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Tag Archives: Forgotten animals
Primates are facing an impending extinction crisis – but we know very little about what will actually protect them
From lemurs to orangutans, tarsiers to gorillas, primates are captivating and sometimes unnervingly similar to us. So it’s not surprising that this group of more than 500 species receives a great deal of research and conservation attention. 60% of primates 🦍🦧🐒🐵 are threatened by #extinction 🙊🙈😿 Without direct action, the number of endangered #primates willContinue reading “Primates are facing an impending extinction crisis – but we know very little about what will actually protect them”
The mimics among us — birds pirate songs for personal profit
From Roman classics to British tabloids, humans have long celebrated the curious and remarkable ability of #birds and other #animals to imitate the sounds of humans and other animals. A recent surge of research is revealing how and why birds use vocal mimicry to further their own interests. Far from being merely a biological curiosity,Continue reading “The mimics among us — birds pirate songs for personal profit”
The Amazonian Royal Flycatcher: A flurry of feathers
The Amazonian Royal Flycatcher is a member of a family of birds called the tyrant flycatchers, which occur throughout North and South America. This is the biggest family of birds in the world, with more than 400 species. As the name implies, the majority of tyrant flycatchers are entirely insectivorous (though they do not necessarily specialise in flies), while the ‘tyrant’ part comes from the noisy, aggressively territorial behaviour of some species in the group. Help them to survive every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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!
Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin Cebus aequatorialis
Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchins face habitat loss to palm oil, hunting, and mining. Less than 10,000 remain. Support forest defenders. #BoycottPalmOil
Santa Marta White-fronted Capuchin Cebus malitiosus
Santa Marta White Fronted Capuchins are Colombian primates threatened by severe habitat loss from cattle ranching and palm oil. Boycott palm oil and meat!
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 breeding practices, these medium-sized hornbills are integral to the rainforest ecosystem, acting as crucial seed dispersers for many important tree species.
Sadly, the Sulawesi hornbill is classified as Vulnerable due to habitat destruction from logging, agriculture, and palm oil plantations, as well as poaching for the illegal pet trade. Protecting their remaining rainforest habitats is essential to ensuring their survival. Fight for their survival every time you shop. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Pygmy Marmoset Cebuella niveiventris and Cebuella pygmaea
The petite pygmy #marmoset, the world’s tiniest true #monkey, boasts a mix of brownish-gold, grey, and tawny fur. These little wonders, weighing just around 100 grams, communicate uniquely using chemical, vocal, and visual cues to ensure group safety and harmony. Although these #marmosets prefer river-edge forests and can adapt to secondary forests, their homes are under serious threat. Rampant #deforestation for #meat, #goldmining, and #palmoil cultivation are eroding their habitats, pushing the subspecies Cebuella niveiventris towards a “Vulnerable” status. The situation is dire, with an estimated 30% reduction in their population in just 18 years. Protect these delicate creatures and their home – use your wallet as a weapon, be #vegan, #BoycottPalmOil, and #Boycott4Wildlife.🌳🐒
Giant Anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Giant Anteaters have a striking and unforgettable appearance. They are covered in wiry, grey and brown fur with a distinctive black and white stripe running along their bodies. Their elongated snouts and long, sticky tongues are perfectly adapted for feeding on ants and termites. With their bushy tails and long, curved claws, they are supremely strange looking creatures, making them captivating to behold.
The Giant Anteater is classed as Vulnerable due to widespread deforestation and #palmoil, soy, meat, sugarcane and gold mining across their range. They are often victims to frequent deliberate and accidentally lit fires in the Amazon. These gentle creatures are becoming increasingly rare. But there’s a lot of actions you can take. Make sure you #Boycottpalmoil #BoycottGold #Boycottmeat and #Boycott4Wildlife to help them every time you shop.
Black Bearded Saki Chiropotes satanas
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 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-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 in Tanzania, Africa. Help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus
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
Forgotten Animals of Secretly Destroyed Forests
Don’t let the forests go silent! 1000’s of forgotten animals are nearing extinction due to palm oil deforestation. Take action and boycott palm oil today!
Golden Monkey Cercopithecus mitis kandti
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
Baird’s Tapir Tapirus bairdii
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
Varied White-fronted Capuchin Cebus versicolor
The Varied White-Fronted Capuchin Cebus versicolor is an intelligent, tenacious and resourceful small primate endemic to the forests of Colombia. With their pale white faces, reddish-gold coats, they are both striking in appearance and crucial to their ecosystems. These capuchins play an essential role in seed dispersal, ensuring the health and regeneration of their forest homes.
Tragically, their populations are declining due to deforestation, hunting, and the illegal wildlife trade. Protecting these forests is critical to their survival. Support indigenous-led conservation, adopt a vegan lifestyle and #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife to take meaningful action for these incredible primates.
Southern Patas Monkey Erythrocebus baumstarki
The Southern Patas #Monkey (Erythrocebus baumstarki) is an elusive, long-limbed #primate once common across northern #Tanzania and parts of #Kenya and now on the very edge of #extinction. With a lean, agile body built for speed, they are among the fastest-running primates in the world, capable of reaching speeds up to 55 km/h. Once ranging over approximately 66,000 km², their habitat has been decimated by agriculture, human settlements, and bushmeat hunting, reducing their known range by over 85% in recent decades. By 2021, estimates suggested fewer than 200 individuals remained in the wild, restricted to small populations in western Serengeti National Park and its surroundings (de Jong & Butynski, 2021).
Without urgent intervention, this striking species could be the next primate extinction in Africa. Help them every time you shop and campaign for these rare primates, every time you shop go #vegan and #Boycott4Wildlife!
Nature’s Hidden Wealth: Conservation’s Opportunity
Animals and plants constitute a very small part of our native biodiversity (roughly 5%). The vast majority – fungi, bacteria and the enormous diversity of other microscopic organisms, including invertebrates – is a massive, largely unexplored economic resource.
The best known examples of commercial uses for biodiversity are the thousands of drugs secreted by bacteria and fungi. But others are examples of what is known as “bio-inspiration” and “bio-mimicry”, where wild species provide the blueprints for products. The combination of nature and biotechnology can offer us all a tentative reason to hope for the future.
Golden-bellied Mangabey Cercocebus chrysogaster
The golden-bellied mangabey (Cercocebus chrysogaster) is an intriguing and elusive monkey endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Named for the vibrant golden hue of their undersides, these primates are known for their intelligence, complex social behaviours, and unique ecological role. Found in the remote tropical forests along the Congo River Basin, these monkeys remain poorly studied due to their limited range and secretive nature.
Tragically, the golden-bellied mangabey faces mounting threats from habitat destruction, driven by logging, mining, and agricultural expansion, including palm oil plantations. Their population continues to decline due to hunting and habitat fragmentation. Act now to protect their fragile habitat—boycott palm oil and stand against deforestation. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Ariel Toucan Ramphastos ariel
Ariel Toucans are vibrant and charismatic birds of South America under threat from palm oil, soy, meat and gold mining deforestation. Take action for them!
African Greys: How politics killed the parrot
The African Grey Parrot of the Congo is an understated beauty sporting ash-grey plumage, which partially conceals the red flash of their short tails – not to be confused with the smaller and darker Timneh grey parrot. This species is found, as their name suggests, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), along with Kenya, Tanzania and parts of Angola. Already globally threatened, any self-described bird lover must understand jus how the political environment in the DRC is threatening this gorgeous parrot. One of the most pervasive threats for these rare birds is poaching for the illegal pet trade, which, in the past 40 years alone, has resulted in almost three million birds being snatched from their homes. That’s three million birds who will never reproduce in the wild and ensure continuity of this species. Help these birds every time you shop and be #Vegan, #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Tana River Mangabey Cercocebus galeritus
The Tana River Mangabey Cercocebus galeritus is a long-faced and slender old world monkey of #Kenya listed as Critically Endangered due to ongoing habitat destruction, dam construction, logging, and the degradation of floodplain forest ecosystems. Once protected by the Tana River #Primate Reserve, these #monkeys despite being key seed dispersers in their ecosystem are now more vulnerable than ever after the legal de-gazetting of their habitat. With only around 1,000 individuals remaining, this highly social and adaptable primate faces a devastating future unless urgent action is taken. Use your wallet as a weapon to end the destruction of their home. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat
Mass extinction: what is it and are we in one now?
For more than 3.5 billion years, living organisms have thrived, multiplied and diversified to occupy every ecosystem on Earth. The flip side to this explosion of new species is that species extinctions have also always been part of the evolutionary life cycle.
A mass extinction is usually defined as a loss of about three quarters of all species in existence across the entire Earth over a “short” geological period of time. Given the vast amount of time since life first evolved on the planet, “short” is defined as anything less than 2.8 million years. Right now loss of species on earth is being driven by a mix of direct and indirect human activities, such as the destruction and fragmentation of habitats, direct exploitation like fishing and hunting, chemical pollution, invasive species, and human-caused global warming. Help species survive #BoycottPalmOil be #Vegan and #Boycott4Wildlife
Yucatán Black Howler Monkey Alouatta pigra
Their range is being rapidly destroyed for palm oil and sugar cane deforestation and mining. They are also facing human persecution and hunting pressures. Yucatán Black Howler Monkeys have been classified as endangered since 2004. Help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
The Rarest Rhino: The Two Last Northern White Rhinos of Kenya
The rarest rhino in the world can be found wallowing in the mud at the Ol Pejeta Nature Conservancy in Kenya. Constantly guarded by vigilant rifle-clad guards, these two animals have no idea that they are the last members of their kind. They are northern white rhinos – the very last northern white rhinos anywhere on Earth. They have been poached to the very edge of extinction, with virtually no hope for recovery. Could this be the saddest story ever told? Likely! Vehemently and strongly oppose all forms of trophy hunting and poaching wherever you see it and #Boycott4Wildlife
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 years ago, they are evolutionary survivors now on the brink. With fewer than 2,000 individuals thought to remain, their populations have plummeted due to #palmoil #soy and #meat #deforestation, damming, water pollution, and incidental deaths in fisheries. Once feared lost from parts of their range, new research using citizen science and extensive fieldwork has rediscovered them in previously unknown areas, sparking renewed hope. But the threats remain. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife, be #Vegan and #BoycottMeat
Sinu Parakeet Pyrrhura subandina
Help find the Sinu Parakeet. With no confirmed sightings since 1949, these vibrant parrots may already be extinct, victims of relentless palm oil expansion.
Bald-headed Uacari Cacajao calvus
With their long shaggy coats and striking bright red faces, Bald-headed Uacaris are true icons of the Amazon rainforest and are found in #Brazil, #Peru and #Colombia. When a #Uacari has a bright red face this indicates they are in good health. A pale face indicates a sickly physical state. These remarkable #monkeys spend most of the year in the tree tops to avoid the seasonal flooding of their Amazonian habitat. During the dry season, they return to the ground to look for seeds. They face an existential threat from #palmoil, #soy and #meat #deforestation in the #Amazon. Once their unmistakeable scarlet faces were a common sight in the dusky green of the rainforest. Now they are rapidly disappearing, victims of a relentless drive for land, gold, and profit. Listed as Vulnerable, you can help them to survive every time you shop! #BoycottGold be #vegan for them and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
How forest loss has changed biodiversity across the globe over the last 150 years
The Earth’s forests have been changing ever since the first tree took root. For 360 million years, trees have grown and been felled through a dynamic mix of hurricanes, #fires and natural regeneration. But with the dawn of the 17th century, humans began replacing large swathes of forest with farms and cities. The global pace of #deforestation has slowed in the 21st century, but #forests are still disappearing – albeit at different rates in different parts of the world. In the tropics, forest loss is accelerating in previously pristine wilderness. Help rainforests, wild animals and indigenous peoples to survive #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Palm Oil Detectives 