Tag Archives: Papua New Guinea

Pesquets Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus

The beguiling Pesquet’s #parrots are sometimes known as ‘Dracula parrots’ due to their unique appearance. This includes black facial features, black feathers and bright red patches that reminiscent of a Dracula-like cloak. This striking combination lends them a slightly eerie and dramatic look, making them truly a sight to behold.

They inhabit the lush #rainforests of #WestPapua and #PapuaNewGuinea and make gentle gliding flights. They have a specialised diet of figs and face significant threats from #deforestation and #hunting. These magnificent birds are classified as vulnerable, and their population is decreasing. You can make a difference by choosing products that protect their rainforest habitat. Make sure you #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket!

Mountain Cuscus Phalanger carmelitae

The Mountain #Cuscus are fascinating and shy creatures who live in Papua New Guinea and #WestPapua. Thick, dark, woolly fur covers most of their bodies, while their bellies are white. The Mountain Cuscus has a black tail with a rough, white tip. Their skulls are medium-sized, with a short snout, large back teeth, and three small teeth on each side of their lower jaws. It’s important to note that the Mountain Cuscus can sometimes be confused with the Silky Cuscus, which has a smooth tail without rough patches, a shorter or absent white tail tip, and fewer teeth in their lower jaw. They are threatened by massive #palmoil and #timber deforestation across West Papua and Papua New Guinea, help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

Greasing the Wheels of Colonialism: Palm Oil Industry in West Papua 

A landmark study published in Global Studies Quarterly in April 2025 has revealed that the rapid expansion of the #palmoil industry in #WestPapua is not only fuelling #deforestation, #ecocide and environmental destruction but also perpetuating colonial-era patterns of land dispossession, #violence, and erasure of #Indigenous #Papuan communities.

Attenborough’s Long-Beaked Echidna Zaglossus attenboroughi

Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), known locally as “Payangko,” is one of the most evolutionarily distinct mammals and is native to the Cyclops Mountains in Papua, Indonesia. This critically endangered monotreme is distinguished by its unique feeding technique and smaller size compared to other long-beaked echidnas. Despite not being recorded by scientists since 1961, a recent expedition led to its rediscovery in 2023, offering renewed hope for the species. Facing threats from hunting and habitat degradation, we must protect this elusive creature by supporting sustainable practices and community-led conservation. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

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 skink. Their silhouette dances between shadows of the jungle in the Solomon Islands archipelago, to the north east of Australia. They are the largest species of skink alive and boast a long, slender body poised elegantly on short, yet robust legs. Their head forms a perfect triangle, housing small, beady and curious looking eyes. This magnificent reptile is now classified as Near Threatened due to rainforest destruction of their home for palm oil, timber and mining. Help them to survive every time you shop – #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

Encountering the World’s Most Endangered Kangaroo: The Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo

Encounter the Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo. Rediscovered in 2018, these rare marsupials from West Papua are a symbol of hope amidst threats from palm oil, hunting

Dusky Pademelon Thylogale brunii

Dusky Pademelons are small marsupials with large ears, strong hind legs and a short, thick tail. They navigate the dense and mountainous forests of New Guinea with natural agility. Solitary by nature, these fascinating creatures disperse seeds as they roam through the forests contributing to the maintenance of a vibrant ecosystem. They are now vulnerable due to the threat of hunting and deforestation for mining, palm oil and timber throughout their range. Help them to survive every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

Magnificent Bird of Paradise Cicinnurus magnificus

Meet the Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise, a dazzling, theatrical bird from New Guinea’s forests. Their vibrant courtship dances must be protected from palm oil!

Victoria crowned pigeon Victoria goura

Meet the Victoria crowned pigeon, the world’s largest pigeon species with royal roots and some unique quirks. Not only are they named after Queen Victoria, but they’re also close relatives to the extinct dodo. These lovebirds mate for life and share parenting duties in the most adorable ways—from dancing displays to feeding their chicks a special ‘crop milk.’ Despite their fascinating traits and tight-knit families, these majestic birds face dire threats. Their forest homes are disappearing due to palm oil and timber deforestation, and they’re being hunted. Help keep their love story alive: #BoycottPalmOil and support #Boycott4Wildlife to protect these incredible creatures.

Bougainville Monkey-faced Bat Pteralopex anceps

In the verdant, high-altitude forests of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea, and Choiseul Island, Solomon Islands, lives an intriguing creature—the Bougainville Monkey-faced bat or, as some call them, the Bougainville Flying Monkey. These bats are the titans of their family, boasting arm spans stretching impressively between 14.1 to 16 cm. They are endangered, mostly from palm oil and mining deforestation and hunting. Help them to survive every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

Vogelkop Superb Bird of Paradise Lophorina superba

Male superb-bird’s-of-paradise are the dramatic actors of #NewGuinea’s rainforest. They use their lush, multicoloured plumage to change shape in an elaborate dancing courtship display that typically goes on for many hours for the sole benefit of a female #bird. At the end of the dancing ritual, the female will get to choose her mate between 15-20 male #birds. These magnificent birds are struggling to survive, hemmed in on all sides by #hunting, #palmoil, gold mining and timber #deforestation throughout their range. Help their survival every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket!

New Guinea Singing Dog Canis hallstromi

Thought for decades to be extinct in the wild, the New Guinea singing #dog populations hang on to survival in the remote mountains and forests of New Guinea. These #wilddogs were last spotted in 2017 near the Grasberg gold and copper mine in #WestPapua. Little known and still not well understood by researchers, they announce themselves with a haunting overlapping howling between individual dogs that is unlike other forms of canid howling.

Elusive and likely now critically endangered, #NewGuinea Singing Dogs are rapidly disappearing and have no formal protection or conservation in place. Help them survive and fight against #palmoil #deforestation in #WestPapua, #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

Papuan Eagle Harpyopsis novaeguineae

Elusive, forest-dwelling apex predators in New Guinea, Papuan eagles are classified as vulnerable and rapidly declining due to enormous deforestation for mining and palm oil in Papua New Guinea and West Papua along with hunting threats. They are poorly studied birds and therefore estimates of their populations may be severely overestimated, meaning that they are in much more serious strife than we know.

While there have probably never been high densities of the Papuan eagle, evidence indicates that they are declining rapidly. It is possible that the entire population is considerably under 10,000 individuals. There is no evidence that the Papuan eagle is adaptable to the opening of forests and the eagles appear to abandon areas especially where logging roads have been cut into the forests.

Help them every time you shop and be #vegan, #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi

Apex predator and flying royalty of the jungle, Philippine #Eagles are critically endangered from #climatechange, #palmoil, #timber and #cacao #deforestation and illegal #hunting.

There are estimated to be only 180-600 eagles left in the wild. Protecting the Philippine eagle would also protect 780 other plant and animal species in the Philippines. Help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

Dr Sophie Chao is an environmental anthropologist and environmental humanities scholar interested in the intersections of capitalism, ecology, Indigeneity, health, and justice in the Pacific.

Palm Oil Detectives is honoured to interview to Dr Sophie Chao about her research into the impacts of palm oil on the daily lives of Marind people and other sentient beings in West Papua.

​I wrote In the Shadow of the Palms because I wanted the world to understand how deforestation and industrial oil palm expansion are undermining Indigenous ways of being in West Papua.

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”

Divide and Intimidate: The Playbook of Palm Oil Landgrabs

The insidious playbook of palm oil companies “Promise, Divide, Intimidate and Coerce” reveals the 12 corrupt tactics used to grab community land in Africa

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”

Seri’s Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus stellarum

Seri’s #TreeKangaroo is one of the world’s most elusive #marsupials of the genus #Dendrolagus surviving only in the remote mountains of #PapuaNewGuinea and the contested territory of #WestPapua. In these highlands, Indigenous Papuans have resisted Indonesian rule for over half a century, while the forests themselves are threatened by commercial logging, palm oil, and hunting. The Seri’s Tree Kangaroo’s silvery coat and secretive habits help them blend into the forest, but not even the tallest trees can shield them from bulldozers. When you shop ensure that you BoycottPalmOil, Boycott4Wildlife to fight for their protection.

Doria’s Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus dorianus

High in the misty mountain rainforests of Papua New Guinea, Doria’s Tree Kangaroo moves with deliberate agility through the dense canopy. With their thick brown fur, powerful limbs, and expressive dark eyes, these marsupials are a striking reminder of the ancient and unique wildlife of New Guinea. Unlike their terrestrial kangaroo cousins, Doria’s Tree Kangaroos have adapted to an arboreal life, leaping through tree canopies with ease and foraging among the leaves.

But their world is rapidly shrinking. Doria’s along with other tree kangaroos in the Dendrolagus genus are hunted mercilessly for bushmeat and threatened by palm oil deforestation, Gas mining and road infrastructure expansion, and land conversion, their numbers are in decline. Despite their elusiveness, they cannot escape the dangers encroaching on their rainforest home. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

New Britain Sparrowhawk Accipiter brachyurus

Protect the elusive New Britain Sparrowhawk. These rare birds-of-prey face extinction as palm oil deforestation and logging destroys New Guinea habitat

Goldie’s Bird-of-paradise Paradisaea decora

The Goldie’s Bird of Paradise is a rustling rainbow 🦜🌈 They are #vulnerable in #rainforests of #WestPapua from #mining and #palmoil #deforestation. Fight for them and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥👎⛔ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/03/goldies-bird-of-paradise-paradisaea-decora/

Imitator Goshawk Accipiter imitator

Protect the magnificent Imitator Goshawk an elusive bird of prey from Papua New Guinea is vulnerable. Just 250-999 individuals remain. Boycott palm oil!

Fearful Owl Nesasio solomonensis

Fearful Owl Nesasio solomonensis Location: Bougainville (Papua New Guinea), Choiseul and Santa Isabel (Solomon Islands) IUCN Status: Near Threatened One of the least known and possibly rarest birds of prey in the world, the Fearful #Owl Nesasio solomonensis is an elusive nocturnal predator endemic to the Solomon Islands and Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. WithContinue reading “Fearful Owl Nesasio solomonensis”

Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus pulcherrimus

Critically Endangered Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroos are found in Papua New Guinea’s mountains. They move with grace in a vanishing world. Boycott palm oil!

Black-spotted Cuscus Spilocuscus rufoniger

The black-spotted cuscus Spilocuscus rufoniger is one of the most striking and rare marsupials in the world. Known for their soft fur with irregular black spots on a reddish or cream background, they exemplify the biodiversity of West Papua and Papua New Guinea’s rainforests. Endemic to the island, they are incredibly elusive, primarily inhabiting dense forests.

Sadly, this arboreal species is on the brink of extinction, primarily due to habitat loss from logging and palm oil plantations. Additionally, they are hunted for bushmeat and their striking pelts, which are valued in local traditions. With their population in severe decline, urgent action is needed to save this remarkable species from disappearing. Fight for their survival and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

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 keep up with demand for palm oil.