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!
Tag Archives: WestPapua
Palm Oil Threatens Ancient Noken Weaving in West Papua
Colonial palm oil and sugarcane causing the loss of West Papuans’ cultural identity. Land grabs force communities from forests, threatening Noken weaving
West Papuan Indigenous Women Fight Land Seizures
Indigenous Melanesian women in West Papua fight land seizures for palm oil and sugar plantations, protecting their ancestral rights. Join #BoycottPalmOil
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!
Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot Eclectus riedeli
The Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot Eclectus riedeli also known as the Eclectus Parrot or Tanimbar Eclectus is a rare and striking #parrot found only on the #Tanimbar Islands of Indonesian occupied #WestPapua. Males display a brilliant emerald green plumage, while females are adorned in deep crimson and cobalt blue feathers, making them one of the most visually stunning #parrots in the world. These parrots face growing threats from habitat destruction, the pet trade, and climate change.
Forests are disappearing due to timber logging and #palmoil monoculture, while #poaching for the illegal #pettrade continues to remove individuals from the wild, disrupting their populations. #Climatechange also poses an increasing risk, with rising temperatures, storms, and unpredictable weather patterns affecting their habitat and food sources. The best way to protect these parrots is to keep them in the wild, not in cages. Use your wallet as a weapon in the supermarket and choose #PalmOilFree #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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.
Papua’s ‘Empty Lands’: A Dangerous Myth Displacing Indigenous Peoples
Challenge a dangerous colonial myth that West Papua is an ’empty land’. This only serves the colonial domination of Indonesia not ancient tribes living there!
Palm Oil Plantations Threaten Indigenous Waterways
Expansion of palm oil in West Papua’s Kais River watershed degrades water quality, polluting Indigenous waterways. Take action and boycott palm oil
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
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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!
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 also threatened by hunting and the pet trade. Males turn a dark violet colour during mating season and flare their extravagant sail-like fins to announce their mating prowess. They have a third eye on the top of their head which enables them to sense sunlight. Help them survive 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!
Waigeo Cuscus Spilocuscus papuensis
Cryptic and solitary marsupials, Waigeo Cuscuses cling to tree canopies on a Waigeo Island, West Papua. They are classified as vulnerable on IUCN Red List due to palm oil deforestation and mining on the tiny island where they live. Help them each time you shop and be #vegan, #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife
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
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.
Northern Glider Petaurus abidi
The Northern Glider is a Critically Endangered species of gliding #marsupial found only in the Torricelli Mountains of #PapuaNewGuinea. First described in 1981, they remain one of the rarest and least studied members of the Petauridae family. Their population is in steep decline due to deforestation, habitat destruction for #palmoil, and #hunting for #bushmeat. With an estimated range of less than 100 square kilometres, the Northern Glider is at extreme risk of #extinction unless urgent conservation efforts are made to protect their habitat. Take action and resist for this species every time you shop and go #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket.
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.
Eastern Long-beaked Echidna Zaglossus bartoni
The Eastern long-beaked echidna Zaglossus bartoni is one of the planet’s most extraordinary mammals—a living relic from the dawn of mammalian evolution. Found only in the rugged, remote mountains of New Guinea, this remarkable creature is genetically and physically unlike any other animal alive today. Their existence bridges ancient evolutionary traits with the survival needs of modern species, representing a fascinating link to the distant past.
Tragically, these rare monotremes face the threat of extinction due to hunting and habitat loss for palm oil, timber and gold mining. Support indigenous-led conservation and fight for their survival. Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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/
Grizzled Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus inustus
Where the forest rises steeply from the rivers and the mist hangs low over the green spires of the Foja Mountains and the Torricelli Range, the Grizzled Tree Kangaroo moves like a living memory. The Grizzled Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus inustus and their ash-grey coats and quiet agile movements, are the ghostly figures of New Guinea’s dwindling rainforests. Listed as Vulnerable on the Red List, these rare tree kangaroos now stand at the edge of survival. Hunting dogs track their scent; chainsaws fell their towering homes. Palm oil is rapidly obliterating their forest home. Without urgent action, these shy, elusive creatures will vanish into the mist forever. Boycott palm oil and go #vegan for them. Protect their ancient world. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Bougainville Moustached Kingfisher Actenoides bougainvillei
Protect the Bougainville Moustached Kingfisher from palm oil and timber ecocide. Fewer than 2.5K remain alive in Papua, boycott palm oil for their survival!
Huon Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus matschiei
Adorable creatures with a teddy-like face and simian looking tail, Huon Tree Kangaroos live in Papua New Guinea. They are classified as endangered due to ongoing destruction of their natural rainforest home for #palmoil and #mining throughout their range. There are estimated to be <2,500 individual kangaroos left alive. Help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Arfak Ringtail Pseudochirulus schlegeli
The Arfak Ringtail Pseudochirulus schlegeli is a wide-eyed and bushy tailed #possum living in the remote Arfak Mountains and cloud forests of #WestPapua. Although little is known of these tree-dwelling #marsupials, much can be gleaned from related #mammals in Australasia. These cryptic and fluffy arboreal beauties are found in the mossy, cloud-wrapped forests of the Vogelkop Peninsula’s Arfak Mountains. Listed as #Vulnerable, the species faces mounting pressure from #deforestation for #palmoil and #timber and #hunting by local communities. With fewer than five known locations and less than 20,000 km² of suitable habitat, this highland #possum could disappear quietly without urgent action. Protect #indigenous forests, say no to palm oil, and stand up against wildlife exploitation #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan
Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus ursinus
Protect stunning marsupials Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus ursinus and boycott palm oil! They live in the Vogelkop and Fakfak Peninsulas of West Papua.
Dingiso Dendrolagus mbaiso
Known affectionately as the ‘Panda tree kangaroo’ for their black and white faces, dingisos are one of the rarest and most charismatic species of tree kangaroos, living only in the remote cloud forests of the Sudirman Range in Indonesian-occupied #WestPapua. While revered by the Moni people who consider them sacred and taboo to hunt, #Dingiso populations have still plummeted by over 50% due to #hunting, road construction, habitat clearing, and the expansion of industrial agriculture particularly #palmoil #deforestation. #Climatechange is now driving further habitat loss at high altitudes. Help these mysterious and gentle tree kangaroos every time you shop, use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
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