The Common Hippopotamus, or Hippo, is a powerful and enduring symbol of Africa’s rivers and wetlands. Once common throughout all of Africa and the revered subjects of African folklore —their populations are now in peril. Hippo numbers plummeted in the 1990s and early 2000s due to unregulated #hunting and land conversion for #palmoil #cocoa and #tobacco #agriculture and human settlement. Although some strongholds remain in East and Southern Africa, many populations are in decline across #WestAfrica and Central Africa. Hippos are now listed as #Vulnerable on the Red List, with threats from freshwater habitat loss, illegal hunting for meat and ivory, and increasing conflicts with people. Use your voice and your wallet to push for stronger protections for Hippos and their riverine homes. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Tag Archives: Mammal
Nigeria’s nature reserves need more help to protect biodiversity
Apart from conserving species, #wetlands help to control floods, replenish groundwater, stabilise shorelines, retain nutrients and purify water. The park will join Nigeria’s protected area of 445 forest reserves, 29 game reserves, 12 strict nature reserves, 11 Ramsar sites, 7 national parks and one biosphere reserve.
Bonobo mothers meddle in their sons’ sex lives – making them three times more likely to father children
New research shows that for #bonobos, sex really is often a family affair. What’s more, rather than being an embarrassing hindrance, motherly presence greatly benefits bonobo sons during the deed.
Along with #chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), bonobos (Pan paniscus) are our closest living relatives. Restricted to a 500,000 km² thickly-forested zone of the #Congo Basin, these endangered great apes were only formally discovered in 1928, which until 2017 made them the most recently-described living great ape species.
Operating in female-led social systems, bonobos are capable of showing a wide range of what were long held as human-specific feelings and emotions, such as sensitivity, patience, compassion, kindness, empathy and altruism. Help them to survive every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Bonobos Can Inspire More Peaceful Democracies
Bonobos can inspire a more peaceful democracy. Primatologists explain the fascinating lives of these mostly peaceful primates. Boycott palm oil when you shop!
Research: Small room for compromise between oil palm cultivation and primate conservation in Africa
Research shows that future palm oil expansion is a major threat to Africa’s tropical forests and their rich primate biodiversity, Fight back boycott palm oil!
Humans and Bonobos Share Contagious Yawn Behaviour
Most of us have experienced the overwhelming urge to yawn in response to another person yawning – but we’re not the only species to do this. Research published in PeerJ shows that bonobos – our closest evolutionary cousins – also experience “yawn contagion”. Similarly to how yawning occurs in human beings, the effects of yawn contagion in bonobos is influenced by the quality of relationships shared between individuals.
The tendency for humans to mirror the behaviours and emotions of another – sometimes referred to as “emotional contagion” – is also thought to reflect our heightened capacity for empathy. Help all non-human primates to survive extinction and be #Vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
African Forest Elephants’s Movements Depend on Their Personalities
African forest #elephants roam the dense rainforests of West and Central Africa where they subsist largely on a diet of fruit. They shape forests by dispersing fruit and seeds, browsing, and creating an extensive trail network. But because it’s difficult to track animals in thick forest, little is known about the movements of the AfricanContinue reading “African Forest Elephants’s Movements Depend on Their Personalities”
Meet Chimbu, the blue-eyed, bear-eared tree kangaroo
Tree kangaroos are so unusual that when Europeans first encountered them in Australia in 1872, back on the continent they were sceptical if they were real! Who would believe a #kangaroo could climb a tree? The Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo is an endangered species of the genus dendrolagus living in the Central Cordillera mountain ranges ofContinue reading “Meet Chimbu, the blue-eyed, bear-eared tree kangaroo”
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!
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.
African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis
Protect African Forest Elephants! These critically endangered ecosystem engineers are vital for rainforest health but face extinction from poaching, ecocide
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.
Temminck’s Pangolin Smutsia temminckii
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
Northern Tiger Cat (Oncilla) Leopardus tigrinus
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
Marbled Cat Pardofelis marmorata
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 GoldenContinue reading “Marbled Cat Pardofelis marmorata”
Dusky Langur Trachypithecus obscurus
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
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
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
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
Golden-headed Lion Tamarin Leontopithecus chrysomelas
The Golden-Maned Lion Tamarin faces a battle for survival, with threats from habitat loss, particularly due to palm oil deforestation, the illegal pet trade, predation, disease, and climate change. These majestic creatures, with their striking golden manes and vibrant personalities, are teetering on the brink due to the relentless destruction of their home. But there’s hope, and it starts with us. By choosing to #BoycottPalmOil, supporting the #Boycott4Wildlife movement, and embracing a #Vegan lifestyle, we can make a profound impact. Together, we have the power to safeguard the forests, preserve the planet’s biodiversity, and ensure the survival of the Golden-Maned Lion Tamarin.
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
Black-faced Lion Tamarin Leontopithecus caissara
The black-faced lion #tamarin Leontopithecus caissara, also known as the Superagüi lion tamarin, is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. With a total population of fewer than 400 individuals and a fragmented, low-lying coastal habitat of #Brazil, this species is on the edge of extinction. Threats include logging, the illegal #pettrade, palm oil, #soy and #meat deforestation and urban expansion. Conservation efforts have begun, but there is still enormous work to do to protect these irreplaceable #primates. Protect this rare and charismatic #primate by taking urgent action. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan
Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are one of humanity’s closest living relatives and the most widespread of all great apes, with a vast historical range stretching across 21 African countries. Despite this, they are now classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List due to catastrophic declines of more than 50% over a 75-year period, from 1975 to a projected 2050. These losses are driven by a lethal cocktail of threats: rampant poaching, habitat destruction for palm oil and logging, industrial mining, disease outbreaks like Ebola, and illegal trafficking. Subspecies such as P. t. ellioti have been reduced to only a few thousand individuals, while the once widespread P. t. verus is now Critically Endangered. Protecting them means dismantling the extractive industries that are ripping Africa’s forests apart such as the meat industry and palm oil industry. Help them when you #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife and be #Vegan #BoycottMeat
Leopard Panthera pardus
Of all the great cats prowling the wild, few inspire as much awe and fascination as the leopard Panthera pardus. Sleek, powerful, and enigmatic, leopards are found across a staggering range—from sub-Saharan Africa, forests of West Africa and the Middle East to Central Asia and the forests of Southeast Asia. Yet this extraordinary adaptability masks a disturbing truth. The leopard is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with some subspecies such as the Amur, Arabian, and Javan leopard are on the very brink of extinction. Across their range, these elusive big cats are being driven into ever-shrinking patches of habitat, with populations decimated by deforestation, rampant poaching, prey depletion, and the relentless spread of palm oil plantations and other monoculture. Help leopards every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Maned Three-toed Sloth Bradypus torquatus
The Maned Three-toed Sloth live in the Atlantic coastal forests of eastern Brazil. They thrive in areas with high rainfall and no dry season. Remarkably, their reproductive habits are synced with nature’s rhythm: females typically give birth annually between February and April, while mating peaks from August to October. This species matures sexually between their second and third year and can live to over 12 years old in the wild.
As palm oil, soy and meat deforestation expands across their range – their lives are at risk. Help protect these gentle and wonderous creatures and use your wallet as a weapon. #BoycottGold4Yanomami #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife. 🦥🌳
Brown Spider Monkey Ateles hybridus
The enigmatic blue-billed curassow (Crax alberti – local name “Paujil”), endemic to the tropical humid forests of northern Colombia, is the cracid species most threatened with extinction in the wild from #deforestation
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
South America: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation
As the lush equatorial rainforests of South East Asia are exhausted, increasingly focus is being placed on parts of Central and South America. Oil Palm is a growing commodity there and is found in Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico. Help the rare and beautiful animals of South and Central America to survive the scourge of palm oil and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket. Learn more
Palm Oil Detectives 