely affect people, they are designed to cover-up an already messed-up industry.” #Wildlife #vet @RichardSsuna #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

The public has been hoodwinked into believing that @RSPOtweets #palmoil #certification equates to a sustainable product and as result, companies fetch even more cash for it” #Wildlife #vet @RichardSsuna #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

‘Please support All Creatures Animal Welfare Trust so we can help domestic and wild animals’ #wildlife and #pet #vet @RichardSsuna of @africacreatures #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

Chimps are very curious and they pay attention to detail

This is how it all started many years ago! Here I am examining one of the baby chimps at a sanctuary. Did you know that chimps appreciate veterinary care? Via Dr Richard Ssuna on Twitter

The beauty with being a wildlife-vet, is that you get to treat all sorts of animals

This leopard developed arthritis from a previous injury. This was her annual general health check. #Wildlife #Animals #AnimalWelfare #Africa @TheWildlifeHost @bigcatscom @Lupita_Nyongo

Originally tweeted by Richard Ssuna (@RichardSsuna) on August 16, 2021.

I used to be the Field Programs Officer and Veterinarian for the Jane Goodall Institute

This project was located in the richly forested areas of Bushenyi (Kalinzu) Hoima (Bulindi, Kitooba, Kaisotonya), Masindi and Kibaale (Kanyanchu).
dr richard ssuna

My organisation All Creatures Animal Welfare helps to keep animals and communities safe…

All Creatures was initially set up in Lilongwe in Malawi in 2016, we now have new sites in Lesotho and Uganda

We specialise in:

Mass rabies vaccinations: Rabies is a critical public health concern in Africa and has severe animal welfare and human health consequences.
Animal kindness education: We teach in schools and communities about the connection between animal welfare, environmental protection and human wellbeing.
Community Veterinary Services: Our free vet services including spaying and neutering, surgery and wildlife interventions.
Saving animals from disasters: Animals are often forgotten in natural disasters and pandemics and we are well equipped to save distressed and abandoned animals.
Animal Rescue Centre: We have a shelter in Lilongwe and care for abandoned and neglected dogs and other animals.

“We have successfully vaccinated 75% of all dogs against rabies in Mzuzu, and vaccinated and sterilised more than 80% dogs in Chintenche, Northern Malawi.”

When Malawi was hit with floods in 2019, we rescued, treated and vaccinated many animals

Photo: The Conversation Arjan van de Merwe/UNDP/Flickr

“We have rescued and treated many different species wildlife, for example: Vervet Monkeys, Bush Babies, Common Duikers and Olive Baboons.”

All Creatures Animal Welfare Trust was set up to care not only for domestic pets, but wildlife too…

This has unfortunately been difficult to implement due to funding and the insurmountable challenges of animal welfare issues for domestic animals. You can help us to help more animals by donating…

Donate via Paypal

Photo by Dalida Innes Wildlife Photography

I helped to rescue baby chimps who have lost their mothers to traps laid by cocoa farmers in Kitooba

I’ve seen first-hand the poaching of baby chimps and the destruction of chimp habitat for cocoa while I was working at The Jane Goodall Institute

~ Dr Richard Ssuna

Indiscriminate traps were usually intended for bush pigs and yellow baboons and laid by local farmers. They are a common affliction to wild chimp populations in West Uganda. The chimps use private forest patches as movement corridors to access their natural habitats. This below was Masindi, 20 years ago!

Originally tweeted by Richard Ssuna (@RichardSsuna) on August 12, 2021.

The other culprit was British American Tobacco

They invested heavily in communities and tobacco farmers planted on deforested forest patches! Both activities adversely affected chimps, as their travel routes through community forests were cut off and some small unviable groups were isolated in small forest fragments.

Globally, deforestation of equatorial forests for palm oil has affected carbon sinks and has resulted in more global warming

~ Dr Richard Ssuna

Kalangala Islands, Uganda

“Foreign companies and RSPO members have claimed the land for palm oil. The local inhabitants of the island suffered from the brute destruction of the island’s forests and their loss of livelihood and food sources.

“This can easily be extrapolated to inform similar misdeeds elsewhere on the African continent. This also affected peoples livelihoods and many of these people became landless.”

The Kalangala Islands are a renowned birders destination. Now, with forest destruction, this pristine bird-haven has been adversely affected and destabilised. All in the interest of a few greedy businessmen!

~ Dr Richard Ssuna

virgin forest in Uganda https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-xfzml — [Before] Forested area in Uganda, PxFuel. [After] Fire on a palm oil plantation, Greenpeace.

The global impact of palm oil on various facets of our lives is immoral

Palm oil is driven primarily by greed and profit at the expense of both mankind, the animal kingdom and our planet.

The global impact of palm oil on various facets of our lives is immoral. It is driven primarily by greed and profit at the expense of both mankind, the animal kingdom and our planet. #Boycott4Wildlife #animals #nature #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency https://t.co/nCLjOPTGCD
— Dr Richard Ssuna (@RichardSsuna) August 16, 2021

Sumatra has lost more than half of its forests in the last 40 years, primarily due to conversion for palm oil and pulp plantations. Poaching for illegal trade in high-value Tiger products including skins, bones, meat and tonics is a primary threat to Tigers. https://t.co/PXPQ4RiLEU
— Dr Richard Ssuna (@RichardSsuna) August 14, 2021

With the knowledge of how few of them are left in the wild, the innocence and vulnerability in this monkey's eyes is saddening. I have watched this video countless times! Lets stop the #deforestation and #boycott4wildlife https://t.co/xSQ83Kr98W
— Dr Richard Ssuna (@RichardSsuna) August 16, 2021

Banange twerwaneko. Stop cutting down trees for binazi(palm oil), tobacco, cocoa, sugar, housing development,…… this is spelling doom for everyone. In the world. https://t.co/yOA1iCAr9o
— Dr Richard Ssuna (@RichardSsuna) August 10, 2021

International pet trade is a danger to, the #animals , #conservation, and in this #COVID19 pandemic period, we can not overlook its role in spreading #zoonoses. #wildlifecrime https://t.co/E1knD3IxZd
— Dr Richard Ssuna (@RichardSsuna) April 23, 2021

Excerpt, The Guardian UK: Ugandan farmers take on palm oil giant Wilmar over land grab claims

Before the bulldozers came, Magdalena Nakamya harvested coffee, cassava, avocado and jackfruit on her three-hectare (seven-acre) plot on Kalangala, an island in Lake Victoria.

But on a July morning in 2011, Nakamya, 64, awoke to find yellow machines churning up her land and razing the crops she had grown in a bid to make way for palm oil plantations.

Farmers evicted from their land by RSPO member Wilmar in the Kalangala Islands on Lake Victoria

“No one came to talk to me before they destroyed my crops,” says Nakamya. “I heard that some people were given money, but I didn’t receive anything.”

Read more: The Guardian UK

A group of residents in Kalangala district has spoken out against the 11-year lengthy court process involving a land conflict in which their ancestral land was availed for agricultural palm oil plantation. #NBSLiveAt9 #NBSUpdates pic.twitter.com/uVIxlxTJ8p
— NBS Television (@nbstv) May 7, 2022

.@ing_news runs away from @OECD complaint proces on harms in #palmoil plantations. People from Cameroon, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Indonesia are left with nothing but lost land and destroyed forests. Outrageous! Please share this video.@walhinasional @CED_Cameroun @FIANbelgium pic.twitter.com/IjdLr4fnUB
— Danielle van Oijen (@DvOijen) April 11, 2022

Landgrabbing for palm oil in Uganda by ‘If Not Us Then Who?’

In my view all or most product certifications especially whose operations adversely affect people, are designed to cover-up an already messed-up palm oil industry.
Dr Richard Ssuna

“In my view product certifications like @RSPOtweets when their operations adversely affect people, they are designed to cover-up an already messed-up industry.” #Wildlife #vet @RichardSsuna #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

I think the real hope sits with governments

The political will of governments – provided they are not compromised by kickbacks or other financial interests from global brands, provides the best opportunity to address this problem of deforestation for food, at least on a national level.

“In a real sense, the public has been hoodwinked into believing that a palm oil certification equates to a more sustainable product and as result, companies fetch even more cash for it”

~ Dr Richard Ssuna

The public has been hoodwinked into believing that @RSPOtweets #palmoil #certification equates to a sustainable product and as result, companies fetch even more cash for it” #Wildlife #vet @RichardSsuna #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

In ten years there will be no more African animals. All gone. Extinct. The window for transformation of our food system is closing rapidly!

Four things consumers can do to stop deforestation for food ingredients…

1. Raise awareness of brands that are using greenwashing to sell products and are destroying the environment and causing tropical deforestation or emptying our oceans.

2. Consume alternative products, made locally and not coming from deforestation.

3. Publicly condemn these brands causing deforestation, whenever and wherever there is a platform, with family and friends and even on social media.

4. Make reference to this issue and to the #Boycott4Wildlife movement, whenever any adverse climatic changes are suffered as a result of deforestation for food.

Pygmy Hippopotamus Choeropsis liberiensis GIF

Please support All Creatures Animal Welfare Trust so we can help domestic and wild animals

We have faced insurmountable challenges in recent years. Your donation will support us to help more animals

Donate via Paypal

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on supermarket brands causing palm oil deforestation

Find out more

Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temminckii

Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temmincki by Graeme White

Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temminckii

Vulnerable

Extant (resident): Angola; Botswana; Burundi; Central African Republic; Chad; Ethiopia; Kenya; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Rwanda; South Africa; South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe

Possibly Extant (resident): Congo

Possibly Extinct: Eswatini

The Temminck’s pangolin Smutsia temminckii is remarkable mammal. They are the second largest of the pangolin species and are reported to weigh between 12.5kg and 21 kilograms. They’re famous for their armour-like keratinous scales and their unique ability to curl into a protective ball when threatened. These elusive creatures are found in the savannahs and woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa and are essential to their ecosystem, controlling insect populations. The word pangolin comes from the Malay word “pengguling” meaning something that rolls up. Owing to their secretive nature and low densities, little is known about the pangolin. The species is killed primarily for Chinese medicine, even though their keratin scales have no medicinal value. All pangolins face a grave threat from trafficking for their meat and scales. Tragically, they are one of the most illegally traded mammals in the world.

Despite their ecological and cultural importance, Temminck’s pangolins are increasingly threatened by habitat destruction and illegal wildlife trade. Habitat loss from palm oil, cocoa and coffee agricultural expansion and mining further compounds their decline. Protect these unique creatures by boycotting palm oil and supporting strong anti-trafficking initiatives. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

The Temminck’s #pangolin is #vulnerable in Tanzania 🇹🇿 #Congo 🇨🇩 #Uganda 🇺🇬 from #poaching for their scales and meat along with #palmoil 🌴🤮 #tobacco 🚬🚭#deforestation. Help them survive when you #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥⛔️#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/08/21/temmincks-pangolin-smutsia-temminckii/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Remarkable, secretive and gentle Temminck #Pangolins are living Poké Balls, who curl into a ball when threatened. They’re #vulnerable from the illegal #wildlife trade #palmoil and more. Help them #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🙊🔥☠️⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/08/21/temmincks-pangolin-smutsia-temminckii/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Species of pangolin are the most trafficked species in the world. Although deforestation is another major threat. The range of the Temminck’s Pangolins are increasingly threatened by shifting agriculture, small-holder farming and agro-industry farming. These farming practices are directly impacting pangolins through habitat loss and alteration, while the increased human presence in these previously undisturbed areas is resulting in increased levels of poaching.
IUCN Red List

Appearance and Behaviour

Temminck’s pangolins are medium-sized mammals with an average weight of 7–12 kg and a total length of approximately 90 cm, including their tail. Their overlapping, golden-brown scales, made of keratin (the same material as human fingernails), are a defining feature. These scales provide formidable protection against predators, allowing pangolins to roll into an impenetrable ball when threatened.

Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temminckii by Warren Pearson

Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temmincki By Scott Trageser

A Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temminckii mother carries her infant Pangopup on her back by Pangolin Crisis

Two Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temminckii searching for food

Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temminckii threats

Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temmincki eating termites from a tree by Craig Sholto Douglas

They are primarily nocturnal, foraging at night for ants and termites using their acute sense of smell. Their long, sticky tongues can extend deep into termite mounds, while their sharp claws are used to tear open nests. They exhibit a distinctive bipedal gait, walking on their hind legs while keeping their forelimbs off the ground.

A 2014 study revealed that Temminck’s pangolins exhibit home ranges that vary significantly based on habitat type, with individuals travelling several kilometres in search of food. This makes habitat loss and fragmentation particularly detrimental to their survival.

Threats

IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Illegal Wildlife Trade:

Temminck’s pangolins are heavily trafficked for their scales and meat, particularly for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Research indicates that their scales are wrongly believed to have healing properties, fuelling a devastating global black market.

Palm oil, tobacco and mining deforestation:

Agricultural expansion for palm oil, meat, tobacco and other commodities as well as mining destroys the habitats pangolins rely on. The savannahs and woodlands they inhabit are increasingly converted for human use.

Bycatch and Accidental Capture:

The 2014 study on anthropogenic threats found that Temminck’s pangolins are frequently killed accidentally in snares set for other wildlife. This unintended bycatch adds to their declining populations.

Climate Change:

Altered rainfall patterns and rising temperatures due to climate change, disrupt termite and ant populations, leading to reduced food availability for pangolins.

Low Reproductive Rates:

With only one offspring per year, Temminck’s pangolins are particularly vulnerable to population declines, as they cannot replenish their population quickly.

Geographic Range

Temminck’s pangolins inhabit sub-Saharan Africa, with populations found in South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia. They thrive in savannahs and woodlands, favouring areas with abundant ant and termite populations.

Studies indicate their preference for regions with sandy soils, which make burrowing easier, and their dependence on undisturbed habitats highlights the critical need for protected areas. However, human activities increasingly encroach on these regions, limiting their available range.

Diet

Temminck’s pangolins are specialised insectivores, feeding almost exclusively on ants and termites. They consume millions of insects annually, making them essential for regulating insect populations and maintaining ecological balance.

Their foraging behaviour is influenced by the availability of prey, with pangolins often targeting specific ant and termite species. The destruction of termite mounds through land clearing and agriculture severely impacts their food sources, leading to nutritional stress.

Reproduction and Mating

Reproductive rates in Temminck’s pangolins are low, with females typically giving birth to a single offspring per year. After a gestation period of approximately 140 days, mothers care for their young by carrying them on their tails or backs. They often use the burrows of other animals including aardvarks and aardwolves.

The young pangolins’ soft scales harden within a few days of birth, providing protection. Maternal care is critical during the early months, as juveniles depend on their mothers for food and safety. Males do not participate in rearing the young, and populations are highly sensitive to poaching due to their slow reproductive cycles.

Human Perceptions of Temminck’s Pangolins

Temminck’s pangolins hold mixed perceptions among humans. A 2014 review of anthropogenic threats highlighted cultural beliefs in southern Africa where pangolins are revered as symbols of luck and rain. In contrast, others view them as commodities, hunted for their scales and meat.

The study also revealed that many rural communities are unaware of pangolins’ ecological importance in controlling insect populations. Conservation efforts are increasingly focused on educating these communities about the role pangolins play in maintaining ecosystem balance, with the goal of fostering coexistence and reducing poaching and exploitation.

Take Action!

Help protect Temminck’s pangolins by supporting organisations working to combat illegal wildlife trade and habitat destruction. Boycott palm oil and raise awareness of their plight. Use your voice to fight for their survival and ensure future generations can marvel at these extraordinary creatures. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Support this beautiful animal

Save Pangolins

Traffic

Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)

Further Information

Pangolin Specialist Group. (n.d.). Temminck’s Pangolin. IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group.

Pietersen, D., Jansen, R. & Connelly, E. 2019. Smutsia temminckii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12765A123585768. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T12765A123585768.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2021.

Pietersen, D., Jansen, R., Swart, J., Panaino, W., Kotze, A., Rankin, P., & Nebe, B. (2020). Temminck’s Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii). In Pangolins: Science, Society and Conservation. Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes, 175–193.

Pietersen, D., McKechnie, A. E., & Jansen, R. (2014). A Review of the Anthropogenic Threats Faced by Temminck’s Ground Pangolin, Smutsia temminckii, in Southern Africa. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 44(2), 167–178.

Sabashau, K., Utete, B., Madlamoto, D., Ngwenya, N., & Madamombe, H. (2024). Ecology, Status, and Distribution of Temminck’s Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) in Hwange National Park. Wildlife Letters, 2(17–22).

Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temminckii

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Demand for meat is driving deforestation in Brazil – changing the soy industry could stop it

Eating animals is incredibly cruel and is destroying tropical rainforests where rare species live

For many people, soy as a commodity has a pretty innocuous reputation thanks to its association with vegan food and meat alternatives. However don’t be fooled – crops of this pale legume are behind much of Brazil’s epidemic of deforestation. Much more #soy is fed to farm animals that people eat than is used in vegan food. Since 2000, #Brazil has doubled its total area of soy plantation to 36 million hectares and become the world’s largest producer. This expansion has erased vast swathes of forest and other habitats in some of the country’s most biodiverse regions. Soy, along with palm oil and meat deforestation are the biggest land-hungry commodities in South America and threaten the world’s largest rainforest biosphere. Help fight against this ecocide every time you shop, be #vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Don’t be fooled by #soy 🥜 it’s a key driver of #Amazon #deforestation 🇧🇷🇵🇪🇪🇨 and illegal #landgrabbing from #Indigenous tribes. Mostly it’s used to feed the animals we eat 🤮 To fight #extinction and cruelty be #vegan #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/08/18/demand-for-meat-is-driving-deforestation-in-brazil-changing-the-soy-industry-could-stop-it/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

About 75% of the soy produced globally is used as animal feed, and a large proportion of soy imported to Europe goes to chicken and pig farms. As a result, the future of the rainforest and savannas of Brazil – not to mention the biodiversity and carbon storage they support – depends on the contents of dinner tables worldwide.

The connection between meat, soy and palm oil deforestation might be invisible to consumers, but that link is well known by those in the business of producing and trading both products. Together with colleagues, we investigated this supply chain to find out what’s preventing businesses from halting habitat destruction in the Cerrado of Brazil, a tropical savanna where soy agriculture is making inroads.

Two trucks on a motorway pass pastures. — Trucks transporting soy pass denuded land in Brazil. Paralaxis/Shutterstock

A lucrative industry

The savannas of the Cerrado surround the westerly borders of the Amazon rainforest. Much of the ongoing deforestation and habitat clearing here is legal – landholders are permitted to deforest up to 80% of their land for agriculture. Clearly, solving this problem isn’t a matter of weeding out offenders.

When we spoke with a local association of soy producers, they said that regulation compels them to reserve between 20% and 35% of the Cerrado for nature, but that it’s hard to achieve. Asking them to improve on this without compensation would apparently only elicit complaints, and could make landholders more likely to clear habitats from their property while the law still allowed them.

Making demands on Brazilian producers to stop deforesting their land because it troubles European consumers evoked Brazil’s colonial past, some argued, and threatened their rights. Soy is seen as a path to national development. Any rules imposed from abroad that threaten this are likely to make matters worse.

The Amazon rainforest meets soybean fields in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Paralaxis/Shutterstock

Why not compensate people in the Cerrado for producing soy without deforestation? Well, it’s not clear who should pay for it. Separating deforestation-free soy from other products would increase the cost for companies sourcing and exporting the soy.

While European retailers sign agreements to end deforestation in their supply chains, implementing them depends on producers and traders cooperating. Retailers argue that passing the cost onto consumers by increasing the price of products like pork is a dead end too. Soy’s role in the meat industry is unfamiliar to most people browsing supermarket aisles, so how can consumers be convinced to pay more for a sustainable product they might not understand the benefit of?

A tropical savanna habitat with shrubs and trees. — The Cerrado features tropical savanna replete with wildlife. Angela Guerrero, Author provided

Growing soy on deforested land is a very profitable business for those involved, from land speculators looking for cheaper plots at the forest frontier, to the growers and distributors of soy, to the banks financing it. The indigenous communities displaced by expanding farmland are the clear losers. If they fight back, they might be killed.

Such a lucrative business can only be made sustainable if there is a financial case for it. Right now, there isn’t. Soy producers are well organised with political clout, and they demand equal partnership in the transition to sustainability, rather than having green rules imposed on them.

A row of caged hens peck at feed from a trough. — Much of the chicken sold in European markets was fed on Brazilian soy. BG-Studio/Shutterstock

Global cooperation for local solutions

Commodities pass between countries and markets in a dense web of exchanges. Data tools are getting better at separating these to reveal the companies and consumer countries linked to deforestation. This recently helped France to reject Brazilian soy, a move which increases pressure on Jair Bolsonaro’s government but might mean producers simply supply other markets with lower standards.

Helping soy producers comply with national laws, such as preserving habitats on at least 20% of their property, could help build trust between producers and the people and organisations demanding deforestation-free soy.

This might not sound very ambitious, but even small improvements have been difficult in Brazilian soy agriculture. The Bolsonaro government has slashed the budget for environmental inspectors and signalled to some producers that it’s reluctant to enforce national laws. Supporting partnerships between national and state government, and local and international organisations who want to uphold Brazil’s own standard could create the necessary trust for enabling bigger changes.

A vast green soybean crop under a blue sky. — Brazil is now the world’s largest producer of soy. Angela Guerrero., Author provided

Another option is encouraging farmers to produce on degraded land, rather than seek to convert new forest. Research shows that the amount of land where forest has been cleared could be used to double current soy production. But growing crops on degraded land is actually more expensive than starting it on forested land.

This is where international initiatives can help. The UN Environment Programme and other partners have launched the Responsible Commodities Facility to provide low-interest credit lines to Brazilian soy and corn farmers who commit to using degraded pasture and avoid clearing forests and native grassland for agriculture.

Solutions like this require people in Europe to think beyond their needs – a juicy chicken leg produced without the guilt of deforestation – to consider the values and priorities of people who work to put that chicken on the table in the first place.

Angela Guerrero, Postdoctoral Researcher in Environmental Governance, Stockholm University and Malika Virah-Sawmy, Visiting Scientist, Humboldt University of Berlin

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

Northern Tiger Cat (Oncilla) Leopardus tigrinus

Vulnerable

Extant: Bolivia; Brazil; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; French Guiana; Guyana; Panama; Peru; Suriname; Venezuela.

Presence Uncertain: Nicaragua

The northern tiger cat, also known as the oncilla Leopardus tigrinus, is a captivating small wild cat native to Central and South America. Distinguished by their striking, leopard-like coat marked with dark rosettes and a sleek, agile body, this elusive feline is a master of stealth and survival in the dense forests and grasslands they inhabit.

The northern tiger cat is a tiny predator, weighing only 1.5–3 kg, yet they play a significant role in maintaining ecological balance as a keystone predator. These solitary creatures, though mostly ground-dwelling, are adept climbers. They communicate through purring as kittens and have a unique “gurgle” as adults. Their habitats range from the semi-arid Caatinga to the Andean cloud forests. Tragically, this species is classified as Vulnerable, with populations declining due to habitat destruction for palm oil, soy, meat and mining, poaching, and habitat fragmentation. Indigenous-led conservation efforts are vital to protect their remaining habitats. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

The beautiful and elegant #Oncilla is a #wildcat 🐱 found in #SouthAmerica. They are #vulnerable due to #deforestation for #gold and #palmoil 🌴⛔️ and are hunted for their fur 😭 #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife #BoycottGold4Yanomami @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/08/14/northern-tiger-cat-oncilla-leopardus-tigrinus/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

The #Oncilla is a small wild #cat found in Central and #SouthAmerica. They are #vulnerable from #soy #meat #palmoil #deforestation. Resist and help them, be #vegan 🥦🍅🥒 and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔⛔️#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/08/14/northern-tiger-cat-oncilla-leopardus-tigrinus/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

By and large, the greatest threat to these wild cats is the rampant rate of habitat loss, fragmentation and isolation. In the Andes cloud forests deforestation is mostly due to conversion to agriculture but also includes palm oil, hydroelectric dams, urban sprawl and road building (Payán and Gonzalez-Maya 2011, CI 2012).
IUCN Red list

Northern Tiger Cat (Oncilla) Leopardus tigrinus up close

Northern Tiger Cat (Oncilla) Leopardus tigrinus threats

Appearance and Behaviour

Northern Tiger Cats also known as the Oncillas are often mistaken for other South American small wild cat species such as margays or ocelots. Although oncillas are smaller, they otherwise look very similar to these species, oncillas are more slender and have larger ears.

Oncillas are among the smallest wild cat species, with a body length of 38–59 cm and a long, bushy tail measuring up to 42 cm. Their fur is typically a tawny or yellowish-brown colour adorned with bold rosettes and spots, providing excellent camouflage in their forested habitats. Their large eyes are adapted for nocturnal hunting, making them highly effective at navigating and hunting in low-light conditions.

During the breeding season pairs are sometimes seen, but they are considered as highly solitary animals. Although they are primarily terrestrial, they can climb well. Young kittens purr, while adults make a short and rhythmic “gurgle” sound.

Known for their solitary and elusive nature, these cats are skilled climbers and can often be found resting or hunting in trees. However, they are also proficient terrestrial hunters, using their keen senses and stealth to ambush prey. Northern tiger cats are highly territorial and communicate through scent marking and vocalisations, although encounters between individuals are rare outside of mating.

Threats

IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Deforestation and Habitat Loss:

The primary threat to northern tiger cats is the destruction and fragmentation of their forest habitats due to timber logging, palm oil, soy and meat agriculture, and urban expansion. Palm oil plantations and cattle ranching are significant drivers of deforestation across their range.

Illegal poaching and the illegal pet trade:

Oncillas were once heavily exploited for the fur trade decades ago, following the decline of the Ocelot trade (Payan and Trujillo 2006). Although international trade ceased, there is still some localised illegal hunting, usually for the domestic market.

Oncillas are often caught in snares set for other animals or killed for their beautiful pelts, which are sold in illegal wildlife trade markets. In some cases they are captured and sold into the illegal pet trade.

Human-Wildlife Conflict:

In some areas, these cats are persecuted and killed by farmers who view them as a threat to poultry or livestock.

Climate Change:

Altered rainfall patterns and rising temperatures caused by climate change are shrinking their habitat range and affecting prey availability.

Urgent conservation measures, including habitat protection and restoration, as well as indigenous-led agroecological practices, are critical for their survival.

Geographic Range

Oncillas are found in a broad range of habitats, from the lowland semi-arid Caatinga to cloud forests in the Andes. In Costa Rica the species is almost entirely confined to montane forests along the flanks of volcanoes and other high mountains from 1,000 m up to the treeline (paramo) and occupy cloud forest and high elevation elfin forests (J. Schipper pers. comm.). The Northern Tiger Cat is a poorly known small-sized (2.4 kg) solitary felid, with an average litter size of 1.12 kittens (1–4)

Diet

Northern tiger cats are carnivorous and primarily hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. Oncillas are mainly nocturnal but in areas like Caatinga, where their diet primarily consists of diurnal lizards, these animals are more prone to be active in the daytime. They are opportunistic feeders, preying on whatever is most abundant in their environment. Their small size allows them to target prey that larger predators cannot, making them a vital part of the ecosystem as they help regulate populations of smaller animals.

Reproduction and Mating

Northern tiger cats are solitary animals, coming together only during the mating season. Females typically give birth to one or two kittens after a gestation period of 74–76 days. The young are dependent on their mothers for the first few months, learning essential hunting and survival skills before becoming independent.

Take Action!

Help protect northern tiger cats by supporting indigenous-led conservation efforts and advocating for stronger protections against deforestation. Use your wallet as a weapon and choose products free from palm oil. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

FAQ

What do northern tiger cats eat?

Northern tiger cats are obligate carnivores with a diet that consists of small mammals such as rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects. They are opportunistic hunters, preying on whatever is most readily available in their environment. Their ability to hunt both in trees and on the ground allows them to exploit a wide variety of food sources, which is crucial in fragmented habitats.

In areas where prey populations are declining due to habitat destruction, northern tiger cats face additional challenges in finding sufficient food. Conservation efforts that protect their prey species are essential for the survival of these elusive predators.

How many northern tiger cats are left in the world?

Precise population estimates are difficult due to the northern tiger cat’s elusive nature, but it is believed that fewer than 10,000 mature individuals remain in the wild. Populations are fragmented and continue to decline due to habitat destruction, poaching, and climate change.

Surveys conducted in key habitats, such as the Atlantic Forest in Brazil and other protected areas, show alarming declines in their numbers. Increased habitat protection and the establishment of wildlife corridors are urgently needed to ensure their survival.

What is the difference between an oncilla and a domesticated house cat?

Northern tiger cats (Leopardus tigrinus), or oncillas, resemble domestic cats in size but differ significantly in behaviour and adaptations. Oncillas are wild predators with leopard-like spots, slender bodies, and large eyes suited for nocturnal hunting. They are highly specialised hunters and climbers, adapted for survival in dense forests.

Unlike house cats, oncillas are solitary and elusive, avoiding human contact. Their diet consists exclusively of wild prey, and they play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance by controlling populations of small animals.

Why are northern tiger cats endangered?

The northern tiger cat is classified as Vulnerable due to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation caused by logging, agriculture, and urbanisation. The expansion of palm oil plantations and cattle ranches has significantly reduced their range, isolating populations and limiting gene flow.

Additionally, they are threatened by illegal wildlife trade, roadkill, and persecution by humans who mistakenly view them as pests. Climate change further exacerbates these threats by altering their habitat and prey availability. Addressing these challenges requires urgent conservation action, including habitat protection and indigenous-led conservation initiatives.

You can support this beautiful animal

Merazonia wildlife rescue and sanctuary

International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada

Costa Rica Wildlife Foundation

The Central American Oncilla Project

Further Information

Inaturalist. (n.d.). Leopardus tigrinus. iNaturalist.

Oliveira, T., Lima, B. C., Rosales, L. A. F., & Pereira, R. S. (2020). A refined population and conservation assessment of the elusive and endangered northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in its key worldwide conservation area in Brazil. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22(5), e00927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00927

Payan, E. & de Oliveira, T. 2016. Leopardus tigrinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T54012637A50653881. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T54012637A50653881.en. Downloaded on 07 June 2021.

Wildcat Conservation. (n.d.). Northern Tiger Cat. Wildcat Conservation Alliance.

World Land Trust. (n.d.). Northern Oncilla.

Northern Tiger Cat (Oncilla) Leopardus tigrinus

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Black-Throated monitor Varanus albigularis microstictus

Data Deficient

Tanzania

The Black-Throated Monitor is a mighty and large lizard reaching over 2 metres long. They are threatened by agriculture deforestation and #hunting for their leather and meat in Tanzania, Africa. Help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

The Black-Throated Monitor is a mighty lizard 🦎💚 reaching over 2 metres long in #Tanzania 🇹🇿 Threatened by #agriculture #deforestation and #hunting for the #leather trade in #Tanzania #Africa. Help them and #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🪔🧐⛔️ @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/08/07/black-throated-monitor-varanus-albigularis-microstictus/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

The Black-throated Monitor, also known as the Rock Monitor Varanus albigularis is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Central, East, and southern Africa and live in Tanzania. Black-throated Monitors are usually a dark gray-brown with yellowish or white markings, and can reach up to 2.1 m in total length (including tail) and weigh more than 27 kilos. They are the largest of the four subspecies of rock monitor, V. Albigularis.

Monitors are periodically killed from the wild for various reasons, which can include for the leather and pet trade, and also as food by native human populations. An additional threat is non-timber crops and agroforestry.
IUCN red list

In captivity, Black Throated Monitors eat whole prey, such as mice, rats, snakes, lizards, freshwater mollusks, small birds, large roaches, crustaceans, fish, and eggs. They will commonly accept cat and dog food, which is not acceptable as a staple diet due to an improper nutrient profile and high caloric content. In the wild, they will eat anything that they can catch.

Presently, all of the 58 or more species of monitors are classified by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) as at least Appendix II, which indicates that they are considered potentially threatened and could become vulnerable if trade in these lizards is not regulated. Some monitor species have been or still are classified as Appendix I (endangered).

The ruthless exploitation of many monitor species is very likely causing their populations to decline, and because the population dynamics for monitor species are largely unknown, it is impossible to say just how many individuals can be safely harvested from wild populations without seriously affecting their long-term sustainability.

You can support this beautiful animal

There are no known conservation activities for this animal. Share out this post to social media and join the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife on social media to raise awareness

Further Information

Reptiles Magazine

Wikipedia

Black-Throated monitor Varanus albigularis microstictus - Threats — Black-Throated monitor Varanus albigularis microstictus – #Boycott4Wildlife

Black-Throated monitor Varanus albigularis microstictus - #Boycott4Wildlife — Black-Throated monitor Varanus albigularis microstictus – #Boycott4Wildlife

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

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

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

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

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

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

Pledge your support

A global juggling act: feeding the world, saving species

Our planet is on the precipice of a sixth mass extinction event. But unlike the five previous mass extinctions, this one is man-made: a global biodiversity crisis in which species are disappearing three to 12 times faster than the “normal” rate of extinction. A massive driver of this extinction is how humans eat. Be #Vegan for the animals #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

We’re in the midst of a mass #extinction event – caused by humans. So how do we feed the world while also saving the world’s animals? By changing our #diet going #plantbased or even better #Vegan! 🥦 #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/08/04/a-global-juggling-act-feeding-the-world-saving-species/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Australia is not immune from this crisis. In fact, we are in the thick of it: approximately half of all global extinctions of mammals in the last 200 years have been in Australia – more than any other country.

The fundamental driver behind this biodiversity crisis is the unprecedented success of a single species – humans – to manipulate and alter the environment (including moving other species around) to serve its needs.

Can we feed the world and stop deforestation? Depends what's for dinner

A key cause of this biodiversity crisis is agriculture. While it has enabled humans to prosper and occupy all corners of the globe, it has also been the most profound agent of ecological change in the history of life on Earth.

But, we have to eat, right?

As our global population barrels towards 9 billion, can we fulfil our moral obligation to feed and clothe humanity equitably? And can we do so while avoiding a biodiversity catastrophe?

A study published last week in the prestigious journal Science (by ecologists from the University of Cambridge) used data from India and Ghana to contrast two potential approaches to this problem:

“Land sparing” is where conservation reserves are set aside for biodiversity protection with food grown intensively on the remaining land.
“Land sharing” is where biodiversity conservation and food production happen on the same land.

The researchers found that more species of trees and birds survive under “land sparing” than “land sharing”.

These results are not surprising because (as a general principle) biodiversity and agriculture don’t mix.

Some generalist “hardy” species – such as magpies and galahs – may persist and even thrive in agricultural landscapes but most indigenous species are “losers”.

The Cambridge research suggests the best way to avoid a massive biodiversity collapse is to conserve as many species as possible in reserves. The remaining land should then be dedicated to higher-yield farming.

But the solution is not that straightforward.

Can we save all species? Should we try? How much land do we need to protect to conserve species? Where should those reserves be located in the landscape? Is a dichotomy between conservation reserves and agriculture really helpful?

Even in “frontier” landscapes where virgin habitat is being converted into farmland, decisions about how much land to spare and where to spare it are more often influenced by human needs than ecological considerations.

The Australian dimension

So how do we do things here in Australia?

Well, we have a world-class network of parks and nature reserves, with nearly 13% of our land mass in the national reserve system. These reserves are essential for protecting ecosystems and the species they support.

Yet there are thousands of species officially listed as threatened and many more in precipitous decline that have not yet made it on to threatened species lists.
Further additions to the reserve system are necessary to prevent species extinctions, with targets ranging from 15-35% of the landscape.

Thankfully, there are now many players in this field, with Indigenous Protected Areas and non-government organisations (such as Bush Heritage Australia and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy) sharing the load.

But conservation reserves alone will rarely be enough to ensure the survival of all species.

This is because, traditionally, the reserve system has been made up of “left-overs” – the least arable areas that were not suitable for farming or forestry.

The most productive ecosystems (such as riverine floodplains and flats, grasslands and lowland woodlands) are also the most depleted, least protected and most endangered.

So, if the priority in “land sparing” is on agricultural yield, and the “best” parts of the landscape are devoted to agriculture, it is likely to disadvantage a whole suite of species dependent on those depleted ecosystems.

A blurry line

The trade-off between conservation and production is rarely clear-cut.

In intensively farmed landscapes, typical of much of eastern, southern and south-western Australia, the last remaining fragments of native vegetation are often small, isolated and degraded.

These fragments may not be large enough, good enough or sufficiently connected to support viable populations of many species. We require a more sophisticated approach to managing biodiversity in these landscapes.

A landscape mosaic is one such approach.

In this approach the landscape is viewed as a mosaic containing patches of differing habitat quality.

By recognising the variability in conservation and agricultural value of different patches of the landscape, a mix of land uses can be applied across the mosaic:

patches with high conservation value can be reserved solely for biodiversity conservation;
patches with medium conservation value can provide habitat for a different suite of species while co-existing with low intensity agriculture;
patches with low conservation value can be farmed productively and intensively.

The mosaic approach emphasises connectivity through the landscape and interactions across patch boundaries.

This approach may be applied to large expanses of arid and northern Australia. These are areas which have been grazed but where native vegetation remains largely intact.

Here, we must turn our attention to managing threatening processes such as fire regimes, invasive species and grazing. While this is best achieved through conservation reserves, it is not entirely incompatible with farming.

But ultimately, the greatest threat to producing enough food for our increasing population is unlikely to come from biodiversity conservation.

Instead it will come from urbanisation (especially at the margins of rural cities), mining (case in point: recent land-use conflicts in the Liverpool Plains and Bacchus Marsh) and climate change.

Can we save nature and feed the world? We have no choice but to try.

We can begin by recognising the complexity of landscapes and the need for nature to have space to live, survive and evolve.

For another view on land sharing and land sparing, read “Food vs fauna: can we have our biodiversity and eat too?”

Jim Radford, PhD; Honorary Fellow, Deakin University

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

More tips from Palm Oil Detectives

The Counterpunch: Consumer Solutions To Fight Extinction

by Palm Oil Detectives

Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus

Location: Found across South America, including Venezuela, Colombia, the Guianas, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Trinidad.

Deep in the heart of the #Amazon rainforest, a flash of vibrant colour moves between the towering canopy trees. The Channel-billed #Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus is a striking bird endemic to #Colombia, #Venezuela, #Ecuador, #Peru, Brazil and #Bolivia with a massive, curved bill and a raucous voice that echoes through the jungle. With their large, expressive eyes and vivid markings, these toucans are more than just symbols of tropical biodiversity—they are crucial players in the rainforest ecosystem, dispersing seeds that sustain the lush vegetation.

But their world is shrinking. The relentless destruction of the Amazon for cattle ranching, soy production, #palmoil and #goldmining is closing in on them. Habitat loss, hunting, and the wildlife trade are pushing them towards localised declines. In some parts of their range, they are disappearing entirely. Use your wallet as a weapon—fight for their survival. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Colourful tree-dwellers Channel-billed Toucans are #Amazon #icons in #Brazil 🇧🇷#Venezuela 🇻🇪 #Colombia 🇨🇴 Threats include #PalmOil 🌴🔥#Soy #Meat 🥩🔥and #GoldMining 🥇🔥 Help them survive when you #BoycottPalmOil 🌴☠️🧐⛔️ #BoycottGold #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/08/02/channel-billed-toucan-ramphastos-vitellinus/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

The primary threat to the Channel-billed Toucan is accelerating deforestation in the Amazon basin as land is cleared for cattle ranching, palm oil and soy production, facilitated by expansion of the road network (Soares-Filho et al. 2006, Bird et al. 2011).
IUCN red list

Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus threats

Appearance and Behaviour

The Channel-billed Toucan is a striking bird, reaching up to 48 cm in length and weighing between 300-430 g. Their most recognisable feature is their enormous, arched bill, which varies in colour depending on the subspecies. Their plumage is primarily black, with bright splashes of yellow, orange, red, and blue. A vivid blue patch of bare skin surrounds their eyes, giving them a permanently inquisitive expression.

Unlike their smaller toucanet cousins, Channel-billed Toucans are strong fliers, moving between fruiting trees in a distinctive undulating flight pattern. They are highly social, often travelling in small family groups or loose flocks, and their deep, croaking calls resonate through the rainforest canopy.

Channel-billed Toucans rarely fly more than 100 metres at a time and prefer to bounce from branch to branch. Their large bills help them to regulate body temperature. A toucan’s bill can reach over 18cm in length, and is also used to reach for food and break open bird nests.

Channel-billed Toucans are also declining as a result of hunting pressure (del Hoyo et al. 2002), although due to beliefs about the sacredness of these birds, their consumption by Indigenous peoples of Amazonia is rare.

Subspecies

There are four recognised subspecies of Ramphastos vitellinus, each with slightly different markings and geographic distributions:

Nominate subspecies (R. v. vitellinus): Found in Venezuela, the Guianas, northern Brazil, and Trinidad.
Yellow-ridged Toucan (R. v. culminatus): Found in the upper Amazon Basin from western Venezuela to northern Bolivia. Distinguished by a yellow bill ridge.
Ariel Toucan (R. v. ariel): Inhabits central and eastern Brazil south of the Amazon. Has a striking orange throat and chest, with a yellow-based bill.
Citron-throated Toucan (R. v. citreolaemus): Found in northern Colombia and north-western Venezuela. Has a yellow-tinged throat and a pale bluish iris.

Where their ranges overlap, these subspecies frequently interbreed, creating intermediate forms.

Diet

Channel-billed Toucans are primarily frugivorous birds, feeding on lipid-rich fruits from trees such as Virola, Euterpe, Cecropia, and Ficus. However, they also supplement their diet with small reptiles, insects, eggs, and nestlings, making them opportunistic omnivores. Their large bills allow them to pluck fruit from branches that are too thin to support their weight, a crucial adaptation for forest survival.

Reproduction and Mating

Like other toucans and many other birds, they nest in tree cavities, where the female lays 2-4 eggs. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for around 16 days. Hatchlings are born blind and featherless, with specialised heel pads that protect them from the rough nest floor. They remain in the nest for 40-50 days before fledging, relying on their parents for food and protection.

Geographic Range and Habitat

Channel-billed Toucans inhabit a wide range of forested environments, from lowland tropical rainforests to riverine forests and swampy areas. They are most common in pristine forests but can also be found in forest edges, clearings, and even small patches of forest within savanna landscapes. However, they are less frequently observed in secondary or selectively logged forests, and their long-term survival depends on the preservation of mature, undisturbed rainforest.

Threats

Deforestation for Palm Oil, Cattle and Soy: The Amazon is being destroyed at an unprecedented rate to make way for cattle ranching, palm oil and soy plantations, wiping out crucial habitat (Soares-Filho et al., 2006; Bird et al., 2011).
Gold Mining: Illegal and industrial-scale gold mining operations pollute waterways and destroy vast areas of rainforest (Ottema, 2020).
Hunting and Trade: Although not widely consumed by forest communities, toucans are hunted in certain regions and are frequently trapped for the illegal pet trade, particularly for export to Asia (Bruslund, 2022).
Logging Pressure: While the impact of logging in Suriname remains relatively low, the intensity of forest exploitation is increasing, leading to greater habitat fragmentation (Ottema, 2020).

Ecological Role: Seed Dispersers and Nest Predators

Channel-billed Toucans are essential seed dispersers, particularly for large-seeded rainforest trees. They ingest fruit whole and excrete seeds far from the parent tree, facilitating forest regeneration. However, they also have a darker side—recent studies have documented them raiding the nests of smaller birds, preying on eggs and chicks (Costa et al., 2021). This predatory behaviour may have increased due to habitat fragmentation and urban encroachment, forcing them to exploit alternative food sources.

Take Action

Every purchase you make has the power to protect the Amazon. Avoid palm oil, boycott deforestation-linked products, and demand action. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

FAQS

What does the Channel-billed Toucan eat?

They primarily consume fruit but also eat insects, lizards, bird eggs, and nestlings.

Where do they live?

They are found in forests across South America, including the Amazon, the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Trinidad.

Why are they threatened?

Deforestation for palm oil, soy and meat agriculture, gold mining, hunting, and the pet trade are driving population declines in some parts of their range.

How many subspecies are there?

There are four recognised subspecies, with intermediate forms occurring where ranges overlap.

You can support this beautiful animal

There are no known conservation activities for this animal. Share out this post to social media and join the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife on social media to raise awareness

Further Information

Merazonia wildlife rescue and sanctuary rehabilitate parrots and toucans, some of the most trafficked animals in the world. Donate to them here

BirdLife International. 2016. Ramphastos vitellinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22726222A94915148. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22726222A94915148.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2021.

Costa, E. R., et al. (2021). Nest predation by Channel-billed Toucans on Pale-breasted Thrushes in an urban forest fragment. Ornithology Research, 29, 223–226. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43388-021-00075-w

The Living Rainforest

Soares-Filho, B., et al. (2006). Modelling conservation in the Amazon basin. Nature, 440(7083), 520–523. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04389

Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Primatologist Cleve Hicks on Chimpanzee cultures, Palm Oil deforestation

Dr Cleve Hicks - Primatologist on palm oil and chimpanzee cultures

Dr Cleve Hicks: In His Own Words

Chimpanzee Primatologist, Author, Conservationist

Bio: Dr Cleve Hicks

Primatologist Dr Thurston Cleveland (Cleve) Hicks of The Faculty of Artes Liberales, The University of Warsaw has dedicated his life and career to studying the unique behaviour of the ground-nesting, termite mound-smashing Bili-Uéré sub-species of chimpanzees of the Congo.

He has made many fascinating and ground-breaking discoveries in chimpanzee behaviour and culture.

Dr Hicks speaks with Palm Oil Detectives about his chimpanzee research, the state of the world right now, veganism, deforestation, palm oil and what consumers can do to help the endangered animals of Africa.

Palm Oil Detectives interviews Primatologist Dr Cleve Hicks @Cleve_Hicks about why we must urgently respect the #cultures in non-human #apes, being #vegan #palmoil and why he believes in the #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

“West African chimpanzee populations reduced 80-90% in a few decades, due to #cocoa and #palmoil plantations, mines, civil war and poaching. Vanishing with them are their unique cultures.” Primatologist @Cleve_Hicks #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

“Palm oil has already devastated South East Asia. I can see it gobbling up tropical forest where I live in Colombia. I salute the efforts of @Palmoildetect and support the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife” @Cleve_Hicks
Tweet

“#Consumers can and should #boycott brands causing #palmoil #meat #soy #deforestation. I support the #Boycott4Wildlife, going vegan is another way an individual can make a difference to #rainforests #animals” #Primatologist @Cleve_Hicks
Tweet

“#Greenwashing is rife in the products we buy. Labelling products is a start. Although there is loads of #corruption around the world on how these labels including palm oil are certified. #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife” Primatologist @Cleve_Hicks
Tweet

“The homecoming of #palmoil to #Africa under global capitalism is likely to reduce the glorious Central African forests to ashes, replaced by lifeless plantations, just for slightly cheaper junk food! #Boycottpalmoil” Primatologist @Cleve_Hicks
Tweet

Monitoring the Bili-Uéré Chimpanzees

Deep in the lush wilderness of the Bili-Uéré region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a large population of Bili-Uéré chimpanzees – Pan troglodytes subspecies schweinfurthii.

“My team and I spent over 12 years living in the jungle to get up close to them, our nearest cousins on the evolutionary tree”

“A century ago, humans believed that tool use was what set us apart from other species. In recent decades, supposedly exclusive human behaviours have been falling to the wayside“

Jane Goodall’s discovery of stick tool use by the Gombe chimpanzees in the 1960’s changed this. Now we know that orangutans and many monkeys use tools as well, and that’s only and that’s only looking at primates.

Animals have complex societies, self-awareness, they engage in conduct cooperative hunting, warfare, and even have what looks like active teaching, in orcas
Dr Cleve Hicks

A painting of mine of primates. Photo: Dr Cleve Hicks

Culture is still revered by some as being a uniquely human characteristic. Our species has, indeed, ‘gone nuclear’, so to speak, with cumulative culture. Look around you.

Nevertheless, if we define culture as socially-transmitted behaviour that varies between populations, we can see at least the seeds of culture in other species, including chimpanzees.

My research shows that Bili-Uéré chimpanzees ignore the abundant Macrotermes termite mounds that are fished for with tools by chimpanzees living in many other areas, including Gombe. Instead, they prey on two other kinds of termites of the genera Cubitermes and Thoractotermes, that are common across chimpanzee range in Africa, but ignored by almost all other populations.

Instead of using tools to get them, the Bili-Uéré chimpanzees pound open their mounds against roots and rocks.

Unlike other chimpanzees but similar to gorillas, Bili-Uéré chimpanzees often make nests to sleep on the ground.

Unusual tool-using chimp culture discovered in the Congo – Mongabay Newscast

Primatologist Cleve Hicks leads a research team that has discovered a new tool-using chimp culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After 12 years of research, their findings include an entirely new chimpanzee tool kit featuring four different kinds of tools. These chimps also build ground nests, which is highly unusual for any group of chimps, but especially for ones living around dangerous predators like lions and leopards. But these chimps' novel use of tools and ground nesting aren't even the most interesting behavioral quirks this group displays, Hicks says on this podcast. If you enjoy this show, please visit www.patreon.com/mongabay to pledge any amount to keep it growing. Mongabay is a nonproft media outlet, so all support helps. We love reviews, so please find the reviews section of the app that delivers your podcasts and tell the world about the Mongabay Newscast, so that we can find new listeners. Thank you! Also, please invite your friends to subscribe via Android, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spotify or wherever they get podcasts. Thank you! And please send thoughts, questions, or feedback about this show to submissions@mongabay.com.

Ground nesting is of course somewhat relevant to our own evolution, because at some unknown time our ancestors switched from sleeping in the trees to sleeping on the ground.

“Ground nesting is also relevant to our own evolution, because at some unknown time, our ancestors switched from sleeping in the trees to sleeping on the ground.”

Photo: PX Fuel

The Congo Basin ecosystem began collapsing a long time ago

“West African chimpanzee populations crashed by 80 to 90% over the past few decades, due to the proliferation of cocoa and palm oil plantations, mines, civil war and poaching. Vanishing with them are their unique cultures.“
Dr Cleve Hicks

Photo: Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Wikipedia.

This process has accelerated rapidly over the past few decades. Although there are still 10s of 1000s of Eastern chimpanzees in Northern DRC, mining activities are spreading throughout the region, and these can cause great damage to wildlife: Eastern lowland gorillas, for instance, were decimated over the past few decades. Conflict related to mining can also lead to massacres and enslavement of local people.

“I am afraid the same thing will happen to chimpanzees quite soon, if the global community does not somehow tame its voracious appetite”

~ Dr Cleve Hicks

Photo: An open-cut cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The resources plundered here go into the lithium-ion batteries found in our tech devices.

I think we’re all beginning to realize how our recent cultural divorce from the rest of the natural world is having a terrible effect on ourselves and on all other life.
Dr Cleve Hicks

Palm oil has already devastated South East Asia. I can see it gobbling up tropical forest where I currently live in Colombia as well

Oil palm has been used for millennia by indigenous peoples of Africa in an ecologically rather sound way.

The imminent homecoming of palm oil to Africa under the framework of global capitalism is likely to reduce the glorious Central African forests to ashes.

These forests are poised to be replaced by endless, lifeless plantations, just so we can all pay a slightly cheaper price for junk food.

Brands Using Deforestation Palm Oil

These brands have products that contain palm oil sourced from…

Research: Palm Oil Deforestation and its connection to RSPO members/supermarket brands

Discover the truth about palm oil from experts’ reports. Research…

I salute the efforts of Palm Oil Detectives

I think the #Boycott4Wildlife is a good initiative

Photo: PX Fuel

Palm Oil Detectives helps to shine light on these abuses and bring some degree of accountability to this immensely destructive oil palm behemoth

It is also critical to reach those millions of well-meaning people who may be unaware of the effects that their daily supermarket purchases are having on the natural world. The problems seem so huge. There seems to be so little that an individual can do.

But consumers can and should choose to boycott companies who are behaving irresponsibly and unethically. Going vegan, as I did years ago, is one way an individual can make a big difference.
Dr Cleve Hicks

“Consumers can and should #boycott brands causing #palmoil #meat #soy #deforestation. I support the #Boycott4Wildlife, going vegan is another way an individual can make a difference to #rainforests #animals” #Primatologist @Cleve_Hicks
Tweet

I painted this Bili-Uéré chimpanzee for the cover of the journal Folia Primatologica

Greenwashing is rife with the foods we eat and the products we buy

Labelling products as forest-friendly is a start. Although there is loads of corruption around the world about to how these labels, including palm oil, are certified.

I make every effort in my personal life to not buy products containing palm oil.
Dr Cleve Hicks

Food manufacturers should offer us consumers a greater variety of tasty vegan products and also food that does not use palm oil or soy, that has been harvested from the ashes of old-growth tropical forests.

Consumers should seek out and demand more locally-grown foods in their supermarkets.

Consumers can also help donating to groups working on the frontline everyday like the Black Mambas, an all female anti-poaching team!

Donate now

I wrote the children’s book ‘A Rhino to the Rescue’ because rhino populations have been decimated in the past century

Sometimes working in conservation can be extremely frustrating. Seeing many dead primate orphans in the Congo had a deep effect on me. So I decided to use watercolours and create my own world and hero, the endearingly bumbling Ernest Horningway. He is a gentrified rhino who goes to Africa to meet his wild cousins and help them. It’s difficult to convey the terrible problem of wildlife trafficking to children.

“My hope is that my whimsical tale will expose children to important information about what is happening in our world without traumatising them”

I also wanted to help out the brave conservationists in the field protecting Ernest’s cousins, which is why we donate some of the proceeds of the book to Black Mambas and Bush Babies. Big news: we have a French translation of the book coming out very soon!

When you purchase the book ‘A Rhino to the Rescue’, 10% of proceeds go towards the Black Mambas

Buy now on Amazon and find out more on these social channels

All of the non-human apes, especially orangutans and bonobos need our urgent protection right now!

Photo: Pixabay

Along with the Black Mambas and Bush Babies which I previously mentioned, animal activists can help by supporting these great organisations:

The African Wildlife Foundation

They have protected the wildlife of Bili for the past 10 years. They co-funded my 2012 surveys which revealed a stable chimpanzee population. This survey helped convince them to set up a project there.

The Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation

These people work hard to protect the fauna of Democratic Republic of Congo and Bili.

The Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center

They provide a home for orphan chimpanzees and other primates, and employ local people to give them care.

The International Primate Protection League

These people heroically work around the clock to protect non-human primates around the world.

The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation

I recommend this organisation as well, they focus on saving the critically endangered West African chimpanzees.

Bonobo Alive

This organisation does incredible work to save bonobos.

Another very effective way to help endangered wildlife is to go vegan

I have been vegan for 20 years. I was inspired to do so while studying western lowland gorillas for 2 years in a forest called Mondika. After all, nobody asks a (mostly) vegan silverback gorilla, how he gets his protein!

Really, if one cares about the state of our global environment the easiest and most effective thing anyone can do is go vegan, or at least greatly reduce one’s consumption of meat and dairy products.

What is more important, another lousy hamburger or the survival of the Amazon and Congolese rainforests, and all the plants, nonhuman animals and people living in them? Not to mention what we are doing to our seas!
Dr Cleve Hicks

With our ‘new and improved’ global society, the human species is opening up a dangerous Pandora’s box!

We need to consider what we truly of value when we make our consumer decisions: human lives, intact ecosystems, music, poetry, love.
dr cleve hicks

Ernest Horningway and the heroic Black Mambas who feature in characters in my children's book!

Chimpanzees are at increased risk of being poaching or becoming a part of the illegal pet trade, when deforestation opens up parts of the jungle. Photo: https://www.pxfuel.com/

A sad Buta chimp that was captured and kept illegally as a pet. Photo: Dr Cleve Hicks

Ernest Horningway learns to charge. Painting: Dr Cleve Hicks

From my field notes. Drawing a wild chimpanzee in Mondika, 1999. Dr Cleve Hicks

Young Bili chimpanzee in the Gangu Forest, 2006. Photo: Dr Cleve Hicks

Field notes: The Bugoma Uganda forest. Dr Cleve Hicks

A wild chimpanzee rests on the ground. Photo: PX Fuel

Photography: Wikipedia, Dr Cleve Hicks, PxFuel: Royalty Free Images.

Illustrations: Dr Cleve Hicks

Words: Dr Cleve Hicks

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on supermarket brands causing palm oil deforestation

Find out more

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

What, Why and Where of Black Leopards

Did you know that Black #leopards only differ from other leopards by the colour of their coat, a genetic variation that’s #recessive also known as melanism? One of their threats is #palmoil #deforestation. Help their survival be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket

DYK Black #leopards 🐆🐈‍⬛🖤 only differ from other leopards by the colour of their coat, a genetic variation known as #melanism. A major threat is #palmoil #deforestation. Help them and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/28/the-why-what-and-where-of-the-worlds-black-leopards/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Where are black leopards found in Africa?

There have been a number of reports of black leopard in Africa, but very few confirmed sightings.

A 2017 global review of black leopard observations found reports of the animal in Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa dating back to 1909. But the only confirmed report was from Ethiopia.

There isn’t very much data when it comes to leopards. Global leopard population numbers are unknown, as are the population numbers for many leopard subspecies.

Black leopards only differ from other leopards in the colour of their coat, a genetic variation that’s recessive and known as “melanism”.

Black leopards are found more often in densely forested habitats. Most confirmed sightings come from south-east Asia. The concentration of these are in the Malay Peninsula, where more than 90% of leopards are black. The frequency and distribution of black leopards in Africa is still part of ongoing research.

Based on what’s known about the type of terrain black leopards prefer it’s predicted that they would be present along the equator across western, central and eastern Africa.

We started our leopard conservation programme nearly two years ago in Laikipia County, central Kenya. The goals of our research are to determine population abundance and status of leopards in the area, and to mitigate human-leopard conflict.

As part of this research, we began recording black leopard observations last year. Since then we have confirmed three different melanistic individuals in our study area, suggesting that these leopards may be more common than first thought.

Why are they black, and does this offer any advantages over other leopards?

Melanism in leopards comes from a mutation that knocks out a gene that regulates the production of melanin. This causes an over production of pigment which turns the coat black.

The why, what and where of the world's black leopards — About 11% of all leopards are black.

The coat still has all the same features as a non-melanistic leopard, including the rosettes or spots which is one of the pieces of evidence we used in our study to scientifically confirm black leopard presence in Kenya.

Broadly, melanism has arisen independently in the cat family multiple times, and exists in 13 of the 37 cat species in the Felidae family. This suggests an adaptive significance to carrying this trait.

Black leopards are thought to persist in densely forested habitats, because it offers additional camouflage against shaded or dark backgrounds. For example, in tropical forests in the Malay Peninsula, melanism is displayed at such a high frequency that it’s likely that this is an advantageous trait in natural selection, rather than occurring by chance alone.

So, it’s interesting that our research has confirmed black leopards living in an open, arid environment in Kenya, where shade is limited.

This raises questions about whether being black in an arid environment influences hunting strategy, mating and reproduction. And whether there are natural selection mechanisms, other than camouflage, that allow melanism to persist in leopards.

Black Leopard by Freder for Getty Images Signature - Asia (2)

Are there any specific threats faced by black leopards, and what needs to be done to protect them?

Leopards face a number of threats, including habitat loss, prey loss, conflict with humans and poaching and trafficking of their parts. These threats face all leopards, black included.

It’s unknown if black leopards face more persecution than non-melanistic leopards. If a leopard were to kill livestock, it would face persecution from locals regardless of its coat colour. However, through our conversations with communities we found stories that reveal a level of protection towards the big cats. When hunting in Kenya was legal, some guides refused to shoot black leopards. In Samburu culture in the Laikipia Plateau, owning a black cow is thought to be lucky to livestock herders, and the principle of rarity extends to black leopard. Sighting one is thought to be a symbol which requires interpretation and reflection.

Hopefully the global attention garnered recently by the black leopard images will move public consciousness to recognise leopards and their plight in conservation.

Sam Williams, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Researcher at IGDORE, and Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Anthropology, Durham University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Palm Oil Lobbyists Getting Caught Lying Orangutan Land Trust and Agropalma

For decades, investigative journalists have been exposing that illegal land grabbing from Indigenous peoples as a regular occurrence in West Papua, South and Central America, Africa and Asia.

Indigenous people’s land is being forcibly (and often violently) taken from them by predatory palm oil companies. Major supermarket brands and also palm oil producers that are RSPO members are involved in this illegal land-grabbing.

The ‘certified sustainable’ label of the RSPO is absolutely meaningless given that this is going on.

This is why we #Boycottpalmoil

Who are the palm oil lobbyists?

The @RSPOtweets and #palmoil lobbyists have lied and denied the illegal #landgrabbing of forest from #indigenous owners for 17 years – by RSPO members. #palmoil #greenwashing #FreeWestPapua Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

Jump to section

What the palm oil lobbyists say

Agropalma’s palm oil ecocide and human rights abuses in Brazil

Orangutan Land Trust – Agropalma’s greenwashing partner

What human rights defenders say

Who are the palm oil lobbyists?

How can I help?

Search the Environmental Justice Atlas for specific companies and their human rights abuses and land-grabbing record

Search here

Return to menu ↑

What the Palm Oil Industry Lobbyists say:

RSPO member, NGO Orangutan Land Trust is the main shill on social media pushing greenwashing misinformation about “sustainable” palm oil to unaware consumers.

For decades, they have consistently pushed the lie of “sustainable” palm oil as being the saviour for rainforests, indigenous people and rare, endangered animals. Their greenwashing occurs despite a continuous stream of research papers and reports from many different sources showing that “sustainable” palm oil is a complete lie. Over almost 20 years, the following crimes continue to occur by RSPO members:

The lies are perpetuated by three main accounts: Michelle Desilets, Jane Griffiths and Bart Van Assen. They are supported by various other accounts associated with Zoos sponsored by big food companies like Ferrero and also fake accounts that they set up themselves in an effort to astroturf about “sustainable” palm oil.

Lies have got short legs on the internet

Individuals on Twitter who promote “sustainable” palm oil have paid links to the palm oil industry in almost every single case. Find out who these people are on Twitter

@mattstruebig presenting at RT17 @RSPOtweets about socio-economic benefits of RSPO certification. pic.twitter.com/KWMPNNb6Z6
— Erik Meijaard (@emeijaard) November 6, 2019

Major international brands sourcing palm oil from Brazilian plantations linked to violence, torture and land fraud

Two Brazilian palm oil giants in particular, Brasil Biofuels (BBF) and Agropalma, are embroiled in long-standing conflict with local communities. BBF are accused of waging violent campaigns to silence Indigenous and traditional communities defending their ancestral lands, while Agropalma is linked to fraudulent land grabs and stranding or evicting communities. Both companies have acquired these lands to grow profitable palm crops, apparently at the expense of communities’ constitutional rights.

Global supermarket brands Ferrero, ADM, Bunge, Cargill, Danone, Ferrero, Hershey’s, Kellogg, Mondelez, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever and many others source palm oil from Agropalma and BBF.

These supermarket brands along with Agropalma and BBF claim to use “sustainable” palm oil from the RSPO.

Agropalma states that its corporate policies forbid actions inhibiting legal and regular activities of Human Rights Defenders, while maintaining Agropalma’s right to protect its employees and its assets. Agropalma denies using violent actions against the communities and individuals in this report, and states that there are no land claims by Indigenous people overlapping with Agropalma lands.

Major international brands – ADM, Bunge, Cargill, Danone, Ferrero, Hershey’s, Kellogg, Mondelez, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever and others – continue to purchase palm oil from BBF and/or Agropalma despite the situation in Pará, contributing to the violations of Indigenous and traditional peoples’ rights. Companies’ responses are included below.

RSPO members sourcing palm oil from Agropalma and BBF

A litany of abuses

Global Witness received information of continued abuses in late April 2022 and early July 2022, attributed to armed men alleged to be working on behalf of BBF.

Groups of armed men have blockaded multiple roads around Indigenous, Quilombola and riverine territories.
Armed men have been stopping and searching cars and people on motorcycles saying they are ‘on the hunt’ for Indigenous and Quilombola leaders.
Armed men have tortured detained members of an Indigenous community by spilling burning plastic over their backs.
Armed men have shot and injured at least one Indigenous community member; several have been made to lie down, humiliated and had shots fired near their heads.
Armed men forced a Quilombola man and a teenager who were working on their crops to lay on the floor, firing shots next to their heads, causing both serious hearing problems.
Daily and nightly, community members are stopped, questioned and humiliated by BBF employees and/or security men.

Greenwashing ecocide – Agropalma & Orangutan Land Trust

“We benefit in no way whatsoever from the sale of palm oil. Not sure where this nonsense idea stems from.”

Orangutan Land Trust’s Michelle Desilets on the 18th of September, 2023

Michelle Desilets of Orangutan Land Trust with yet another lie about not profiting from palm oil, despite receiving funds from serial Amazon destroyer Agropalma for decades. Original tweet

Orangutan Land Trust receives funding from Agropalma: during their decades long destruction of the Amazon for palm oil

Orangutan Land Trust mentions fellow RSPO member Agropalma as being a sponsor and funder on their website and annual ACOP ( a report given to the RSPO) in 2014. Agropalma are listed on the OLT website until 2019.

“With Agropalma’s generous support, we can enable conservation activities in Indonesia and Malaysia that will not only help to protect the orangutan, but also all the biodiversity that shares its rainforest habitat”.
Michelle Desilets of Orangutan Land Trust, quoted in the 2015 Agropalma Sustainability Report and on the Agropalma website, their full sustainability report is here.

From 2014- 2022 Orangutan Land Trust promote Agropalma on Twitter and elsewhere as offering “sustainable” palm oil

@PRMJang I don't believe so. Check New Britain Palm Oil or Agropalma to see what real responsible (sustainable) palm oil looks like. #POIG
— Michelle Desilets🦧 (@orangutans) September 27, 2014

See original tweet

Orangutan Land Trust Sustainability Partner, Agropalma, (Marcello Brito) is first speaker of the day for #RT12RSPO, discussing traceability
— Michelle Desilets🦧 (@orangutans) November 20, 2014

See original tweet

Agropalma: "The success of the Forest Reserves Protection and Biodiversity Monitoring Program is greatly related to the zero deforestation and forest preservation policy adopted by the Group in 2001." https://t.co/yCPx2EYwA8
— Orangutan Land Trust🦧 (@orangulandtrust) July 20, 2018

See original tweet

Oh I see. Agropalma (as well as Daabon) have managed to be efficient producing both organic and sustainable palm oil but agree it is not the norm. @msabrito @DaabonOrganics
— Michelle Desilets🦧 (@orangutans) July 27, 2018

See original tweet

It IS in South America. Why not go on a scavenger hunt and see if you can spot the jaguar on the Sustainable Palm Oil Choice website (and name the country)? https://t.co/GRxRz94AD4 Here's a hint: "Agropalma"
— Michelle Desilets🦧 (@orangutans) June 17, 2019

See original tweet

A report by the Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG) on their website between 2014-2020 reveals that Agropalma have been paying Orangutan Land Trust 10,000 GBP per quarter. Read report

In 2022, Agropalma were the subject of a 2022 Global Witness report into the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and violence against indigenous land defenders. Read report

Between 2015 -2020, Agropalma were assessed by the RSPO’s Complaints Panel for human rights abuses. This panel includes Orangutan Land Trust’s Executive Director Michelle Desilets as a decision maker.

RSPO case

In 2020, the RSPO ruled in favour of Agropalma and against the human rights defenders and closed the case. Read letter

In March 2023, Mongabay and Rainforest Rescue reported that Agropalma’s RSPO membership had been temporarily suspended due to Mongabay and Global Witness’s reporting on these human rights abuses

Agropalma’s RSPO certification temporarily suspendedhttps://t.co/HHSXxuuM9A pic.twitter.com/QENnSPVMzY
— Oils & Fats (@OilsandFatsInt) April 5, 2023

Investor warning: the RSPO certificate of Brazil's palm oil producer Agropalma, has been suspended.

The company, which is reportedly for sale, has already been investigated by the Federal Police for a land grabbing scheme in Pará.https://t.co/kX5PUYSymV
— Forests & Finance (@Forests_Finance) February 20, 2023

Two months after this in May 2023, the South American conference for RSPO featured Agropalma’s logo emblazoned on the stage and promoted Agropalma as being “sustainable” despite countless concurrent news reports of their human rights abuses and landgrabbing

Continuamos la jornada @RSPOtweets Conferencia Interamericana 2023 con Francisco Naranjo moderando conversación sobre profundizar el impacto de la certificación #palmasostenible @APSColombiaCorp @CenipalmaOrg @FedepalmaOrg https://t.co/vr0m3eXZkL pic.twitter.com/HtpDqOmaFA
— Andres Felipe Garcia (@afgarciaazuero) May 30, 2023

Return to top ↑

WHO: Palm Oil Industry Greenwashing Like Big Tobacco

Palm Oil, Greenwashing & Corporate Corruption

Palm Oil Lobbyists Getting Caught Lying Orangutan Land Trust and Agropalma

10 Tactics of Sustainable Palm Oil Greenwashing

Greenwashing Tactic #7: Lying

10 Tactics of Sustainable Palm Oil Greenwashing

Greenwashing Tactic #4: Fake Labels

10 Tactics of Sustainable Palm Oil Greenwashing

Greenwashing Tactic 9: Partnerships, Sponsorships and Research Funding

Boycott

Certification Schemes Fail to Stop Palm Oil Deforestation

Forests are still being bulldozed to make way for agricultural land for palm oil and beef production. Richard Whitcombe/Shutterstock

Here are some other ways you can help by using your wallet as a weapon and joining the #Boycott4Wildlife

What is greenwashing?

Why join the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Greenwashing Tactic #4: Fake Labels

The Counterpunch: Consumer Solutions To Fight Extinction

Did you enjoy visiting this website?

Palm Oil Detectives is 100% self-funded

Say thanks on Ko-Fi

Return to menu ↑

What journalists, whistle-blowers and human rights defenders say

A 2021 Investigation by Global Witness found that palm oil companies in Papua New Guinea are alleged to have been involved in corruption, child labour, tax evasion, deforestation, worker deaths and paying police to assault villagers.

The palm oil from these mills in Papua New Guinea is used by RSPO members Colgate-Palmolive, Kelloggs, General Mills, Nestle, Hersheys, Danone, PZ Cussons – finds its way into our weekly supermarket shop.

Read report

Research: Certifying commodities does not advance equity or income for workers

We identified 64 conflicts that involved RSPO member companies, of which 17 prompted communities to convey their grievances to the RSPO’s conflict resolution mechanism…We conclude that—on all counts—the conflict resolution mechanism is biased in favor of companies. The result of these biases is that the actual capacity of the RSPO’s mechanism to provide a meaningful remedy for rural communities’ grievances remains very limited. This unequal access to justice sustains conflicts between companies and communities over land.
Afrizal, A., Hospes, O., Berenschot, W. et al. Unequal access to justice: an evaluation of RSPO’s capacity to resolve palm oil conflicts in Indonesia. Agric Hum Values 40, 291–304 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-022-10360-z

We find positive effects on prices and income from sale of certified products. However, we find no change in overall household income and assets for workers. The wages for workers are not higher in certified production.
Oya, C., Schaefer, F. & Skalidou, D. The effectiveness of agricultural certification in developing countries: a systematic review. World Dev. 112, 282–312 (2018).

We find that, while sustainability standards can help improve the sustainability of production processes in certain situations, they are insufficient to ensure food system sustainability at scale, nor do they advance equity objectives in agrifood supply chains.
Meemken, EM., Barrett, C.B., Michelson, H.C. et al. Sustainability standards in global agrifood supply chains. Nat Food (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00360-3

This article argues that the form of sustainability offered by certification schemes such as the RSPO fetishes the commodity palm oil in order to assuage critical consumer initiatives in the North. This technical-managerial solution is part of a larger project: the “post-political” climate politics regime (Swyngedouw) that attempts to “green” the status quo.
Commodifying sustainability: Development, nature and politics in the palm oil industry (2019) World Development
Volume 121, September 2019, Pages 218-228

The palm oil industry is neither sustainable nor a viable development model.
Certification represents a technical fix which neglects underlying dynamics of power, class, gender and accumulation.
The fetishised commodity ‘certified sustainable palm oil’ has no impact on the regional scale of expansion.
Working conditions in the plantations and mills entrench social inequality and poverty.

From: Commodifying sustainability: Development, nature and politics in the palm oil industry (2019) World Development
Volume 121, September 2019, Pages 218-228

Return to menu ↑

Report 2020 by Associated Press

This finds that beauty brands (RSPO members) L’Oreal, Colgate-Palmolive, Johnson& Johnson, Unilever are linked to rape on palm oil plantations via palm oil company Musim Mas

Women on plantations often face sexual abuse, ranging from verbal harassment and threats to rape, and victims rarely speak out.

When they do, companies often don’t take action or police charges are either dropped or not filed. 2/7https://t.co/NPRaVrHk9a
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 21, 2020

Women working in the palm oil industry in Indonesia are facing sexual violence and exploitation, a new investigation reveals. pic.twitter.com/HI8uO6ozhm
— DW News (@dwnews) November 20, 2020

Associated Press Investigation (2020) finds wide-spread rape, human rights abuses and slavery on palm oil plantations for well known brands: Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, Avon, Colgate Palmolive

Return to menu ↑

Dayak Indigenous Ethnographer Dr Setia Budhi: In His Own Words

“The expansion of oil palm plantations has created many detrimental environmental impacts, such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, land conflicts, labour conflicts, and social conflicts around plantations.

“Environmental damage and social injustice were reasons why the global palm oil certification, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established.

“In practice, requirements for oil palm certifications are easily violated. Lots of things are problematic.”
— Dr Setia Budhi, Dayak Ethnographer, In His Own Words.

Return to menu ↑

RSPO: 14 years of failure to eliminate violence and destruction from the industrial palm oil sector

Friends of the Earth and 100 other human rights and environmental NGOS co-signed this letter in 2018

Read original letter

Letter

RSPO presents itself to the public with the slogan “transforming the markets to make sustainable palm oil the norm”. Palm oil has become the cheapest vegetable oil available on the global market, making it a popular choice among the group that dominates RSPO membership, big palm oil buyers.

Planting on a large-scale and in monoculture, frequently through conversion of tropical biodiverse forests
Using “high yielding” seedlings that demand large amounts of agrotoxics and abundant water.
Squeezing cheap labour out of the smallest possible work force, employed in precarious conditions so that company costs are cut to a minimum
Making significant up-front money from the tropical timber extracted from concessions, which is then used to finance plantation development or increase corporate profits.
Grabbing land violently from local communities or by means of other arrangements with governments (including favourable tax regimes) to access land at the lowest possible cost.

Those living on the fertile land that the corporations choose to apply their industrial palm oil production model, pay a very high price.

Violence is intrinsic to this model:

violence and repression when communities resist the corporate take over of their land because they know that once their land is turned into monoculture oil palm plantations, their livelihoods will be destroyed, their land and forests invaded. In countless cases, deforestation caused by the expansion of this industry, has displaced communities or destroyed community livelihoods where
companies violate customary rights and take control of community land;
sexual violence and harassment against women in and around the plantations which often stays invisible because women find themselves without possibilities to demand that the perpetrators be prosecuted;
Child labour and precarious working conditions that go hand-in-hand with violation of workers’ rights;
working conditions can even be so bad as to amount to contemporary forms of slavery. This exploitative model of work grants companies more economic profits while allowing palm oil to remain a cheap product. That is why, neither them or their shareholders do anything to stop it.

exposure of workers, entire communities and forests, rivers, water springs, agricultural land and soils to the excessive application of agrotoxics;
depriving communities surrounded by industrial oil palm plantations of their food sovereignty when industrial oil palm plantations occupy land that communities need to grow food crops.

RSPO’s proclaimed vision of transforming the industrial oil palm sector is doomed to fail because the Roundtable’s certification principles promote this structural violent and destructive model.

None of RPSO’s eight certification principles suggests transforming this industry reliance on exclusive control over vast areas of land or the growth paradigm inherent to the model.

RSPO creates a smokescreen that makes this violence invisible for consumers and financiers. Governments often fail to take regulatory action to stop the expansion of plantations and increasing demand of palm oil; they rely on RSPO to deliver an apparently sustainable flow of palm oil.

Concessions are often guaranteed long before the company reaches out to the affected communities. Under these circumstances, to say that FPIC is central to RSPO is bluntly false and disrespectful.

Indigenous communities have in fact lost their fertile land, forests and rivers to oil palm plantations, adversely affecting their food, culture and local economies.

The RSPO promise of “transformation” has turned into a powerful greenwashing tool for corporations in the palm oil industry. RSPO grants this industry, which remains responsible for violent land grabbing, environmental destruction, pollution through excessive use of agrotoxics and destruction of peasant and indigenous livelihoods, a “sustainable” image.

As immediate steps, governments need to:

Put in place a moratorium on palm oil plantations expansion and use that as a breathing space to fix the policy frameworks;
Drastically reduce demand for palm oil: stop using food for fuel;
Strengthen and respect the rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples to amongst others, self-determination and territorial control.
Promote agro-ecology and community control of their forests, which strengthens local incomes, livelihoods and food sovereignty, instead of advancing industrial agro-businesses.

Signatures

Aalamaram-NGOAcción Ecológica, Ecuador
ActionAid, France
AGAPAN
Amics arbres
Arbres amics
Amis de la Terre France
ARAARBA (Asociación para la Recuperación del Bosque Autóctono)
Asociación Conservacionista YISKI, Costa Rica
Asociación Gaia El Salvador
Association Congo Actif, Paris
Association Les Gens du Partage, Carrières-sous-Poissy
Association pour le développement des aires protégées, Swizterland
BASE IS
Bézu St Eloi
Boxberg OT Uhyst
Bread for all
Bruno Manser Fund
CADDECAE, Ecuador
Campaign to STOP GE Trees
CAP, Center for Advocacy Practices
Centar za životnu sredinu/ Friends of the Earth Bosnia and Herzegovina
CESTA – FOE El Salvador
CETRI – Centre tricontinental
Climate Change Kenya
Coalición de Tendencia Clasista. (CTC-VZLA)
Colectivo de Investigación y Acompañmiento Comunitario
Collectif pour la défense des terres malgaches – TANY, Madagascar
Community Forest Watch, Nigeria
Consumers Association of Penang
Corporate Europe Observatory
Cuttington University
Down to Earth Consult
El Campello
Environmental Resources Management and Social Issue Centre (ERMSIC) Cameroon
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria
FASE ES , Brazil
Fédération romande des consommateurs
FENEV, (Femmes Environnement nature Entrepreneuriat Vert).
Focus on the Global South
Forum Ökologie & Papier, Germany
Friends of the Earth Ghana
Friends of the Earth International
GE Free NZ, New Zealand
Global Alliance against REDD
Global Justice Ecology Project
Global Info
Gobierno Territorial Autónomo de la Nación Wampís , Peru
GRAIN
Green Development Advocates (GDA)
CameroonGreystones, Ireland
Groupe International de Travail pour les Peuples Autochtones
Grupo ETC
Grupo Guayubira, Uruguay
Instituto Mexicano de Gobernanza Medioambiental AC Instituto Mexicano de Gobernanza Medioambiental AC
Integrated Program for the Development of the Pygmy People (PIDP), DRC
Justica Ambiental
Justicia Paz e Integridad de la Creacion. Costa Rica
Kempityari
Latin Ambiente, http://www.latinambiente.org
Les gens du partage
LOYOLA SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, MANILA
Maderas del Pueblo del Sureste, AC
Maiouri nature, Guyane
Mangrove Action Project
Milieudefensie – Friends of the Earth Netherlands
Movimento Amigos da Rua Gonçalo de Carvalho
Muyissi Environnement, Gabon
Nature-d-congo de la République du Congo
New Wind Association from Finland
NOAH-Friends of the Earth Denmark
Oakland Institute
OFRANEH, Honduras
Ole Siosiomaga Society Incorporated (OLSSI)
ONG OCEAN : Organisation Congolaise des Ecologistes et Amis de la Nature et sommes basés en RD Congo.
OPIROMA, Brazil
Otros Mundos A.C./Amigos de la Tierra México
Paramo Guerrrero Zipaquira
PROYECTO GRAN SIMIO (GAP/PGS-España)
Quercus – ANCN, Portugal
Radd (Reseau des Acteurs du Développement Durable) , Cameroon
Rainforest Foundation UK
Rainforest Relief
ReAct – Alliances Transnationales
RECOMA – Red latinoamericana contra los monocultivos de árboles
Red de Coordinacion en Biodiversidad , Çosta Rica
REFEB-Cote d’Ivoire
Rettet den Regenwald, Germany
ROBIN WOOD
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia)
Salva la Selva
School of Democratic Economics, Indonesia
Serendipalm Company Limited
Sherpa , The Netherlands
SYNAPARCAM, Cameroon
The Corner House, UK
Towards Equitable Sustainable Holistic Development
TRAFFED KIVU ,RD. CONGOUNIÓN UNIVERSAL DESARROLLO SOLIDARIO
University of Sussex, UK
UTB ColombiaWatch Indonesia!
WESSA
World Rainforest Movement
Youth Volunteers for the Environment Ghana

Return to menu ↑

Oil palm expansion is shaped by wider political economies and development policies.

Market-based development policies have favored large-scale over smallholder production.

Benefits from oil palm are unevenly distributed across rural population.

Violence across forest frontiers has fueled conflicts linked to oil palm.

Weak forest governance has led to significant deforestation by industrial plantations.
A. Castellanos-Navarrete, F. de Castro, P. Pacheco, The impact of oil palm on rural livelihoods and tropical forest landscapes in Latin America, Journal of Rural Studies,
Volume 81, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.10.047.

Reports: human rights and land rights violations, violence and indigenous land-grabbing by RSPO members

Adina Renner, Conradin Zellweger, Barnaby Skinner. ‘Is there such a thing as sustainable palm oil? Satellite images show protected rainforest on fire’. (May 2021) https://www.nzz.ch/english/palm-oil-boom-threatens-protected-rainforest-in-indonesia-ld.1625490

Read report

The True Price of Palm Oil: How global finance and household brands are fuelling deforestation, violence and human rights abuses in Papua New Guinea

Read Report

Return to menu ↑

Epidemics and rapacity of multinational companies

Discussion Paper. The Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics. Release date: 12th March, 2022

This paper provides novel granular evidence on the interaction between the Ebola epidemic, deforestation, and palm oil plantations in Liberia. The palm oil multinationals, exploiting the health crisis, stepped up deforestation to increase output. The effect on deforestation is more severe in areas inhabited by politically unrepresented ethnic groups, characterized by a reduction in tree coverage by 6.5%.

New! This paper investigates the relationship between the Ebola epidemic, deforestation, and palm oil concessions in Liberia.

Tommaso Sonno and @Davide_Zufacchi

Read: https://t.co/nFRTGJncXm pic.twitter.com/3mFiAa4YjX
— Centre for Economic Performance (@CEP_LSE) March 11, 2022

We also document an increase of more than 125% in the likelihood of
fire events within concessions during the epidemic. This suggests that not only did the palm oil companies foster deforestation, but further that they used forest fires to do so. This is particularly harmful to the environment, and the smoke and the haze may have severe health consequences, apart from being a source of carbon dioxide.

This deforestation was accompanied by a 150% increase in the amount of land dedicated to cultivation. This exploitative behaviour was highly profitable for palm oil companies, with a 1428% increase in the value of Liberian palm oil’s exports
compared with the pre-Ebola period. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for local people or the local environment.

Return to menu ↑

The difficulty of addressing and resolving oil palm conflicts is due not only to the inadequacies of Indonesia’s legal framework regarding land and plantations but also to the way in which Indonesia’s informalized state institutions foster collusion between local power holders and palm oil companies. This collusion enables companies to evade regulation, suppress community protests and avoid engaging in constructive efforts to resolve conflicts. Furthermore, this collusion has made the available conflict resolution mechanisms largely ineffective.
Anti-Corporate Activism and Collusion: The Contentious Politics of Palm Oil Expansion in Indonesia, (2022). Ward Berenschot, et. al., Geoforum, Volume 131, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2022.03.002

Return to menu ↑

Verisk Maplecroft: 2021 ESG Analysis of palm oil land-grabbing

Key insight: Palm oil is ranked highest risk for land grabs in Indonesia. The country produces more than half the world’s palm oil and #landgrabbing is on the rise there. There were 241 land conflicts across Indonesia in 2020, 10 times the amount of 2008
Human Rights Outlook 2021, Verisk Maplecroft

Ahead of Nature Day at #COP26 @jameslockharts and I have looked at the impact of our growing demand for minerals to combat the climate crisis (as well as food, commodities etc) on social risks like land grabs and destruction of biodiversity 👇 #hro2021 https://t.co/0ZJyThbmIl
— Will Nichols (@WillNicholsRisk) November 4, 2021

Verisk Maplecroft Human Rights Outlook 2021

“There is a clear link between land grabs and the loss of natural capital: clean air and water, pollinating insects, and soil quality. Both land grabs and natural capital degradation are influenced by poverty, corruption and weak rule of law”
Human Rights Outlook 2021, Verisk Maplecroft

Verisk Maplecroft Human Rights Outlook 2021

Return to menu ↑

New investigation in the Amazon documents impact of palm oil plantations on Indigenous communities – Mongabay Newscast

Palm oil plantations look likely to become a new cause of deforestation and pollution across the Amazon: though companies say their supply chains are green and sustainable, critics in Brazil–including scientists & federal prosecutors–cite deforestation, chemical pollution, and human rights violations. Mongabay's Rio-based editor Karla Mendes investigated one such project in Para State and joins us to discuss the findings of her new report, Déjà vu as palm oil industry brings deforestation, pollution to Amazon. Beside the health toll of chemical sprays on Indigenous people whose land it encroaches, Mendes studied satellite imagery to disprove claims that the company only plants on land that's already been deforested. Also joining the show are a scientist who's documented contamination of water sources and related health impacts, Sandra Damiani from the University of Brasília, plus a federal prosecutor in the Amazon region, Felício Pontes Júnior, who is trying to hold palm oil companies accountable for polluting Indigenous communities. Palm oil is used in a huge array of consumer goods sold in most countries–from snacks to ice cream & shampoo—and is a main cause of rainforest loss in Africa and Southeast Asia. Now, the industry sees the Amazon as prime new ground. Episode artwork: Fresh palm oil fruit, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo courtesy of Nanang Sujana for CIFOR. Please invite your friends to subscribe to the Mongabay Newscast wherever they get podcasts, or download our free app in the Apple App Store or in the Google Store to have access to our latest episodes at your fingertips. If you enjoy the Newscast, please visit http://www.patreon.com/mongabay to pledge a dollar or more to keep the show growing, Mongabay is a nonproft media outlet and all support helps! Supporting at the $10/month level now delivers access to Insider Content at Mongabay.com, too, please visit the link above for details. See all our latest news from nature's frontline at Mongabay's homepage: news.mongabay.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by searching for @mongabay. Feedback is always welcome: submissions@mongabay.com.

Ferrero’s Dirty Secret, The Sum of Us, 2021

Study maps 187 land conflicts as palm oil expands in Kalimantan, Mongabay, 2016.

Revealed: Government officials say permits for palm oil mega-plantation in Papua were falsified Gecko Project, 2019

Land-grabbing of communities’ forest lands by Wilmar International in Cross River State, Nigeria. Environmental Justice Atlas, 2019.

Licence to clear: The dark side of permitting in West Papua, Greenpeace, 2021.

Indonesian court jails indigenous farmers for ‘stealing’ from land they claim, Mongabay, 2020.

EIA releases footage of indigenous forest threatened by palm oil firm. Environmental Investigation Agency, 2015.

Return to menu ↑

How land grabbers weaponise indigenous ritual against Papuans: An interview with anthropologist Sophie Chao, Gecko Project, 2018

FSC dumps palm oil giant Korindo amid rights, environmental issues in Papua, Mongabay, 2021

Top brands failing to spot rights abuses on Indonesian oil palm plantations, Mongabay, 2021.

The secret deal to destroy paradise. Nanang Sujana and Gecko Project, 2018

Return to menu ↑

Papua tribe moves to block clearing of its ancestral forest for palm oil, Mongabay, 2021.

Palm oil, cocoa and gangs close in on Colombia’s Indigenous Nukak Makú, Mongabay, 2020.

Ecuador Indigenous accuse state of crimes against humanity, Mongabay, 2020.

‘They took it over by force’: Corruption and palm oil in Sierra Leone, Mongabay, 2020

The Hungry Mills: How palm oil mills drive deforestation (commentary), Mongabay 2021.

Video: Communities struggle against palm oil plantations spreading in Brazilian Amazon, Mongabay, 2021.

Return to menu ↑

Who are the palm oil lobbyists?

They are a small group of people including Jane Griffiths, Michele Desilets, Bart Van Assen who “volunteer” for an organisation called Orangutan Land Trust.

Orangutan Land Trust, PONGO Alliance, Sustainable Palm Oil Choice, Chester Zoo, Efeca, The Better India and the RSPO are the engine behind the greenwashing for the palm oil industry’s Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The scientific advisory board of Orangutan Land Trust is made up of scientists who consistently produce pro-palm oil research papers that are funded by the palm oil industry.

Orangutan Land Trust has been funded and associated with many past and present deforesters in the palm oil industry including PO companies: Agropalma, New Britain Palm Oil and Kulim Malaysia Berhad. Michelle, Bart and Jane maintain that they “volunteer” for their NGO.

Orangutan Land Trust a CONservation NGO received 500,000USD from a palm oil co Kulim Malaysia Berhad in 2015 -disgraced for #deforestation – yet still today Michelle Desilets, Executive Director of Orangutan Land Trust has been evasive about where exactly the money went. pic.twitter.com/GwjcOBtcaz
— Palm Oil Detectives #BoycottPalmOil (@PalmOilDetect) November 19, 2021

The RSPO was set up 17 years ago by the WWF along with global palm oil companies themselves in order to monitor and regulate their own actions and to supposedly stop deforestation and ecocide.

RSPO members include the world’s biggest food companies: Nestle, Unilever, Cargill, L’Oreal, Danone, Kelloggs, Pepsi, Coca Cola, Mondelez, Johnson & Johnson, PZ Cussons, Ferrero and more. Since it was created in 2004, these RSPO members have been embroiled in greenwashing, corruption, illegal land-grabbing from indigenous peoples, the killing of wildlife, human rights abuses and 100,000’s of hectares of deforestation. Yet these members faced no expulsion from the RSPO and they faced no punishment at all for their actions, despite this going against the rules of the RSPO. The corruption and greenwashing of this industry knows no bounds!

Return to menu ↑

Abusive, gaslighting and greenwashing Pro Palm Oil Lobbyists on Twitter:

It is recommend to block all of these people to make your Twitter experience more enjoyable with less palm oil greenwashing, abuse, harassment and hate in your life

Bart Van Assen is the most vile and abusive troll of all. He has harassed me and stalked me in two successive workplaces and has been banned several times from Mastadon and Twitter for harassment and abuse. You can also find him doing the same to other people on Instagram

Vlieger Holland, Palm Oil Truther, Wildling Rocks are all Bart Van Assen – fan boy of "sustainable" #palmoil and greenwasher for the @RSPOtweets, former auditor for #FSC and #RSPO – banned on Mastodon once and Twitter several times https://t.co/5rOgrhDwxy pic.twitter.com/hN7PbKrdww
— Palm Oil Detectives #BoycottPalmOil (@PalmOilDetect) February 21, 2023

Main lobbyists/trolls

Bart W Van Assen: (who juggles multiple accounts to disguise himself: @Apes4Forests and @eachtreematters and @vliegerholland.

Michelle Desilets: @Orangutans and @Orangulandtrust

Jane Griffiths: @griffjane and @newquaySSPO

Lone Droscher Nielson: orangutanland (appears to be a dummy account being run by Michelle Desilets).

Other trolls and fake sock puppet accounts

Anak Sawit: @AnakSawitOrg

Anti genocide: @wakyIIsr

BuleMewak: @Bulemewak

Dupito Simamora: @SimamoraDupito

Earthkeeper22: @Earthkeeper22 parrots the exact same messages as Orangutan Land Trust despite being shown loads of evidence that it is a lie.

Francisca: @sisca_gd

FMN Global: @FMNglobal

Kevin Butler: @kiwibutts

Hypocrite Buster: @hypocrisykiller

Joern Haese: @JoernHaese (pro-Russia troll, apologist for the palm oil industry)

Li May Fun: @LiMayFun

Like I Care: @lik3icar3

Maruli Gultom: @Maruligultom

Najis Keji: @najiskeji

No_Gaslighting: @Ngaslighting

Pax Deorum: @PaxDeorum2 (abusive troll pushing a pro-Russia agenda)

Penny McGregor: @penmcgregor (Disgusting abusive troll who is an apologist for the immensely destructive HS2 project in the UK)

Petani Sawit: @PalmSawit

Peter Ashford: @kaffiene_nz (abusive troll pushing a pro New Zealand dairy/pro palm oil agenda)

ProEqual: @PR03QUAL

Rainforest: @Rainfor60967488

Ray Whitley: @RayWhitley13 (Fake vegan/lobbyist who does not advocate for animals on Twitter but instead simply foments divisiveness and hate on Twitter)

Robert Hii: @HiiRobert

Shite Buster: @Justice4Abo

Via Vallen: @ViaVallenia

Viki: @ImaWereViki

Return to menu ↑

Brands Using Deforestation Palm Oil

These brands have products that contain palm oil sourced from mills that are responsible for the destruction of precious habitats of endangered species. Just in 2020 alone,…

Keep reading

by Palm Oil Detectives

Palm Oil Free Brands

Learn how to avoid major brands linked to palm oil land-grabbing, deforestation, human rights abuses, and slavery and instead buy palm oil free in the shops!

Keep reading

by Palm Oil Detectives

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…

Keep reading

by Palm Oil Detectives

Research: Palm Oil Deforestation and its connection to RSPO members/supermarket brands

Discover the truth about palm oil from experts’ reports. Research shows RSPO members still cause deforestation and human rights abuses, despite greenwashing!

Keep reading

by Palm Oil Detectives

Defend lands belonging to Indigenous peoples and fight illegal land-grabbing

#Boycottpalmoil in the supermarket and #Boycott4Wildlife

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife

Return to menu ↑

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Contribute to my Ko-Fi

Did you enjoy visiting this website?

Palm Oil Detectives is 100% self-funded

Say thanks on Ko-Fi

Marbled Cat Pardofelis marmorata

IUCN Status: Near Threatened

Location: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo), China (Yunnan, Guangxi, Tibet), Brunei

The marbled cat is a small #wildcat that can be found in the eastern part of the Himalayas and southern Asia. They are related to the Asian Golden Cat and the Borneo Bay Cat, and similar in size to a house cat. The Marbled Cat’s fur varies in color from brownish yellow to grey. Marbled Cats have rounded, short ears with a black spot on the back of the ears, and a white upper lip and chin.

With a coat resembling swirling marble, the Marbled Cat is a true spectacle of nature. Their elongated body and bushy tail help them balance effortlessly among tree branches, while their large paws and retractable claws make them formidable climbers. These agile hunters are rarely seen, spending much of their time in the trees where they stalk prey and avoid ground-dwelling predators.

Despite their elusive nature, Marbled Cats face mounting threats. #timber #palmoil #deforestation and human settlements are destroying their rainforest home. Illegal #hunting, indiscriminate snaring, and retaliatory killings from farmers also contribute to their decline. Without urgent action, these magnificent cats may disappear from the wild. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.

The elusive and beautiful Marbled #Cat 🐱🫶 is a small #wildcat of #Asia. They’re Near Threatened by #palmoil #deforestation 🌴🔥 #Chinese medicine 🔪 and #hunting. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife #Boycottpalmoil to help them 🌴🪔☠️🔥🧐⛔️ @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/24/marbled-cat-pardofelis-marmorata/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

The Marbled Cat is forest dependent and forest loss and degradation is continuing across its range from logging and expansion of human settlements and agriculture, including oil palm plantations.
IUCN red list

The Marbled Cat is valued for skin, meat and bones, although it is infrequently observed in the wildlife trade (Nowell and Jackson 1996). However, it is possible that illegal killing and trade is underreported compared to other species. Targeted and indiscriminate snaring are prevalent throughout much of the range and likely to pose a significant threat.
IUCN RED LIST

Appearance and Behaviour

The Marbled Cat is a medium-sized wild feline, weighing between 2 to 5 kg, with a strikingly patterned coat of dark, irregular blotches against a pale gold or grey background. Their large eyes, adapted for both day and night vision, and long whiskers make them highly sensitive to movement in their surroundings.

Unlike most wild cats, Marbled Cats spend much of their time in the trees. Their long, bushy tail—nearly the length of their body—acts as a counterbalance, allowing them to move with exceptional agility through the canopy. They are primarily diurnal, with studies showing more daytime activity than other small wild cats.

Diet

Little is known about the exact dietary habits of the Marbled Cat, but they are thought to be opportunistic hunters. Their primary prey likely includes rodents such as squirrels, as well as birds, reptiles, and possibly small primates. Their exceptional climbing skills give them an advantage over other forest predators, allowing them to ambush prey from above.

Reproduction and Mating

Very little is known about the breeding habits of the Marbled Cat due to their secretive nature. They are believed to reproduce in dense forested areas, likely raising their young in tree hollows or sheltered ground dens. Reports suggest that they give birth to one to four kittens per litter, with the mother providing all parental care. Their lifespan in the wild is unknown, but in captivity, they have been recorded living up to 12 years.

Geographic Range

The Marbled Cat is distributed across the forests of the Himalayan foothills, Southeast Asia, and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. They prefer dense, mixed deciduous-evergreen rainforests and are often found in hilly or mountainous regions. Camera trap surveys have detected them in both pristine and disturbed forests, but they appear to avoid open landscapes and plantations, highlighting their strong dependence on undisturbed rainforest.

The Marbled Cat seems to be sensitive to changes and disruptions caused by humans. Status and distribution of the Marbled cat are poorly studied and population trends are unknown. There is some indication that the species may be relatively rare when compared with other felids in the same habitat.

Threats

• Deforestation – Logging, agriculture, and out-of-control palm oil plantations are rapidly destroying their forest home.

• Poaching and the illegal wildlife trade – Though not as commonly hunted as other wild cats, they are still killed for their skin, bones, and meat.

• Indiscriminate snaring – Across their range, widespread snaring poses a deadly threat, catching them as unintended victims.

• Human-wildlife conflict – They are occasionally blamed for killing poultry, leading to retaliatory killings by farmers.

• Habitat fragmentation – Roads, plantations, and human settlements are isolating populations, making survival even more difficult.

Take Action!

The survival of the Marbled Cat depends on the protection of their forest habitat. You can help by:

Avoiding products containing palm oil, which fuels rainforest destruction.
Supporting indigenous-led conservation initiatives that protect Southeast Asia’s rainforests.
Advocating against poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.
#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan

FAQs

How many Marbled Cats are left in the wild?

Exact population numbers are unknown, but they are declining due to habitat destruction and poaching. Their Near Threatened status indicates that without conservation efforts, they may become endangered in the near future.

How long do Marbled Cats live?

In captivity, they have been recorded living up to 12 years, but their lifespan in the wild remains uncertain due to their secretive nature.

Are Marbled Cats good pets?

No! Marbled Cats are wild animals that belong in their natural habitat. The illegal pet trade and wildlife trafficking contribute to their decline. If you care about them, do not support the exotic pet trade—advocate for their protection instead.

Are Marbled Cats related to Clouded Leopards?

Although their coat pattern is similar, they are not closely related to Clouded Leopards. Marbled Cats belong to the genus Pardofelis, which also includes the Asiatic Golden Cat and the Borneo Bay Cat.

Why are Marbled Cats so rare?

Marbled Cats are naturally elusive and spend much of their time in the trees, making sightings rare. Additionally, habitat destruction and hunting have reduced their numbers, making them even harder to find.

How can I help protect Marbled Cats?

Boycott palm oil, support conservation initiatives, and speak out against deforestation. Protecting their rainforest home is the key to their survival.

Further Information

Ross, J., Brodie, J., Cheyne, S., Datta, A., Hearn, A., Loken, B., Lynam, A., McCarthy, J., Phan, C., Rasphone, A., Singh, P. & Wilting, A. 2016. Pardofelis marmorata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T16218A97164299. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T16218A97164299.en. Downloaded on 05 June 2021.

Wikipedia

Marbled Cat Pardofelis marmorata

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

One-fifth of reptiles heading towards extinction

Frill-Necked Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii by Tourism Australia

Almost one-fifth of the world’s reptiles are currently threatened with extinction.A recent study assessed 1500 species for extinction risks. From the 19% found to be in danger, 12% were classified as Critically Endangered, 41% as Endangered and 47% Vulnerable. Three of the species listed as being Critically Endangered are believed to be possibly extinct. This is a deeply worrying and saddening state of affairs. Instead of feeling helpless take action when you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife and be #Vegan

Attn #reptile lovers and #herpetology fans 💚🐊🦎🐍🐸🐢💚 20% of #reptiles are headed for #extinction from #meat 🥩❌ #palmoil 🌴❌ #deforestation. Help all animals! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife and be #Vegan when you shop @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/21/one-fifth-of-reptiles-heading-towards-extinction/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

News

Frill-Necked Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii

Frill-necked lizard AKA frilled dragons are endangered in southern Papua New Guinea and Indonesian-occupied West Papua due to palm oil ecocide, take action!

Asia: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Borneo Forest Dragon Gonocephalus bornensis

The #Borneo Forest Dragon, also known as the Borneo Anglehead #Lizard is a vividly coloured lizard native to Borneo. This arboreal #reptile is known for their prominent…

Amazing Animal Adaptations

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…

Papua New Guinea: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Solomon Islands skink Corucia zebrata

Imagine a creature straight out of a fantastical computer game – this could be the Solomon Islands skink Corucia zebrata , also affectionately known as the monkey-tailed…

Amazing Animal Adaptations

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…

Amazing Animal Adaptations

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…

Asia: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Philippine Sailfin Lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus

Stunning bright coloured Philippine sailfin lizards are becoming more and more rare from palm oil deforestation across their range in #WestPapua #Philippines and eastern #Indonesia. They are…

Amazing Animal Adaptations

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,…

Asia: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Quince Monitor (Banggai Island Monitor) Varanus melinus

The Quince Monitor Varanus melinus get their name from the spectacular bright yellow of their skin. This is a rare and elusive species of #monitor #lizard that lives in…

Boycott

Caring for Siamese crocodiles in Cambodia

Researchers travel into the remote wilderness of #Cambodia to study the world’s most endangered #crocodile, the placid, cryptic and little-known Siamese crocodile. Help their survival in the…

Africa: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

African Dwarf Crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis

African Dwarf #Crocodiles are timid #nocturnal animals and solitary hunters. They predate mainly on small animals in rivers or nearby to the riverbank. They are also known…

Africa: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Butterfly Viper Bitis nasicornis

Although they possess one of the most potent venoms of all #snakes in #Africa, Butterfly Vipers are surprisingly placid and won’t attack unless provoked or threatened. They…

Amazing Animal Adaptations

A fascinating history of warrior turtles: from ancient myths, warships and teenage mutants

Ask anyone the identity of the world’s most famed turtles, and the answer is likely to be those legendary heroes in a half-shell, the Teenage Mutant Ninjas.…

Africa: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Black-Throated monitor Varanus albigularis microstictus

The Black-Throated Monitor is a mighty and large lizard reaching over 2 metres long. They are threatened by agriculture deforestation and #hunting for their leather and meat…

Palm Oil, Extinction & Animal Cruelty

One-fifth of reptiles heading towards extinction

Almost one-fifth of the world’s reptiles are currently threatened with extinction.A recent study assessed 1500 species for extinction risks. From the 19% found to be in danger,…

Africa: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Four-horned Chameleon Trioceros quadricornis

Protect the Four-Horned Chameleons, native to Cameroon’s rainforests, these extraordinary reptiles are now listed as Vulnerable, boycott palm oil for them!

South America: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Harlequin Poison Frog Oophaga histrionica

Chocó rainforests, the harlequin poison frog is as deadly as it is beautiful. Cloaked in hypnotic shades of orange, yellow, green and black, this tiny amphibian is…

South America: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Orinoco Crocodile Crocodylus intermedius

Endemic to the Orinoco River Basin in #Colombia and #Venezuela, the majestic Orinoco Crocodile is one of the rarest and most threatened reptiles on Earth. These intelligent,…

South America: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Hoge’s Side-necked Turtle Mesoclemmys hogei

The Hoge’s Side-necked Turtle Ranacephala hogei—also known as Hoge’s Toadhead Turtle—is one of #Brazil’s rarest and most endangered reptiles. Having diverged from other turtles some 80 million…

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…

Asia: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah

Known as the serpentine king of the jungle in South East Asia, and inspiration for the villain Kaa in the Jungle Book, the King Cobra lives in…

Asia: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

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…

Asia: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

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

Asia: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

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…

Papua New Guinea: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

Papua New Guinea & West Papua: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation

As the rainforest habitats are destroyed in Indonesia, Indonesian and Chinese oil palm processing companies are switching focus towards Papua New Guinea, Africa and South America to…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Four-horned Chameleon Trioceros quadricornis2

Tropical regions were listed as the main source of concern for reptile numbers, largely due to the destruction of natural habitats by logging and the development of rural agriculture.

Freshwater turtles are at the greatest risk, with between 30-50% believed to be close to extinction.

Published in The Conversation

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Wildlife Photographer Craig Jones

Craig Jones: In His Own Words

Wildlife Photographer and Conservationist

Bio: Craig Jones

One of Britain’s finest wildlife photographers, Craig Jones is also one of the most humble and down-to-earth guys you will ever meet. His photography and stories capture the lives of endangered rainforest animals that we hold so dearly to our hearts: Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran tigers, Sumatran elephants, Siamangs and more. His work has featured in BBC News, BBC Wildlife Magazine and National Geographic magazine. He has also appeared for Nat Geo WILD discussing Sumatra as part of the “Paradise Islands & Photo Ark” Nat Geo series. He has spoken at the UK Green Party Conference about the disastrous effects of palm oil in South East Asia, that he seen with his own eyes.

In this story, Craig uses his own words to bear witness to the awesome love and intelligence of orangutans, and also shares stories of the immense suffering of orangutans and other species within RSPO member palm oil plantations. Craig is an absolute inspiration to photographers, animal lovers and conservationists. It is an honour to showcase his work and stories on Palm Oil Detectives.

His work appears in:

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - Previous work

#Wildlife #photographer Craig Jones @CraigJones17 uses his heart and camera to capture the spectacular animals of Asia even in settings of absolute cruelty and #palmoil #deforestation. He tells his story! #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

“The most beautiful rainforest in the world is turned into a souless landscape of palm oil within weeks, with brutal efficiency. Anything in its way gets crushed, killed and discarded.” #Wildlife #photographer Craig Jones @CraigJones17 #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

“That scream I can still hear now, the tone went through me, the pitch could have broken a glass, it was so high and shocking to hear.“ @CraigJones17 recalls rescuing a mum and baby #orangutan from an @RSPOtweets #palmoil plantation
Tweet

#Wildlife #photographer Craig Jones @CraigJones17 uses his heart and camera to capture spectacular animals of Asia even in settings of absolute cruelty and #palmoil #deforestation he tells his story! #Boycott4Wildlife #Boycottpalmoil
Tweet

“Sustainable palm oil is a con. #Palmoil is all about #wealth and it’s killing us and the planet. So mother nature will have the last laugh. It’s all corruption. #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife” #Wildlife photographer @CraigJones17
Tweet

“I kept hearing from locals that the government fails to protect national parks and #endangered species. The same government hands out #palmoil licences letting these companies play god” #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @CraigJones17
Tweet

“Those with a vested interest in sustainable #palmoil are linked in some way. How can anyone say sustainable is OK when it is grow in the ashes of the dead wildlife and burnt forests?” #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife” #Wildlife photographer @CraigJones17
Tweet

Nature saved me really. That’s behind everything I do. I’ve seen bad things in life and nature has always been there…

When I see animals in stress or danger, I have learned that I can turn my passion into a positive and use my heart and camera to capture what I see. This is despite shocking scenes I have witnessed in my career, with the many examples of sheer and pointless human cruelty.
Craig jones

Respect and care for wildlife was instilled in me by my late mother

[Pictured] Craig Jones as a boy in his aviary, in the garden of his mother’s home

“My love of wildlife started at a young age. My mum took me to the nearby woods where wildlife was as a small child. My mum taught me about the circle of life and where my food was from. She taught me to always to respect wildlife and listen to the woods, listen to nature and nature will give up her secrets.”

From those early days, I spent so much time being at one with nature, close to and watching, hidden from view on the off chance I would see a certain animal.

[Pictured] Puffins locked in an embrace. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

I have learned how to get close to wildlife without disturbing animals and their world. In doing so, I can understand the animal better and give them complete respect. I have gained many skills by observing animals and their behaviour. This gives me a private window into their private lives.

The word conservation means many things to many different people

The courageous team from HOCRU who rescue orangutans daily from RSPO palm oil plantations and illegally destroyed forests in Sumatra. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography — The courageous team from HOCRU led by Panut Hadisiswoy, rescue orangutans daily from RSPO palm oil plantations and illegally destroyed forests in Sumatra. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

For me, conservation means to simply to care, love and protect wildlife. I use my camera as an extension of myself to capture what I see and express this in my photography, with minimal intervention and great respect for wildlife.

Combining conservation and photography can be very powerful. This can move people to such a degree that change can and does happen!
craig jones

Early on in my career, I learned the power of an image. This moved me, and I was sure this would move viewers too. I try to help all animals with my images. I tell the stories behind the pictures, where and how they live.

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - Craig with his camera

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - Sumatran Orangutan mother and baby

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - A Brown Bear hides behind a tree

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - A Bengal tiger relaxes at a river side

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - Sumatran Orangutan

The best camera is a person’s heart. This is then reflected through their eyes and the result is the photography

If you want to get into wildlife photography, be honest with yourself and nature when you are behind the camera. Don’t cut corners and always remember you are a guest in the animal’s world.

Watch and learn about wildlife and the species you wish to photograph. Don’t look for the perfect shot, because there isn’t such a thing really.

The perfect shot drives photographers to try and achieve this, often at the cost of the animals’ wellbeing and peace.

Become part of the environment, learn about fieldcraft, ethics and always respect nature. I have a saying, “what you give to nature, you get back” and this often is reflected in my work. Work with your heart on your sleeve and always be honest with nature and yourself with your work.

I love every single creature and species of the natural world. I find everything fascinating. Every individual animal is going about their own lives around us, often unnoticed and in clear view ~ Craig Jones

For my 8^th Birthday I was given a book called “Animal World”. On the cover is tiger and to the side is an Orangutan. I’ve still got this book, which is signed inside by my late mum. As a child I was amazed by these animals. Without my knowing, this book started my life-long love and fascination for these two species.

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - Animal World, the book that Craig Jones received from his mother which got him interested in wildlife conservation — Craig Jones Wildlife Photography – Animal World, the book that Craig Jones received from his mother which got him interested in wildlife conservation as a young boy.

Despite the shocking scenes I have witnessed, I am able to switch from the heart to my head and capture the true essence of the things I have seen
Craig Jones

When I see animals in stress of danger, I am able to turn that passion into a positive and use my heart and camera to photograph what I see.

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography. Craig sits devastated after seeing the destruction of Sumatra's rainforests — Craig Jones Wildlife Photography. Craig sits devastated after seeing the destruction of Sumatra’s rainforests

This wasn’t planned, it wasn’t taught, it comes from that true and powerful love for wildlife I had from a small child

I witnessed so much in Sumatra, it has been an emotional roller coaster with so many ups and downs, looking into an orangutan’s eyes and seeing yourself has filled me with so much joy, and at the same time sorrow. I have loved these enduring animals since childhood and now as an adult helping them is a blessing for me.

I try and show not only the beauty of the natural world, but also the suffering. My hope with my own contribution to conservation is to give all wildlife a true and meaningful voice around the world.

Although I had to walk away from these animals, I want my photos to be a visual reminder that these beautiful creatures will never be forgotten. Their plight wasn’t ignored

A Sumatran tiger help in a tiny cage struggles to stay alive. Craig Jones Wildlife photography

This siamang has spent her whole life in this cage, a vision that was a true nightmare. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - A Sumatran Orangutan on the verge of death is saved from an RSPO "sustainable" palm oil plantation

A little female orangutan fights for life after being rescued from an RSPO palm oil plantation. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - An orangutan is rescued from an RSPO "sustainable" palm oil plantation

Orangutan baby screams at being separated from his mother on a newly destroyed forest in an RSPO member palm oil plantation. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Orangutans are us and we are them in so many ways. Their peaceful mannerisms and intelligence is just remarkable

I feel there is so much we still don’t know about these great apes. For as long as I walk this earth, I will do my best to help them. Along with every other creature we share this planet with, using my camera and my own voice.

Orangutans are us and we are them in so many ways…

I’ve climbed trees in the rainforest. I’ve slept rough and washed in rainwater to be close to these amazing animals. I’ve seen their beauty, their spirit and my work I hope gives them a voice, and in turn I truly hope their voices will be heard.

Craig Jones Wildlife Photography - Sumatran Orangutan baby — Craig Jones Wildlife Photography – A Sumatran Orangutan on the verge of death is saved from an RSPO “sustainable” palm oil plantation

Without direct intervention in National Parks, orangutans along with all other forest-dependant species like the Sumatran Tigers and Sumatran Elephants will become progressively scarcer until their populations are no longer viable.
Craig jones

I have seen things during my time in Sumatra that have upset and angered me

Craig Jones

[Pictured] A forest is destroyed in so-called “protected” parts of Indonesia, first for timber, then for palm oil by palm oil companies that are granted permits by the government despite clear ecocide.

Protected forests in Sumatra are being destroyed and all of the animals along with them. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

The fringes of protected rainforest habitat are slowly being eroded away with small to large de-forestation and illegal logging and forest clearance. This goes unchecked, as parts of the protected rainforest is lost each year and is shrinking at an alarming rate. There is no enforcement of regulations.

Long term initiatives like reducing corruption, massive changes in management regimes, institutional change, monitoring illegal wildlife trade and prosecuting criminal behaviour will take a long time to halt the immediate crisis.

Logging companies use bribes and are better armed and equipped than most rangers who protect the animals…

At last count when I visited there were 2,155 field rangers for a 108,000km square area. They have no access to helicopters, airplanes, arms or military patrolling skills that would enable them to prevent illegal activity.

If the rangers had the necessary training, communication, transport and arms then they’d be better placed to protect and prevent these illegal acts against the protected forests. HOCRU which stands for Human-Orangutan Conflict Response Unit are a brave group of wildlife rangers who go out every day attempting to save animals on so-called “sustainable” palm oil plantations and “protected” forests that have been destroyed.

HOCRU - Brave wildlife rangers attempting to save animals on so-called "sustainable" palm oil plantations — HOCRU – Brave wildlife rangers attempting to save animals on so-called “sustainable” palm oil plantations

Leuser ecosystem deforestation - Palm Oil Detectives

Reducing the rate of deforestation over Indonesia as a whole will also have a dramatic impact on the regional carbon dioxide emissions and thus help to prevent dangerous levels of global climate change.

If the logging of national parks continues unchallenged it could under-mine the protected area concept worldwide.

Palm oil companies play god and play with fire in Sumatra…

Rainforest is quickly changed to dead land throughout the world by palm oil.

“One of the main things I kept hearing from locals was that the government fails to protect national parks, areas that contain so many endangered flagship species of wildlife. The same government that hands out licensees to palm oil companies letting them play god with some of the richest forests on earth.”
Craig jones

Sustainable palm oil is a con…

“Sustainable palm oil is a con. Palm oil is all about wealth and it’s killing us and the planet. So mother nature will have the last laugh. It’s all corruption. Those with a vested interest in this sustainable nonsense are linked in someway you mark my words because how could anyone say sustainable is OK when it’s grow in the ashes of the dead wildlife and burnt forests. This saddens me”. ~ Craig Jones

My recommendations on how you can help…

Craig Jones' photography features on a billboard in London for the Spotlight on Sumatra exhibition. — Craig Jones’ photography features on a billboard in London for the Spotlight on Sumatra exhibition.

Craig Jones raises awareness of the plight of orangutans and other animals in Sumatra and advocates for better, ethical wildlife photography that does not harm animals. — Craig Jones’ photography features on a billboard in London for the Spotlight on Sumatra exhibition.

Consume less stuff overall and stop buying products containing palm oil, so this lowers demand

Move away from cheap food, cheap clothing and products that we really don’t need that have a hand in the destruction of the rainforests.

If consumers at the supermarket were able to see what their purchase destroyed in its production then there might be more change. Cheap, calorific foods are killing the planet and us in the process. Companies need to give back to nature not take more. @BorisJohnson @PalmOilDetect pic.twitter.com/O2RTh9a2YN
— Craig Jones (@CraigJones17) July 4, 2021

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.…

Keep reading

by Palm Oil Detectives

Look beyond so-called “sustainable” labels for palm oil and other commodities and you will see the lies, greenwashing and corruption inherent within them

Palm oil is not sustainable, we all need to cut consumption, protect what is left working with local communities. There also needs to be strictly enforcement of the laws protecting rainforests and the wildlife they support. @PalmOilDetect @DrBirute @natalieben @benedictallen pic.twitter.com/508HXQUVb1
— Craig Jones (@CraigJones17) July 10, 2021

Why do charities & their staff defend sustainable palm oil?Many act as proxies for the large corporations that are destroying the worlds rainforests.Surely it’s better to be on the same page than be working against those trying to highlight the issues around @RSPOtweets palm oil? pic.twitter.com/0v6EUh9vCZ
— Craig Jones (@CraigJones17) July 15, 2021

Look on social media at those championing @RSPOtweets and most have some vested interest in pushing this narrative out to the consumer which then creates more confusion while vast amounts of rainforests are flattened to the ground with ruthless efficiency, it’s disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/88XLhawKM1
— Craig Jones (@CraigJones17) July 4, 2021

Companies can’t keep taking from nature and giving nothing back!

[Pictured] Palm Oil and Pollution by Jo Frederiks

Products that destroy the environment should come with a warning label on the side, like for cigarettes. Brands should pay a levy for rainforest destruction and give something back to offset their environmental impact.

Nutella Ferrero and palm oil street art - by Sock Wild Sketch

Palm Oil Deforestation -Sponsored by PepsiCo. Courtesy of Rainforest Action Network

The root problem is our bad food choices and what we put into our mouths

Once we’ve made ourselves sick with palm oil-ridden junk food, drug companies pick up where the junk food left off. People then become reliant on medical interventions to keep them alive. I try to cook and eat fresh. This way I remove the majority of palm oil out of my shopping basket. There are also many companies providing toiletries without palm oil, so just shop around for palm oil free products.

We should go back to eating “fresh” and avoiding junk food, as this will help the planet but also our own health

When I was young, I always and home-cooked food. Junk food was expensive and so my mum brought fresh and cooked fresh. Nowadays, junk food has become normal and not many can cook from fresh. This is a tragedy and we need to change this.

Photography: Craig Jones

Words: Craig Jones

More by Craig…

Eyewitness Stories

Eyewitness by Craig Jones: A mother and baby orangutan are rescued from an RSPO palm oil plantation in Sumatra

Bio: Craig Jones One of Britain’s finest wildlife photographers, Craig Jones is also one of the most humble and down-to-earth guys you will ever meet. His photography and stories capture the lives of endangered rainforest animals that we hold so dearly to our hearts: Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran tigers, Sumatran elephants, Siamangs and more. His work has featured in BBC News, BBC Wildlife Magazine and National Geographic magazine. He has also appeared for Nat Geo WILD discussing Sumatra as part of the “Paradise Islands & Photo Ark” Nat Geo series. He has spoken at the UK Green Party Conference about the…

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on supermarket brands causing palm oil deforestation

Find out more

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey Lagothrix flavicauda

Peru

Critically Endangered

Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkeys are social and active during daylight hours, living in groups with a dominant male, mature males and females, and young monkeys. They communicate through vocalizations like a loud, barking call. Endemic to the Peruvian Andes, they thrive in montane rainforests and cloud forests. They face an existential threat from habitat loss due to palm oil, soy and meat deforestation. Let’s unite to protect these precious creatures by boycotting palm oil, adopting a vegan lifestyle, and raising awareness for them. Together, we can protect the Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkeys and their habitat. 🌳🐒💚 #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Yellow-tailed Wooly Monkeys 🐒 live in #Peru #SouthAmerica. Known for their distinctive woolly coats and hooting calls. They’re critically endangered from #palmoil 🌴🪔💩⛔️ and #meat #deforestation. #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/17/peruvian-yellow-tailed-woolly-monkey-lagothrix-flavicauda/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Yellow-tailed Wooly Monkeys 🐒 holler loudly in #Peru’s jungle. They’re critically endangered from #palmoil 🌴🪔💩⛔️ and #meat #deforestation. Fight back against them disappearing, be #vegan and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/17/peruvian-yellow-tailed-woolly-monkey-lagothrix-flavicauda/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

The Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey is listed as Critically Endangered due to a suspected population decline of greater than 80%, where the causes of reduction have not ceased, and is based on a corresponding decline of suitable, available habitat over the course of 50 years (ca 1985-2030; representing two prior generations and one future generation) and continued hunting.
IUCN red list

Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey Lagothrix flavicauda

Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkeys are highly sociable creatures, active during daylight hours. They live in groups of 4-30 individuals, comprising a dominant male, mature males and females, and young monkeys. Communication between communities involves vocalizations, particularly a loud, barking call used for alarm and territorial displays.

Endemic to the montane rain forests and cloud forests of the Peruvian Andes in the Departments of San Martín and Amazonas, south and east of the Río Marañón, these precious monkeys thrive at altitudes ranging from 1,100 to 2,700 meters above sea level. But they face threats from habitat loss and human activities, including palm oil production.

Relative inaccessibility of this species’ cloud forest habitat served as protection for The Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey up until the 1950’s. Subsequently, road construction, selective logging and subsistence hunting have led to deforestation, forest fragmentation and population declines. More recently, mining operations have increased in this high mountain region. Leo Luna (1984) estimated 11,240 km² of remaining suitable forest habitat for this species in 1981. Buckingham and Shanee (2008) estimated 6,302 km² remaining in 2008, representing a prior average annual forest loss of over 180 km², and noted that 70% of the remaining forest habitat was unprotected. Peruvian ministry reports and GCF data suggest a slightly higher annual forest loss rate (210 km²/year) for San Martin Province, the core of this species range, over the period 2010-2017. These data would seem to suggest that the loss of nearly all remaining unprotected habitat within this species’ range is possible, if current rates of deforestation continue to the year 2030.

Additionally, the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey is heavily hunted by indigenous communities, market hunters and in retaliation for crop damage. Infants are also routinely taken as pets when mothers are killed.

You can support the survival of this beautiful animal

Neotropical Primate Conservation

Merazonia

Further Information

Shanee, S., Cornejo, F.M., Aquino, R., Mittermeier, R.A. & Vermeer, J. 2021. Lagothrix flavicauda (amended version of 2019 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T39924A192307818. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T39924A192307818.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2021.

Peruvian Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey Lagothrix flavicauda

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Western Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorilla

Mighty, intelligent and gentle Western Lowland Gorillas are well-loved apes, they are #critically endangered by #deforestation and habitat loss for #palmoil, cocoa and mining along with disease and illegal poaching in #Congo #Nigeria #Cameroon Help them to survive every time you shop! Join the #Boycott4Wildlife

Western Lowlan d Gorilla Gorilla gorilla

Mighty and gentle Western Lowland Gorilla are well-loved apes 💌🦍, they are #critically endangered by #deforestation for #palmoil 🌴 #cocoa 🍫 in #Congo #Nigeria #Cameroon Help them to survive! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/10/western-lowland-gorilla-gorilla-gorilla/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Despite superior intelligence and tight-knit families, Western Lowland #Gorillas 🦍 are critically #endangered by #palmoil and #tobacco #deforestation and #poaching 😓 Don’t let them vanish! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴💀🔥🚫 @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/10/western-lowland-gorilla-gorilla-gorilla/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Critically Endangered

Angola (Cabinda); Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo; Equatorial Guinea (Equatorial Guinea (mainland)); Gabon; Nigeria

Habitat loss is emerging as a major threat to Western Gorillas. Other threats include disease and poaching. As oil-palm plantations in Asia reach capacity, Africa is becoming the new frontier for this crop, offering excellent economic prospects in countries with appropriate rainfall, soil and temperatures (Rival and Lavang 2014). Unfortunately, such areas coincide with good Gorilla habitat: 73.8% of the Western Lowland Gorilla’s range is considered suitable for oil palm (Wich et al. 2014).
IUCN red list

Western Lowland Gorillas are found in Angola (Cabinda enclave), Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), mainland Equatorial Guinea (Rio Muni), Gabon, Nigeria and Republic of Congo. Until recently, the core population had an almost continuous distribution from southern CAR to the Congo River and west to the coast. Rivers are the primary geographic barrier for this taxon, followed by habitat fragmentation: the two subspecies are separated by a major river (the Sanaga), and Western Lowland Gorillas are divided into subpopulations by other major rivers in the region (Anthony et al. 2007, Fünfstück et al. 2014, Fünfstück and Vigilant 2015).

The northwestern limit of the western lowland subspecies distribution is the Sanaga River in Cameroon; the northern limit is the forest-savanna boundary to a maximum of roughly 6°N; the eastern limit is the Ubangi River; the Congo River south of its confluence with the Ubangi then becomes the southeastern and southern limits all the way to the coast. Small outlying populations of the Cross River subspecies remain on the Nigeria-Cameroon border at the headwaters of the Cross River and in the proposed Ebo National Park in Cameroon. Most Western Gorillas are found below 500 m asl, but those living on mountains occasionally reach elevations of 1,900 m asl.

Western Gorillas are diurnal and semi-terrestrial. They build nests to sleep in every night, usually on the ground but sometimes in trees. They are social and live in stable, cohesive groups composed of one “silverback” adult male, several adult females and their offspring. Gorillas are not territorial and group ranges overlap extensively.

Western Lowland Gorillas occur in both swamp and lowland forests throughout Western Equatorial Africa. They are especially common where ground vegetation is dominated by monocotyledonous plants. Their staple foods are leaves and shoots of the Marantaceae family, whereas fruit consumption varies greatly between seasons (Rogers et al. 2004). Some populations spend hours feeding on aquatic herbs in swamps. Social ants and termites are the only animal matter deliberately eaten. Group size averages 10, but is occasionally over 20 individuals, and annual home ranges are usually 10–25 km² (Williamson and Butynski 2013).

Male Western Gorillas take 18 years to reach full maturity, whereas females take around 10 years. Their length of the reproductive cycle is unknown. Infant mortality up to three years of age is 22–65%. Infants suckle for 4–5 years, causing lactational amenorrhea in the mother. Interbirth intervals are 4–6 years. Western Gorillas appear to reproduce more slowly than Eastern Gorillas (G. beringei). The maximum length of their lives is unknown but likely to be around 40 years. Generation time is estimated to be 22 years.

The recent expansion of industrial-scale mineral extraction and the creation of open-pit mines are of great concern (Edwards et al. 2014, Lanjouw 2014), and also lead to the establishment of development corridors, which can be several kilometres wide and add to areas of “lost forest” (Laurance et al. 2015). There is a disconnect between the various bodies responsible for land-use planning in the realms of conservation, mining and agriculture in all Western Gorilla range states except Gabon. Consequently, there is increasing competition for land between long-term conservation needs and immediate financial gain as governments explore the potential of clearing natural habitat in favour of economic development. Without careful and immediate land-use planning that involves cooperation between the government bodies responsible for protected areas and wildlife on one hand, and economic and agricultural development on the other, large areas of Western Lowland Gorilla habitat could be cleared within a few decades.

You can support this beautiful animal

Ape Action Africa

PASA Primates

Virunga National Park

Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund

Further Information

Maisels, F., Bergl, R.A. & Williamson, E.A. 2018. Gorilla gorilla (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T9404A136250858. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T9404A136250858.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2021.

Western Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorilla

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Forgotten Animals of Secretly Destroyed Forests

These are the forgotten animals of the secretly destroyed forests

Crested Capuchin Sapajus robustus close-up of primate's face while smiling, a burning Amazon background

Take action and boycott palm oil to help them survive!

Share to Twitter

Don’t let the forests go silent! Here are 100s of forgotten animals of the secretly destroyed forests. They are nearing #extinction due to #palmoil #deforestation and other threats. #Boycottmeat #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife via @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-1Kd

Share to Twitter!

Globally, #palmoil is secretly destroying #rainforest and putting 1000s of animals close to the brink of #extinction – many have no protections. Learn about them here and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycottmeat #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-1Kd

Share to Twitter!

Parrot Deaths Highlight Urgent Need to Reform CITES

Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus

Mountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque

Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis

Tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis

Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum

Fruit Bats: Super Seed Dispersers Growing African Forests

Ecuadorean Viscacha Lagidium ahuacaense

Southern Pudu Pudu puda

Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata

Blonde Capuchin Sapajus flavius

Savage’s Glass Frog Centrolene savagei

Pesquets Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus

Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot Eclectus riedeli

Malayan Flying Fox Pteropus vampyrus

Mountain Cuscus Phalanger carmelitae

Brazilian three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus

Bateleur Eagle Terathopius ecaudatus

Orange-breasted Falcon Falco deiroleucus

Sunda Clouded Leopard Neofelis diardi

Five New Hedgehog Species Found in Southeast Asia

Glaucous Macaw Anodorhynchus glaucus

Attenborough’s Long-Beaked Echidna Zaglossus attenboroughi

Nancy Ma’s Night Monkey Aotus nancymaae

Maned Wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus

Dung Beetles Are Rainforests’ Diligent Regrowth Soldiers

Tufted Ground Squirrel Rheithrosciurus macrotis

Visayan Broadbill Sarcophanops samarensis

Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus

Nicobar Long-Tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosa

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Boycott these major supermarket brands using so-called “sustainable” palm oil

These brands have products that contain palm oil sourced from mills that are responsible for the destruction of precious habitats of endangered species. Therefore, these brands are directly involved in the extinction of hundreds of endangered species.

Learn how to boycott palm oil this Halloween in America, the UK and Australia

PepsiCo

Procter & Gamble

PZ Cussons

Danone

Kelloggs/Kellanova

Mondelēz

Johnson & Johnson

L’Oreal

Nestlé

Colgate-Palmolive

Unilever

Here are some palm oil free alternatives to buy instead.

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

The rise of ultra-processed foods and why they’re really bad for our health

Unlike traditionally produced foods humans have been making for many millennia, ultra-processed foods contain ingredients to prolong their shelf-life and artificially augment the food’s taste or texture. This occurs at the expense of nutritional value and as a result, human populations with a high consumption of ultra processed foods like palm oil, saturated fats and refined sugar are at high risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity along with increased mortality risk from cardiovascular disease, #stroke, #dementia and gastrointestinal #cancer. Take action for your #health and #BoycottPalmOil

Ultra-processed #food AKA #UPF containing #palmoil #sugar 🍔🍪🍟 is destroying our #health and nature. It’s linked to all of the diseases killing the most people: #diabetes #heartdisease #obesity #dementia #cancer. #BoycottPalmOil @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/07/the-rise-of-ultra-processed-foods-and-why-theyre-really-bad-for-our-health/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Humans (and our ancestors) have been processing food for at least 1.8 million years. Roasting, drying, grinding and other techniques made food more nutritious, durable and tasty. This helped our ancestors to colonise diverse habitats, and then develop settlements and civilisations. Many traditional foods used in cooking today are processed in some way, such as grains, cheeses, dried fish and fermented vegetables. Processing itself is not the problem.

Only much more recently has a different type of food processing emerged: one that is more extensive, and uses new chemical and physical techniques. This is called ultra-processing, and the resulting products ultra-processed foods.

To make these foods, cheap ingredients such as starches, vegetable oils and sugars, are combined with cosmetic additives like colours, flavours and emulsifiers. Think sugary drinks, confectionery, mass-produced breads, snack foods, sweetened dairy products and frozen desserts.

Unfortunately, these foods are terrible for our health. And we’re eating more of them than ever before, partially because of aggressive marketing and lobbying by “Big Food”.

Ultra-processed foods are harming our health

So concludes our recent literature review. We found that more ultra-processed foods in the diet associates with higher risks of obesity, heart disease and stroke, type-2 diabetes, cancer, frailty, depression and death.

These harms can be caused by the foods’ poor nutritional profile, as many are high in added sugars, salt and trans-fats. Also, if you tend to eat more ultra-processed foods, it means you probably eat fewer fresh and less-processed foods.

Lays uses deforestation palm oil – see more about that here

Industrial processing itself can also be harmful. For example, certain food additives can disrupt our gut bacteria and trigger inflammation, while plasticisers in packaging can interfere with our hormonal system.

Certain features of ultra-processed foods also promote over-consumption. Product flavours, aromas and mouthfeel are designed to make these foods ultra-tasty, and perhaps even addictive.

Ultra-processed foods also harm the environment. For example, food packaging generates much of the plastic waste that enters marine ecosystems.

And yet, we’re eating more and more of them

In our latest study, published in August, we found ultra-processed food sales are booming nearly everywhere in the world.

Sales are highest in rich countries like Australia, the United States and Canada. They are rising rapidly in middle-income countries like China, South Africa and Brazil, which are highly populated. The scale of dietary change and harms to health are therefore likely immense.

‘Big Food’ is driving consumption

We also asked: what explains the global rise in ultra-processed food sales? Growing incomes, more people living in cities, and working families seeking convenience are a few factors that contribute.

However, it’s also clear “Big Food” corporations are driving ultra-processed food consumption globally — think Coca-Cola, Nestlé and McDonald’s. Sales growth is lower in countries where such corporations have a limited presence.

A huge coca cola advertising billboard — Coca Cola uses deforestation palm oil – m ore about that here

Globalisation has allowed these corporations to make huge investments in their overseas operations. The Coca-Cola System, for example, now includes 900 bottling plants worldwide, distributing 2 billion servings every day.

As Big Food globalises, their advertising and promotion becomes widespread. New digital technologies, such as gaming, are used to target children. By collecting large amounts of personal data online, companies can even target their advertising at us as individuals.

Supermarkets are now spreading throughout the developing world, provisioning ultra-processed foods at scale, and at low prices. Where supermarkets don’t exist, other distribution strategies are used. For example, Nestlé uses its “door-to-door” salesforce to reach thousands of poor households in Brazil’s urban slums.

Rising consumption also reflects Big Food’s political power to undermine public health policies. This includes lobbying policymakers, making political donations, funding favourable research, and partnerships with community organisations.

Here’s how things can change

The evidence that ultra-processed foods are harming our health and the planet is clear. We must now consider using a variety of strategies to decrease consumption. This includes adopting new laws and regulations, for example by using taxation, marketing restrictions and removing these products from schools.

We cannot rely on industry-preferred responses such as product reformulation alone. After all, reformulated ultra-processed foods are usually still ultra-processed.

Further, simply telling individuals to “be more responsible” is unlikely to work, when Big Food spends billions every year marketing unhealthy products to undermine that responsibility.

Should dietary guidelines now strongly advise people to avoid ultra-processed foods? Brazil and other Latin American countries are already doing this.

And for us as individuals the advice is simple — avoid ultra-processed foods altogether.

Phillip Baker, Research Fellow, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Deakin University; Mark Lawrence, Professor of Public Health Nutrition, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, and Priscila Machado, Research Fellow, School of Exercise & Nutrition Science, Faculty of Health, Deakin University

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

Learn more about Ultra-Processed Foods

Corporate Control of Food Harms Us All

Around 800 million people in our world go hungry each day. Yet around the globe we have enough food to go around. So why the discrepancy? Market concentration and corporate monopoly of our global food system means that corporate giants control everything from access to seeds, access to land, #workersrights, #greenwashing and wages. Mergers and…

Keep reading

Ultra-processed Food: Bad For Our Bodies, Bad For The Environment

Although a lot of research has been published about the direct negative impact of these ultra-processed #foods on our #health, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, little has been said about the impacts of #UPF on the environment. You can help rainforests and keep yourself healthy by limiting or stopping buying and consuming #meat, #dairy,…

Keep reading

Major Food Giants Sued Over Addictive UPFs Given To Kids

Lawsuit accuses major food companies (Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé) of selling addictive ultra-processed foods (UPFs) targeting children. Boycott palm oil!

Keep reading

Stop Gambling Our Future for Meat Deforestation

Ethicist Peter Singer warn our consumption of meat and dairy risks the planet’s future driving climate change, food security and animal extinction. Be vegan!

Keep reading

Cutting Ultra-Processed Foods Could Save Lives

Recently, the CEO of breakfast giant Kelloggs Gary Pilnick promoted the benefits eating breakfast cereal for dinner as a way for people to cope with the increased cost of living and food:

“Cereal for dinner is something that is probably more on trend now, and we would expect [it] to continue as that consumer is…

Keep reading

Vegan Palm Oil Free Christmas Recipes

Boycott palm oil this Christmas 🎅🎄 with 10 yummy, #palmoilfree and #Vegan #recipes 🦧🦏🐘🐒🐍 and your #health 🥦🍆 #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Golden Monkey Cercopithecus mitis kandti

Golden MonkeyCercopithecus mitis kandti

Red List Status: Endangered

Locations: The Democratic Republic of the Congo; Rwanda; Uganda. Virunga massif (Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo), Gishwati-Mukura National Park and Gishwati Forest (Rwanda)

In the mist-laden bamboo forests of the Virunga massif, the golden monkey Cercopithecus mitis kandti darts through dappled sunlight and the tree canopy. This endangered primate is found only in the high-altitude forests of the Albertine Rift, nestled deeply in volcanic mountains. They are found in four national parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west #Rwanda; and Virunga and Kahuzi-Biéga, in the eastern Democratic Republic of #Congo. Like many other animals in the region they are protected and yet human threats including #mining #hunting and #agriculture continue to come dangerously close. Help these sweet-faced and severely threatened #primates every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

The Golden Monkey is an #oldworld #primate🐒 of #Congo 🇨🇩 #Uganda 🇺🇬 #Rwanda 🇷🇼 #Timber #cocoa and #palmoil are major threats. Help these remarkable #primates! Every time you shop 🌴🩸💀🚜🔥🙊❌#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/07/03/golden-monkey-cercopithecus-mitis-ssp-kandti/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

The largest part of the geographic range of the Golden Monkey is probably in Rwanda, followed by Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Forest in all three countries is seriously threatened by harvesting of trees and bamboo, clearance for agriculture, palm oil, charcoal production, and grazing of livestock.
IUCN red list

Golden Monkey Cercopithecus mitis ssp. kandti

Appearance and Behaviour

Golden monkeys are instantly recognisable by their vibrant golden-orange fur, which shimmers against the deep green of the bamboo forest. Their faces are framed by a halo of golden hair, with expressive eyes that reflect the intelligence and curiosity of these social primates. The Golden Monkey was previously thought to be a subspecies of the Blue Monkey. The two species look similar, although the Golden Monkey has a golden-orange patch on their upper flanks and back.

Adults typically weigh between 7 and 12 kilograms and measure up to 60 centimetres in body length, with tails extending even longer. Agile and acrobatic, golden monkeys leap between slender bamboo stalks, their movements swift and fluid as they forage in the canopy. Living in groups that can number over 60 individuals, the golden monkey’s social bonds are strong, with constant vocalisations and grooming sessions echoing through the forest. Their calls—soft chirps and whistles—blend with the forest’s morning chorus, a reminder of the complex lives unfolding in these threatened habitats.

Threats

Deforestation for palm oil and other monocultures

The golden monkey’s Endangered status is inseparable from the devastation wrought by palm oil, pine and bamboo agricultural expansion. Since the 1950s, the Virunga massif and Gishwati forests have lost vast tracts of habitat, with the Gishwati forest suffering a staggering 98% reduction. In the Rwandan part of the Virunga massif, habitat has shrunk by approximately 50%. These losses are driven by the relentless clearing of forests for palm oil, livestock, and crop production, leaving only isolated fragments for the golden monkey to survive. As the forest falls silent, the golden monkey’s world contracts, their food sources dwindle, and their future becomes ever more precarious.

Golden Monkey Cercopithecus mitis kandti threats

Logging and habitat fragmentation

Logging scars the landscape, carving roads through once-continuous forests and isolating golden monkey populations. Fragmentation disrupts the intricate web of life in which the golden monkey is entwined, reducing genetic diversity and increasing vulnerability to disease and environmental change. In the Gishwati-Mukura landscape, golden monkeys are forced into degraded monoculture plantations, where their diet and behaviour shift dramatically in response to limited resources.

Poaching and human disturbance

Despite legal protection, golden monkeys remain at risk from poaching and illegal activities within their remaining habitats. Snares set for other wildlife can injure or kill golden monkeys, while the presence of humans in the forest brings stress and disruption to their daily lives. The pressure of human population densities—up to 1,000 people per square kilometre in some areas—further encroaches on their fragile existence.

Climate change

Shifting rainfall patterns and changes in key food plant regeneration, potentially driven by climate change, threaten to alter the delicate balance of the golden monkey’s ecosystem. As fruiting and flowering times change, the availability of essential foods becomes unpredictable, challenging the survival of this already vulnerable primate.

Diet

Golden monkeys are primarily frugivorous and folivorous, feasting on a diverse array of fruits, young leaves, bamboo shoots, and flowers. In the bamboo forests of the Virunga massif, they are especially fond of tender bamboo shoots and leaves, which provide both food and moisture. However, in degraded habitats such as pine plantations outside Gishwati-Mukura National Park, golden monkeys have adapted to consume pinecones and needles, a stark departure from their typical diet. This flexibility underscores their resilience but also signals the severity of habitat degradation they face. Their foraging is a rhythmic dance through the forest, with group members spreading out to exploit seasonal abundance and retreating together when resources are scarce.

Reproduction and Mating

Golden monkeys exhibit pronounced reproductive seasonality, with births peaking during periods of high fruit availability. Studies in Gishwati forest reveal that food abundance directly influences mating and birthing patterns, underscoring the importance of intact, diverse habitats for their survival. Gestation lasts about five months, after which a single infant is born. Mothers are attentive and nurturing, carrying their young close as they move through the canopy, while other group members participate in grooming and protection. The social fabric of golden monkey groups is woven through these intimate interactions, with infants learning essential skills by observing and mimicking older individuals.

Geographic Range

The golden monkey’s range is heartbreakingly small and fragmented. They are found only in the Virunga massif—spanning the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—and in the Gishwati-Mukura National Park and Gishwati Forest in Rwanda. Once more widespread, their historical range has been decimated by decades of deforestation and human encroachment. Today, only two isolated populations persist, separated by expanses of farmland and settlements. The forests they inhabit are alive with the sounds of rain and the scent of moss, but these refuges are shrinking, and the golden monkey’s hold on survival is tenuous.

FAQs

What is the current population size of the golden monkey Cercopithecus mitis kandti?

Current estimates indicate that the golden monkey population is limited to two small, isolated fragments: the Virunga massif and Gishwati Forest. Surveys in Volcanoes National Park and Gishwati Forest conducted between 2007 and 2018 provide density and group size estimates, but the overall population remains small and vulnerable. In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, a 41% decline was observed between 1998 and 2003, reflecting the ongoing threats to their survival. The continued loss and fragmentation of habitat make accurate population assessments challenging, but the trend is one of decline.

How long do golden monkeys live in the wild?

Golden monkeys can live up to 20 years in the wild, although survival rates are heavily influenced by habitat quality, predation, and human disturbance. Infants face significant risks from predation and environmental stress, while adults must navigate the dangers of poaching and habitat encroachment. The stability and longevity of golden monkey groups depend on the preservation of their forest home and the reduction of human-induced threats.

What are the main conservation challenges for the golden monkey?

The golden monkey faces a suite of interlinked challenges: palm oil-driven deforestation, logging, agricultural expansion, poaching, and climate change. The fragmentation of their habitat isolates populations, reducing genetic diversity and increasing vulnerability to disease and environmental fluctuations. Effective protection of the golden monkey requires indigenous-led conservation and agroecology, as well as the safeguarding of remaining forests from further destruction. Only through coordinated action across national borders and genuine community engagement can the golden monkey’s future be secured.

Does the golden monkey Cercopithecus mitis kandti make a good pet?

Golden monkeys do not make good pets. Captivity causes extreme stress, loneliness, and early death for these highly social, intelligent primates. The pet trade tears families apart and fuels extinction, as infants are ripped from their mothers and forced into unnatural, impoverished conditions. Protecting golden monkeys means rejecting the illegal pet trade and supporting their right to live wild and free in their forest homes.

Take Action!

Fight for the golden monkey’s survival every time you shop—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology. Reject products linked to deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade. Adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #BoycottMeat to protect wild and farmed animals alike. Every choice matters—stand with the golden monkey and defend their forest home.

Golden Monkey Cercopithecus mitis kandti boycott palm oil

You can support this beautiful animal

There are no known conservation activities for this animal. Share out this post to social media and join the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife on social media to raise awareness

Further Information

Butynski, T.M. & de Jong, Y.A. 2020. Cercopithecus mitis ssp. kandti. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T4236A92571626. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T4236A92571626.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2021.

Deogratias, T., Eckardt, W., Kaplin, B. A., Stoinski, T. S., & Caillaud, D. (2022). Food availability influences birth seasonality at a small spatial scale in endangered golden monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis kandti). American Journal of Biological Anthropology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24681

Deogratias, T., Eckardt, W., Caillaud, D., & Kaplin, B. A. (2021). High flexibility in diet and ranging patterns in two golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) populations in Rwanda. American Journal of Primatology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23347

Deogratias, T., Kaplin, B. A., Eckardt, W., Musana, A., & Caillaud, D. (2022). Distribution and conservation status of the golden monkey Cercopithecus mitis kandti in Rwanda. Oryx, 56(3), 381-391. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605321001009

Ngabikwiye, M., Eckardt, W., van der Hoek, Y., Nyiramana, A., & Deogratias, T. (2024). Diet and travel distances of golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) in a pine plantation outside Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda. African Primates, 18(1), 1-8.

Regional Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) Conservation Action Plan 2023–2028. (2023). Regional golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) conservation action plan 2023–2028. IUCN. https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/50749

Golden Monkey Cercopithecus mitis ssp. kandti

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Eyewitness by Craig Jones: A mother and baby orangutan are rescued from an RSPO palm oil plantation in Sumatra

Craig Jones: Eyewitness

Wildlife Photographer and Conservationist

Bio: Craig Jones

His work appears in:

My name is Craig Jones, I’m a #wildlife photographer. Here is my eyewitness account of rescuing an #orangutan mother and baby from an #RSPO “sustainable” #palmoil plantation in #Sumatra. We #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥🛢️⛔ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-1wJ

Share to BlueSky

“The most beautiful rainforest in the world is turned into a souless landscape of palm oil within weeks, with brutal efficiency. Anything in its way gets crushed, killed and discarded.” #Wildlife #photographer Craig Jones @CraigJones17 #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

“That scream I can still hear now, the tone went through me, the pitch could have broken a glass, it was so high and shocking to hear.“ @CraigJones17 recalls rescuing a mum and baby #orangutan from an @RSPOtweets #palmoil plantation
Tweet

#Wildlife #photographer Craig Jones @CraigJones17 uses his heart and camera to capture spectacular animals of Asia even in settings of absolute cruelty and #palmoil #deforestation he tells his story! #Boycott4Wildlife #Boycottpalmoil
Tweet

“Sustainable palm oil is a con. #Palmoil is all about #wealth and it’s killing us and the planet. So mother nature will have the last laugh. It’s all corruption. #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife” #Wildlife photographer @CraigJones17
Tweet

“I kept hearing from locals that the government fails to protect national parks and #endangered species. The same government hands out #palmoil licences letting these companies play god” #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @CraigJones17
Tweet

“Those with a vested interest in sustainable #palmoil are linked in some way. How can anyone say sustainable is OK when it is grow in the ashes of the dead wildlife and burnt forests?” #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife” #Wildlife photographer @CraigJones17
Tweet

A mother and baby are rescued from an RSPO certified palm oil plantation

From the moment we received the rescue call, the days plans changed instantly. I really didn’t know what was waiting for me, as we drove north to the providence of Ache. All I knew was that a mother and her baby were trapped, and we were heading in that direction as fast as will could. When we arrived all I saw was mile upon mile of this horrific landscape.

When we arrived all I saw was mile upon mile of this horrific landscape…

“Walking through a tattered landscape of barren red earth and alien palm oil trees, where once one of the finest rain forests in the world stood, is just impossible for me to describe.

“They take the best rain forest in the world and change it into a souless landscape of palm oil within a matter of weeks, with brutal efficiency. Anything in its way gets crushed, killed and discarded.”

Spotlight Sumatra – The Final Chapter by Craig Jones

We started desperately searching for the mother and her baby orangutan and eventually we found them. Once we managed to tranquilise the mother, her basic instinct was to protect her child, fueling her to just hang on and not give into the tranquilizer.

It was heartbreaking. I was praying she’d just let go so they could receive help. She had a strong will and this went on for around fifteen minutes. By this time it was almost too hard to watch, the team was moving below her and watching them both, just to make sure the net was in the right place, as she could fall at any time.

After a while, you could see she was becoming slightly clumsy, missing branches that she was trying to hold onto. Then she went to just one arm, and then she just fell into the waiting net below.

The team scrambled up the steep hillside. They try to take the baby away from the unconscious mother at the first available chance. I managed to capture that incredibly moving moment with this image, as the mother is carried off in the net she fell into, while one of the team give the signal to where they have to go.

As I took images of the mother, the baby was being held by one of the team, as it’s safer for the baby this way. While mother and baby were apart, the baby struggled, trying to bite and screaming.

“That scream I can still hear now, the tone went through me, the pitch could have broken a glass, it was so high and shocking to hear.“
Craig Jones

We had about 40 minutes before the sedative wore off. A good chunk of that time the orangutan had fought, hanging in the tree. Time was tight. The vet took blood, checked her teeth, bum area and general health. It was so sad to see but I knew these guys were helping her.

A mother and baby orangutan are rescued from an RSPO member palm oil plantation. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

I carried on taking images so that I could capture this story no matter what.

The mother looking straight at me with an indescribable emotional stare, and in the background the little baby was screaming.
Craig Jones

An RSPO palm oil plantation where an orangutan mother and baby were found struggling to stay alive in Sumatra. By Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

The mother was slightly underweight but she was fine otherwise. The vet gave her the antidote which brings the Orangutan around by counter-acting the tranquilizer. At that point fresh leaves were put in the cage we’d brought for her. She was placed inside the cage and the baby was reunited with his mother. We loaded the mother and baby into the back of our vehicle then drove to the release site which is part of the national park. After this we released them and within a few minutes they had vanished into the dense forest.

Mother and baby Sumatran orangutans are rescued from an RSPO member palm oil plantation. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Orangutan baby named Craig, rescued from an RSPO certified palm oil plantation in Sumatra. By Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

“The team named the baby ‘Craig’ after me, which was a great honour and very touching.
“I hope he keeps that fight in his belly that he displayed when he was separated from his mother as this will stand him in good stead for the uncertain future that awaits these Sumatran Orangutans.”
craig jones

Orangutans are us and we are them in so many ways…

Palm oil companies play god and play with fire in Sumatra…

“One of the main things I kept hearing from locals was that the government fails to protect national parks, areas that contain so many endangered flagship species of wildlife. The same government that hands out licensees to palm oil companies letting them play god with some of the richest forests on earth.”
Craig jones

Sustainable palm oil is a con…

“@RSPOtweets #sustainable #palmoil is a con. How can anyone say sustainable is OK when it’s grown in the ashes of dead #wildlife #ecocide #deforestation?” @craigjones17 #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Tweet

“Sustainable palm oil is a con. Palm oil is all about wealth and it’s killing us and the planet. So mother nature will have the last laugh. It’s all corruption. Those with a vested interest in this sustainable nonsense are linked in someway you mark my words because how could anyone say sustainable is OK when it’s grow in the ashes of the dead wildlife and burnt forests. This saddens me”. ~ Craig Jones

If consumers at the supermarket were able to see what their purchase destroyed in its production then there might be more change. Cheap, calorific foods are killing the planet and us in the process. Companies need to give back to nature not take more. @BorisJohnson @PalmOilDetect pic.twitter.com/O2RTh9a2YN
— Craig Jones (@CraigJones17) July 4, 2021

I have loved these enduring animals since childhood and now as an adult helping them is a blessing for me…

I witnessed so much in Sumatra, it has been an emotional roller coaster. I feel there is so much we still don’t know about these great apes. For as long as I walk this earth I will do my best to help them, alongside every other creature we share this planet with, by using my camera and my own voice to help them. Without direct intervention in the national parks the Orangutans along with other forest-dependant wildlife- like the Sumatran Tigers and Elephants will become progressively scarcer until their populations are no longer viable.

Their peaceful mannerisms and intelligence is just remarkable…

Sumatran orangutan close up. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Sumatran Orangutan. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Wild Sumatran orangutan. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Female orangutan at dawn in the Sumatran jungle - Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Wild Sumatran orangutans. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Photography: Craig Jones

Words: Craig Jones

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on supermarket brands causing palm oil deforestation

Find out more

Dusky Langur Trachypithecus obscurus

IUCN Status: Endangered

Location: Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar

Found in dense tropical forests, mangroves, and limestone hills across the Malaysia Thailand, and southern Myanmar, these striking primates thrive in both primary and secondary forests.

The dusky langur, also known as the spectacled langur or dusky leaf monkey, is one of Southeast Asia’s most charismatic primates. Living in #Thailand, #Myanmar and #Malaysia they have vivid white eye patches that resemble spectacles and a fluffy dark-grey coat, they cut an unmistakable figure against the rustling emerald canopy of the rainforest. These intelligent and agile #monkeys play a crucial role in their ecosystems by dispersing seeds, keeping forests healthy and thriving. Yet, deforestation for agriculture—particularly #palmoil, rubber, and durian plantations—alongside hunting and illegal #wildlifetrade, is pushing them closer to extinction. Without urgent intervention, the forests they call home will be razed, and their populations will continue to plummet. Use your voice to protect them—fight for their survival and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop

Dusky Langurs are beautiful #primates and excellent parents 🤎🐒 They’re threatened by #palmoil #deforestation in #Malaysia 🇲🇾 #Myanmar and #Thailand 🇹🇭 Help them when you shop and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🧐 #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/06/27/dusky-langur-trachypithecus-obscurus/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Dusky #langurs have a vivid ‘goggles’ around their eyes 👀😻 The whole troop cares for young. #Endangered by #palmoil #deforestation and the illegal pet trade, help them to survive when u shop #BoycottPalmOil 🌴☠️🤮🧐🙊⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/06/27/dusky-langur-trachypithecus-obscurus/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Dusky Langur Trachypithecus obscurus mother and baby in a tree

Appearance and Behaviour

Dusky langurs are captivating primates, instantly recognisable by their dark fur, which can range from deep charcoal to soft grey, offset by their wide, white eye-rings and pink lips. Their expressive faces with white ‘goggles’ give them a perpetual look of surprise. Infants are born a vibrant orange—in stark contrast to their adult counterparts. This helps mothers quickly identify their young in the dense foliage. Over the first few months, their bright coats fade into the muted hues of adulthood.

These highly social primates live in structured troops led by a dominant male, with multiple females and their offspring. They communicate using an array of vocalisations, from soft coos and grunts to high-pitched alarm calls warning of predators. Agile and acrobatic, they leap effortlessly between treetops, covering vast distances in search of food, rarely descending to the ground.

Threats

Hunting for food is a major threat, as is fragmentation, habitat loss and degradation due to expanding oil palm plantations, agriculture, urbanization, and touristic development (Groves et al. 2013). In Peninsular Malaysia the langurs are frequent victims of road-kill (Boonratana 2003).
IUCN Red list

Habitat Destruction

Massive deforestation for palm oil, rubber, and durian plantations has left dusky langurs stranded in shrinking patches of forest, unable to find food or shelter. Expanding urbanisation and infrastructure projects further fragment their habitat, increasing their vulnerability to starvation and predation.

Hunting and the Illegal Wildlife Trade

Despite legal protections, dusky langurs are still poached for the illegal pet trade. Adults are slaughtered, and their defenceless infants are ripped from their grasp, often dying from stress or malnutrition in transit. They are also hunted for bushmeat and traditional medicine.

Human-Wildlife Conflict

As forests disappear, these monkeys are forced to forage in farmlands, where they are viewed as pests and often shot or poisoned by farmers. Road accidents are another growing danger, with many langurs killed while attempting to cross highways that bisect their habitat.

Diet

Dusky langurs are primarily folivores, with a specialised digestive system that allows them to break down tough, fibrous leaves. However, they also eat fruits, flowers, and buds when available. Individuals are able to take advantage of unripe fruit, which have chemical defenses, by the same means that they break down toxins in plant leaves, using the bacteria found in their digestive system (MacKinnon and MacKinnon 1980). Their foraging habits make them key seed dispersers, helping maintain the biodiversity of their ecosystems.

Reproduction and Mating

The Dusky Langur is often found in single female-multiple male groups or in multiple male and female groups of around 10-20 individuals. Females give birth to a single infant after a gestation period of approximately six months. Newborns, with their striking orange fur, are cared for by multiple females in the troop, a behaviour known as alloparenting.

Dusky Langur infants have bright orange fur with pink skin. The orange hair begins to shed 2^nd week after birth. At around 3^rd week old, black-greyish hair starts to appear on the forehead, tail, and limbs. By four months old, the baby’s head and back are black-greyish with only the cheeks showing remaining traces of yellow. Their early colouring as infants is thought to help mothers and other group members to identify and care for young more easily. Young dusky langurs remain dependent on their mothers for several months before fully integrating into the troop’s daily activities.

Geographic Range

These langurs inhabit forests throughout Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Their strongholds include Penang National Park and other protected areas, but outside these reserves, their numbers are rapidly declining due to human encroachment.

Dusky Langurs prefer to live in closed primary forests, but they can also be found in old-growth secondary and disturbed forests, plantations, urban areas, and parks. They are mostly tree dwelling and active throughout the day. They face many threats including hunting and deforestation for palm oil and other agriculture.

FAQs

Why are dusky langur babies orange?

The bright orange colouration of newborn dusky langurs is thought to help mothers and other group members identify and care for them more easily. The colour gradually fades to the dark grey coat of adulthood within a few months.

What are some interesting facts about dusky langurs?

• They are exceptional leapers, capable of jumping over 6 metres between trees.

• Their stomachs have multiple chambers, allowing them to digest tough leaves efficiently.

• Unlike many primates, they are relatively quiet, using body language and soft vocalisations to communicate.

What do dusky langurs eat?

Their diet primarily consists of leaves, but they also consume fruits, seeds, and flowers. By eating a wide range of plants, they help regenerate forests by dispersing seeds.

Are dusky leaf monkeys aggressive?

No, dusky langurs are typically gentle and non-aggressive. They prefer to avoid conflict and will flee from threats rather than confront them.

Why are dusky langurs endangered?

The biggest threats to their survival are deforestation for palm oil, illegal hunting, and the pet trade. Habitat destruction has forced them into smaller, isolated areas, making it harder for populations to recover.

What can people do to help dusky langurs?

Boycott palm oil in the supermarket. Support conservation organisations working to protect them. Campaign against the illegal wildlife trade by reporting sellers of exotic pets. Actively report sellers of animals on social media to the authorities.

Take Action!

Every time you shop, you have the power to make a difference. Say NO to palm oil and support ethical conservation and indigenous-led rewilding efforts. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Help save this beautiful species from extinction

The Dusky Langur Project Panang

Further Information

Dusky langurs—also known as spectacled langurs, dusky leaf monkeys, and spectacled leaf monkeys

Aifat, N. R., Abdul-Latiff, M. A. B., Roos, C., & Md-Zain, B. M. (2020). Taxonomic revision and evolutionary phylogeography of Dusky Langur (Trachypithecus obscurus) in Peninsular Malaysia. Zoological Studies, 59, e64. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34140981/

Boonratana, R., Ang, A., Traeholt, C. & Thant, N.M.L. 2020. Trachypithecus obscurus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22039A17960562. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T22039A17960562.en. Downloaded on 26 June 2021.

Langur Project Penang. (n.d.). Dusky Langur Conservation and Research. Retrieved from Langur Project Penang.

Yap, J. L., Ruppert, N., & Fadzly, N. (2019). Activities, habitat use and diet of wild Dusky Langurs, Trachypithecus obscurus, in different habitat types in Penang, Malaysia. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, 14(4), 71-85. Retrieved from ResearchGate.

Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Dusky Leaf Monkey. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from Wikipedia.

Dusky Langur Trachypithecus obscurus

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Baird’s Tapir Tapirus bairdii

Endangered

Extant (resident): Belize; Colombia; Costa Rica; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama

Extinct: El Salvador

Presence Uncertain: Ecuador

Baird’s tapirs may look like they are relatives of elephants, but they’re actually closer kin to horses, donkeys, zebras, and rhinoceroses. Also known as the Central American tapir, they are the largest land mammals in Central America and a living relic of an ancient lineage.

Their robust, stocky bodies and distinctive trunk-like snout make them unique among mammals. However, they are now Endangered, with fewer than 5,000 individuals left in the wild.

Tragically, palm oil, soy and meat deforestation, hunting, and human encroachment are driving this species toward extinction. Protecting their habitats is critical to ensuring their survival. Use your wallet as a weapon—boycott palm oil and support conservation initiatives. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Even though they look like elephants 🐘 Baird’s Tapirs are more closely related to #horses 🐴 and #rhinos 🦏🩶 #Endangered in #SouthAmerica from #palmoil 🌴🥩🔥 #meat #deforestation. Help save them! Be #vegan and #Boycottpalmoil @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/06/26/bairds-tapir-tapirus-bairdii/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Weighing up to 300kg and 2 metres in length the Baird’s Tapir is a gentle giant #ungulate of #Guatemala 🇬🇹#Mexico 🇲🇽 #Colombia 🇨🇴 #Palmoil #deforestation and #hunting are threats. Help them to survive, be #vegan and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔⛔️ @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/06/26/bairds-tapir-tapirus-bairdii/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Appearance and Behaviour

Baird’s tapirs are large, herbivorous mammals weighing between 200–300 kg and reaching up to 2 metres in length. Their short, bristly coat is dark brown, with a distinctive cream-coloured patch running from their cheeks to the tip of their rounded ears. They also have small, expressive eyes and a prehensile snout used for foraging.

Like all tapirs, this species has a prominent nose. This is made of soft and flexible tissues, allowing them to snatch leaves and stems that would otherwise be out of reach. This species eats more than 200 kinds of plants, including twigs, stems, leaves, and even aquatic vegetation.

Baird’s Tapirs are solitary animals that usually only come together when they mate. Females have a gestation period of 13 months and then the baby remains with mum for 1-2 years. Juvenile Baird’s Tapirs have a coat covered in spots and tripes, that is thought to disguise them from predators such as Jaguars and Pumas in the understory of the rainforest.

Despite their size, tapirs are shy and elusive, often active at night (nocturnal) or during twilight hours (crepuscular). They are excellent swimmers, using rivers and lakes as escape routes from predators and to cool down in tropical heat. Tapirs are highly territorial and mark their paths with urine trails.

Threats

IUCN Status: Endangered

Habitat Destruction: Deforestation for palm oil and soy agriculture, livestock grazing, along with palm oil and soy monoculture plantations has led to an 85% reduction in Baird’s tapir habitats. In Central America, critical lowland forests are being cleared at an alarming rate.

Infrastructure development: Such as roads and dams, fragments their habitats, isolating populations.

Hunting: Tapirs are often hunted for their meat, despite legal protections in many countries.

Climate Change: Shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures from climate change threaten the tropical ecosystems tapirs rely on. Increased frequency of droughts and floods reduces access to food and shelter.

Human-Wildlife Conflict: As human settlements expand, tapirs often wander into agricultural lands, where they are killed to protect crops.

Geographic Range

Baird’s tapirs are found in the tropical forests of Mexico and Central America, including Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. They are also present in small numbers in Colombia. They inhabit lowland rainforests, mangroves, and montane forests up to elevations of 3,000 metres.

Populations are most stable in protected areas, such as Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park and Panama’s Darien National Park. However, even these areas are not immune to deforestation and poaching.

Diet

Tapirs are herbivorous browsers, consuming over 200 plant species, including fruits, leaves, twigs, and aquatic vegetation. Their strong prehensile snouts allow them to grasp and pull vegetation with precision. As seed dispersers, they play a critical role in forest regeneration by spreading seeds through their dung over vast areas.

The loss of diverse tropical forests reduces food availability and puts additional pressure on declining populations.

Reproduction and Mating

Baird’s tapirs have a long gestation period of approximately 13 months, after which a single calf is born. Calves weigh about 10 kg at birth and are covered in light spots and stripes for camouflage. These markings fade as they grow.

Females typically give birth every 2–3 years, which limits population recovery. Young tapirs stay with their mothers for up to two years before becoming independent. Habitat loss and hunting reduce their chances of surviving to adulthood.

Take Action!

The survival of Baird’s tapirs is in your hands. Support indigenous-led conservation efforts, boycott palm oil, and spread awareness of their plight. Together, we can fight for their survival. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

FAQ

How many Baird’s tapirs are left in the world?

Fewer than 5,000 mature individuals remain, with populations declining rapidly due to habitat loss and poaching.

What is the closest relative to the Baird’s tapir?

Baird’s tapirs are most closely related to other members of the Tapiridae family, such as the South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris) and the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus).

Is a tapir a pig or elephant?

Neither. Tapirs are perissodactyls (odd-toed ungulates) and are more closely related to horses and rhinoceroses than pigs or elephants.

Where do Baird’s tapirs live?

They inhabit tropical and subtropical forests in Central America, including Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.

What’s the biggest threat to the Baird’s tapir?

Between 2001 and 2010, Mexico and Central America lost 179,405 km² of forest, replaced by palm oil plantations and agricultural land. The Maya Forest in Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, as well as Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast, faced the highest deforestation rates (Aide et al., 2012). This deforestation fragments habitats, isolating tapir populations genetically. In Nicaragua, even Biosphere Reserves and protected areas are under severe threat from ongoing deforestation.

In recent years, the increasing of palm oil plantations through the Baird Tapir’s distribution is becoming an relevant threat in the region.
IUCN red list

You can support this beautiful animal

There are no known conservation activities for this animal. Share out this post to social media and join the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife on social media to raise awareness

Further Information

Castellanos, A., et al. (2023). Baird’s Tapir Conservation. ScienceDirect.

Garcìa, M., Jordan, C., O’Farril, G., Poot, C., Meyer, N., Estrada, N., Leonardo, R., Naranjo, E., Simons, Á., Herrera, A., Urgilés, C., Schank, C., Boshoff, L. & Ruiz-Galeano, M. 2016. Tapirus bairdii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T21471A45173340. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T21471A45173340.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2021.

EDGE of Existence. (2023). Baird’s Tapir. EDGE of Existence.

National Geographic. (2021). Baird’s Tapir. National Geographic.

Reuben-Crane, A., et al. (2012). Elevational Distribution and Abundance of Baird’s Tapir in Talamanca Region of Costa Rica. ResearchGate.

Baird’s Tapir Tapirus bairdii

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Climate Explained: what would happen if we cut down the Amazon rainforest?

What would happen if we cut down the entire Amazon rainforest? Could it be replaced by an equal amount of reforestation elsewhere? Removing the entire Amazon rainforest would have myriad consequences, with the most obvious ones possibly not the worst. Most people will first think of the carbon currently stored in the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest. But the consequences would be far-reaching for the climate as well as biodiversity and ecosystems — and, ultimately, people. Fight for animals, indigenous peoples and the planet itself #BoycottPalmOil #BoycottGold and #Boycott4Wildlife

What happens if we cut down the whole #Amazon rainforest? Mass death for #climate #animals #plants and people. Doing so is akin to severing our own arteries. Take action! Go #vegan 🥦🥕 and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🚫 #BoycottGold 🥇🚫#Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/06/23/climate-explained-what-would-happen-if-we-cut-down-the-amazon-rainforest/

Share to BlueSky

Share to Twitter

Storing carbon, distributing water

The Amazon rainforest is estimated to harbour about 76 billion tonnes of carbon. If all trees were cut down and burned, the forest’s carbon storage capacity would be lost to the atmosphere.

Some of this carbon would be taken up by the oceans, and some by other ecosystems (such as temperate or arctic forests), but no doubt this would exacerbate climate warming. For comparison, humans emit about 10 billion tonnes of carbon every year through the burning of fossil fuels.

But the Amazon forest does more than store carbon. It is also responsible for the circulation of huge quantities of water.

This image, captured by NASA’s Aqua satellite in 2009, shows how the forest and the atmosphere interact to create a uniform layer of “popcorn” clouds during the dry season. It is during this period, the time without rain, that the forest grows the most.

If the Amazon’s cloud systems and its capacity to recycle water were to be disrupted, the ecosystem would tip over and irreversibly turn into dry savannah very quickly. Estimates of where this tipping point could lie range from 40% deforestation to just 20% loss of forest cover from the Amazon.

Clouds over the Amazon rainforest. — A uniform layer of tiny ‘popcorn’ clouds covers the Amazon rainforest during the dry season. NASA/Jeff Schmaltz, CC BY-ND

Reforestation elsewhere to achieve the same amount of carbon storage is technically possible, but we have neither the time (several hundred years would be needed) nor the land (at least an equivalent surface area would be required).

Another reason why reforestation is not a remedy is that the water the rainforest circulates — and with it the availability of nutrients — would disappear.

Once you cut the circulation of water through (partial) deforestation, there is a point of no return. The water doesn’t disappear from the planet, but certainly from the forest ecosystems, with immediate and powerful consequences for the world’s climate.

Loss of life

Perhaps the most drastic, and least reversible, impact would be the loss of wildlife diversity.

The Amazon hosts an estimated 50,000 plant species — although more recent estimates cite a slightly lower number.

The number of animal species found in the Amazon is even higher, with the largest part made up by insects, representing around 10% of the known insect fauna, as well as a large but unknown number of fungi and microbes.

Once species are lost, they are lost forever, and this would ultimately be the most harmful consequence of cutting down the Amazon. It would possibly be worse than the loss of its role as a massive redistributor and storage of water and carbon.

Last but certainly not least, there are about 30 million people living in and near the Amazon rainforest.

The consequences of losing the forest as a provider of the ecosystem services mentioned above and as a source of food and habitat are unfathomable. The repercussions would reach far into global politics, the global economy, and societal issues.

Sebastian Leuzinger, Professor, Auckland University of Technology

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

Take Action in Five Ways

Join 3,176 other subscribers

More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlife pic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
— Curious Ape 🦧🌏💚🇦🇺🇺🇦 (@CuriousApe4) May 16, 2022

The marketing message that makes me choose one product over another time and again. Palm oil free pic.twitter.com/rMqeun9uFH
— Phill Dixon (@PhillDixon1) January 21, 2024

If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
— Tschinmai🇮🇳🇮🇱🇩🇪 (@mugabe139) July 9, 2023

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

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

Pledge your support

Research Insight:

Consumers have a negative view of palm oil and see it as driven by greed, corruption, profit and capitalism. Social media campaigns against palm oil are successful

Research Insight:

Power exercised from below based on dense social networks and drawing on legitimate cultural frames, can sustain actions, even in contact with powerful opponents

Research Insight:

Hashtags and viral images are expressions of collective identity. Social media is a source of coherence and shared symbols, which people can turn to when looking for others in the movement

Research Insight:

Large-scale individualised collective action is coordinated through digital technologies: Individuals are mobilised according to personal lifestyle issues, environmental protection, animal rights, workers rights and human rights

Research Insight:

Individuals who boycott value minimalism, individuals who ‘buycott’ value hedonism

Research Insight:

Consumers pledge participation in boycotts for moral reasons and identify with the cause reflected by the boycott

Research Insight:

Consumers avoid brands when the brand is incongruent with the individual’s identity, or when the consumers values, beliefs clash with the brand, or the brand has a negative impact on society

Research Insight:

Brand hate is linked to negative word-of-mouth, online and offline complaining and non-repurchase intention

Insight:

Boycotts hit corporations where it hurts – their reputation and market share. Globally, some of the most impressive environmental achievements have come via boycotts.

Further reading

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife and fight deforestation by using your wallet as a weapon!

Design & Words

Share this insight on Twitter…

Jump to section

Greenwashing: Design Principles

The most critical information is not included on the WWF Palm Oil Scorecard

That NONE of these supermarket brands (RSPO members) have ceased deforestation, land-grabbing, human rights abuses for palm oil. Instead, consumers are lulled into reassurances to purchase by the green, forest-inspired pie charts and positive, reassuring phrases.

Greenwashing with Words

Greenwashing with Words

Palm oil is plant-based, so why isn’t it vegan?

Veganism is:

Greenwashing

Explore the series

Join the #Boycott4Wildlife and fight palm oil deforestation and greenwashing by using your wallet as a weapon!

Further reading on palm oil ecocide, greenwashing and deceptive marketing

Did you enjoy visiting this website?

Palm Oil Detectives is 100% self-funded

Appearance and Behaviour

Diet

Reproduction and Mating

Geographic Range

Threats

Elephants and Language: Call Combinations and Syntax

African Forest Elephants and Timber Concessions

You can support this beautiful animal

Further Information

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Dr Setia Budhi: In His Own Words

Bio: Dr Setia Budhi

My research focuses on the indigenous Dayak peoples of South, Central and Eastern Kalimantan

“I wanted to know if the younger Dayak generation were still familiar with Dayak cultural life”

“I have watched the forests here thin out and for some time, the logs in the Barito River are pulled to the river’s mouth in South Kalimantan by large timber companies, does it include Barito Pacific Timber?”

The Barito river

The Forest is the father, land is the mother and rivers are blood

Just compare these pictures…

The Batang Garing symbol means to live in harmony with life

Human beings are not fragments. Our deepest identity and social status is to be as one with the rhythm of nature

The expansion of oil palm has a massive impact on the lives of indigenous peoples

Before the existence of oil palm, there was almost never any conflict over land…

There is an erosion of customary values of kinship and mutual cooperation, because nowadays everything is measured by money

Women don’t want their land to be sold, they know once their land is gone, their children won’t live tomorrow

The weaving culture of women is fading and is being replaced by the cultural influence of oil palm plantations

“So far, indigenous peoples have not benefited from the development of the palm oil industry”

The expansion of industrial land in the long term overrides Indigenous land

I don’t believe the RSPO has a positive impact on deforestation or land-grabbing

In practice, requirements for oil palm certifications are easily violated

I support the #Boycott4Wildlife

Most palm oil deforestation risk in Indonesia is concentrated on Kalimantan

Fire and destruction of orangutan habitat in RSPO palm oil plantations in Sumatra (May 2021)

Oil palm plants need pesticides. And the effect of pesticides kills fireflies Photuris lucicrescens

We have lost the light and the story of romantic night…

When “forest” is defined solely on the basis of tree cover – this puts rainforests, animals and indigenous peoples in jeopardy

We use the word “forest” to describe a wide variety of situations

Hornbill species are present in every traditional Dayak ritual

There are many species of hornbill found only in Borneo

I’m deeply sad that these Hornbills are likely to go extinct from deforestation

I like seeing Proboscis monkeys because it’s a sign that the rainforest is still in a good condition

The proboscis monkey is in danger of extinction

Most woodpecker species live in forests or woodland habitats, but I’ve never seen them in palm oil plantations

It is the people who live in the tropics who will determine the fate of rainforests