Lmst

With their dramatic frilled necks 🦎😻✨ and ability to run on two legs, Frilled-Neck #Lizards are arguably the most spectacular lizards in all of #Melanesia 🇵🇬 Help protect their #NewGuinea population #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2025/11/09/frill-necked-lizard-chlamydosaurus-kingii/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a44j267-nxE

Appearance & Behaviour

With their iconic neck frill, long limbs and ability to sprint upright on two legs, frill-necked lizards are one of the most distinctive reptiles in the world. New Guinean individuals typically feature vivid yellow frills that flare outward like a sunburst when they feel threatened—often accompanied by a hiss and an open mouth to appear larger than life. Their frill can reach up to 30 cm across, supported by hyoid bones and cartilage that fan the skin out in a flash. Colouration is variable, and in New Guinea, these lizards lean towards paler hues with distinctive white markings accenting their yellow frills.

Primarily arboreal, they spend over 90% of their time in the trees. They are solitary, territorial, and highly dependent on their frill to communicate and intimidate. During the wet season, they descend closer to the ground in search of food, only to retreat to the higher canopy during the dry months when food is scarce.

Threats

Deforestation for palm oil plantations is rapidly fragmenting their native woodlands in the Trans-Fly region of West Papua and Papua New Guinea.
Illegal capture for the pet trade—many specimens claimed to be ‘captive bred’ are actually wild-caught in Papua New Guinea.
Late dry season fires increase mortality rates and reduce food availability.
Predation by feral cats is an ongoing issue in some parts of their range.
Climate change related extreme weather may impact their reproduction, as temperature influences sex ratios and growth rates.

Geographic Range

This species is found in northern Australia and across southern New Guinea, including both Papua New Guinea and Indonesian-occupied West Papua. In New Guinea, they inhabit the Trans-Fly savannah region—a unique landscape of seasonal woodlands and dry forests. These lizards avoid low-lying Melaleuca-dominated swamps and prefer elevated areas with well-drained soils and diverse tree species. However, their range in New Guinea is far more restricted than in Australia, making local threats far more significant to their survival.

Diet

Frill-necked lizards are insectivorous ambush predators. They rely on their sharp eyesight and camouflage to spot prey from high in the trees. Their diet consists mainly of insects like termites, cicadas, beetles, ants, and centipedes. During the dry season, termites are especially important, while the wet season sees them shifting to moth larvae. Occasionally, they will consume spiders, small rodents, and other lizards.

Mating and Reproduction

Mating occurs during the late dry and early wet seasons. Males engage in dramatic frill displays and combat to win over females. Females dig a shallow burrow where they lay 1–2 clutches of 4–20 eggs. Temperature plays a critical role in determining the sex of hatchlings—warmer nests produce more males, while cooler ones yield more females. Young frillies are independent within 10 days of hatching and can deploy their frills almost immediately.

FAQs

How many Frill-necked lizards are left in New Guinea?

There is no precise population estimate for New Guinea, but while the species is locally common in parts of Australia, their populations in the Trans-Fly region are under pressure. Their limited range, coupled with the impacts of deforestation and trade, may mean local declines are already occurring.

How long do Frill-necked lizards live in the wild?

Frill-necked lizards in the wild can live up to 6 years for males and around 4 years for females. Hatchlings grow rapidly during the wet season and reach sexual maturity by about two years of age.

Do Frill-necked lizards make good pets?

Absolutely not. These sensitive reptiles are wild animals with complex needs. They are difficult to breed in captivity, meaning many sold in pet markets are likely wild-caught, contributing directly to population declines. Keeping them as pets fuels this harmful trade and leads to suffering. If you care about frill-necked lizards, do not support the exotic pet industry.

Take Action!

Support local and indigenous-led resistance to palm oil deforestation in West Papua and Papua New Guinea. Boycott palm oil products entirely—there is no such thing as “sustainable” palm oil, all of it causes deforestation. Say no to the exotic pet trade, which is stripping these unique lizards from the wild and pushing them towards decline. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Support Frill-Necked Lizards by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

O’Shea, M., Allison, A., Tallowin, O., Wilson, S. & Melville, J. 2017. Chlamydosaurus kingii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T170384A21644690. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T170384A21644690.en. Accessed on 06 April 2025.

Harlow, P. S., & Shine, R. (1999). Temperature-dependent sex determination in reptiles: insights from frillneck lizards. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 68(3), 197–211. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3893081

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Frilled lizard. Wikipedia. Retrieved 7 April 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frilled_lizard

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

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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.

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

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

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Bornean Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron schleiermacheri

Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNG

Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

Read more about RSPO greenwashing

Lying Fake labels Indigenous Land-grabbing Human rights abuses Deforestation Human health hazards

A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)

Frill-Necked Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii by Tourism Australia

Frill-Necked Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingi threats

Frill-Necked Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii by xTrex Getty Images

Frill-Necked Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii by SlowMotionGli Getty Images

Bornean Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron schleiermacheri

IUCN Status: Endangered

Location: Endemic to the island of Borneo, specifically in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, with potential populations in Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysia.

Bornean #Peacock #Pheasants are famous for their purple, emerald 💜💚🦜 feathers and secretive natures. Living in #Indonesia and #Malaysia, #palmoil #deforestation is a major threat. Help these #birds! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-wV

https://youtu.be/_rh5J72R6sc

In central Kalimantan, habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation as a result of large-scale commercial logging (deliberately targeting all remaining stands of valuable timber including those inside protected areas), widespread clearance for plantations of rubber and oil-palm, and hunting with snares, are the main threats.
IUCN Red list

The Bornean Peacock-Pheasant is a rare and elusive #bird found only in #Borneo’s tropical rainforests in #Indonesia and Malaysia. They are known for their intricate iridescent plumage and secretive nature. This species faces a grave threat from out-of-control #palmoil plantations, timber logging, the illegal #pettrade and habitat destruction. #Deforestation has wiped out vast areas of their habitat, pushing this bird toward #extinction. Without urgent conservation action, the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant may soon vanish forever. Take action everytime you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife to help protect this species.

Appearance and Behaviour

This species is a small, ground-dwelling bird with an extraordinary pattern of shimmering blue-green ‘eye-spots’ across its wings and tail. Males perform elaborate courtship displays, fanning their tails to attract mates. Their dark brown plumage, speckled with emerald and sapphire hues, allows them to blend into the dense forest undergrowth.

Naturally shy, these birds spend most of their time hidden in thick vegetation, foraging on the forest floor for food. They are largely solitary or found in pairs, relying on camouflage and silence to avoid predators. They are known for their soft calls but can produce loud alarm calls when threatened.

Threats

Palm Oil and Rubber Plantation Deforestation

The uncontrolled expansion of palm oil and rubber plantations is the primary driver of this species’ decline. Between 1985 and 1997, nearly 25% of Borneo’s evergreen forest was lost. Lowland dipterocarp forests, the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant’s primary habitat, are among the most heavily logged ecosystems in the world. As multinational corporations destroy rainforests to make way for palm oil and timber plantations, these birds are left with nowhere to live, breed, or find food.

Illegal Logging and Habitat Fragmentation

Almost all remaining lowland forests in Central Kalimantan have been allocated as logging concessions, meaning that even the last viable populations of the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant are at risk. Habitat fragmentation isolates populations, making survival even more difficult.

Hunting and Illegal Wildlife Trade

Despite their rarity, Bornean Peacock-Pheasants have been documented in the illegal pet trade. In 1998, TRAFFIC recorded at least six individuals being smuggled to Singapore for sale. As deforestation forces them into smaller, more exposed areas, they become easier targets for poachers.

Climate Change and Increasing Wildfires

Massive fires in Borneo, worsened by climate change and deforestation, continue to destroy critical habitat. The devastating 1997–1998 fires wiped out large portions of the species’ range, and these fires have only increased in frequency and severity since then.

Diet

Bornean Peacock-Pheasants are omnivorous, feeding on insects, seeds, fallen fruits, and small invertebrates. They forage by scratching through leaf litter, searching for hidden insects and worms. They depend on dense rainforest undergrowth, which is disappearing due to palm oil plantations and logging.

Reproduction and Mating

Little is known about their breeding ecology, but like other peacock-pheasants, they are believed to be monogamous. Males perform intricate displays, fanning out their eye-spotted tails while calling softly to attract a mate. Nesting likely occurs in dense undergrowth, with the female incubating a small clutch of one to two eggs.

Geographic Range

The Bornean Peacock-Pheasant is found only on the island of Borneo, particularly in Central Kalimantan (Indonesia), with unconfirmed sightings in Sarawak and Sabah (Malaysia). Its range is highly fragmented, with populations struggling to survive as habitat destruction accelerates.

FAQ

What is the rarest peacock-pheasant?

The Bornean Peacock-Pheasant is considered one of the rarest and most elusive birds in Borneo. Due to their small population size and habitat loss, sightings of this species are extremely rare.

Are peacock-pheasants loud?

Peacock-pheasants are generally quiet birds, relying on their camouflage to stay hidden. However, they can produce loud alarm calls when startled or threatened.

What is the meaning of peacock-pheasant?

The name “peacock-pheasant” comes from the male’s tail feathers, which are adorned with iridescent eye-spots similar to those of true peacocks. These tail feathers are used in elaborate courtship displays.

Do Bornean Peacock-Pheasants Make Good Pets?

No, Bornean Peacock-Pheasants (Polyplectron schleiermacheri) should never be kept as pets. These birds are wild, highly sensitive, and critically dependent on their rainforest habitat for survival. Capturing them for the pet trade contributes directly to their population decline, pushing them closer to extinction.

Unlike domesticated birds, Bornean Peacock-Pheasants have complex social structures, specialised diets, and require vast, undisturbed forest territories. Removing them from the wild causes immense stress, often leading to premature death. Many individuals die in transit or in captivity due to improper care, lack of appropriate food, or extreme distress.

Furthermore, the illegal pet trade is a serious conservation threat, often linked to habitat destruction, deforestation for palm oil, and poaching. The 1998 TRAFFIC report documented these birds being smuggled out of Kalimantan into the international market, highlighting the grim reality of wildlife trafficking (Shepherd, 2000).

If you care about Bornean Peacock-Pheasants, the best way to help is by boycotting palm oil, opposing wildlife trafficking, and supporting conservation efforts to protect their natural rainforest habitat. Every purchase you make is a vote for or against the destruction of their home. Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Take Action!

The Bornean Peacock-Pheasant is on the brink of extinction due to habitat destruction driven by the palm oil industry. Every time you shop, you have the power to make a difference. Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife to protect Borneo’s last remaining forests. Without urgent action, this species may disappear forever. Support indigenous-led conservation and advocate for the protection of Borneo’s rainforests before it’s too late.

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

BirdLife International. 2016. Polyplectron schleiermacheri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22679393A84694321. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679393A84694321.en. Downloaded on 05 February 2021.

Chng et. al (2000). TRAFFIC report on the trade of Bornean Peacock-Pheasants in Southeast Asia. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia. https://www.traffic.org/site/assets/files/2466/market_for_extinction_jakarta.pdf

Corder, J., & Davison, G. (2021). Captive breeding challenges posed by Malaysian and Bornean Peacock-Pheasants (Polyplectron malacense and P. schleiermacheri). Zoo Biology, 40(4), 346-351. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21600

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Bornean peacock-pheasant. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 7 February 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bornean_peacock-pheasant

Bornean Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron schleiermacheri

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.

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.

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

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.

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

#art #Bird #birds #BorneanPeacockPheasantPolyplectronSchleiermacheri #Borneo #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #deforestation #EndangeredSpecies #extinction #ForgottenAnimals #Indonesia #Kalimantan #Malaysia #palmoil #Peacock #pettrade #Pheasants #SouthEastAsia

Conservation activists suing Indonesian zoo could inspire global action on endangered species trade

In a court in rural #Indonesia, an environmental group recently filed a lawsuit of global importance. Their case is against a zoo in North #Sumatra that it’s alleged illegally exhibited threatened species, including Komodo dragons and critically endangered Sumatran #orangutans. The illegal wildlife trade is a multibillion-dollar industry that threatens species globally, from #elephants to orchids. Plants, animals and fungi are harvested from the wild and sold to customers around the world as attractions in zoos, as pets, for food, as souvenirs or as medicine. Help animals and #BoycottWildlifeTrade #Boycott4Wildlife

People caught trafficking wildlife are typically tried in criminal law cases, in which courts impose fines or prison sentences that punish the responsible parties in order to deter would-be criminals. But in this recent case, rather than seek punishment against the Indonesian zoo, the activists brought a civil lawsuit ordering the zoo to remedy the harm it allegedly caused by exhibiting these species illegally.

Lawsuit by activists against #zoo in #Indonesia for harm caused by illegally exhibiting endangered #species was successful. It’s a new way to protect #wildlife from illegal and cruel #trafficking #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife Images @CraigJones17 https://palmoildetectives.com/2022/04/03/conservation-activists-suing-indonesian-zoo-could-inspire-global-action-on-endangered-species-trade/

Share to BlueSky Share to Twitter This siamang has spent her whole life in this cage, a vision that was a true nightmare. Craig Jones Wildlife PhotographyA Sumatran tiger help in a tiny cage struggles to stay alive. Craig Jones Wildlife photography A captured Siamang and a captured tiger in Indonesia. Photos by Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

In the press release announcing the lawsuit, the North Sumatra Chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi Sumut) and Medan Legal Aid Institute said they were suing to cover the costs of care for one Sumatran orangutan confiscated from the zoo, and to fund monitoring of orangutan habitat to aid the recovery of their wild population. The resulting bill exceeds US$70,000 (£49,438). The typical criminal sanction for wildlife crime in Indonesia is around US$3,500.

One of the orangutans in the zoo before it was confiscated in 2019. Walhi North Sumatra, Author provided

The activists are also asking the zoo to publicly apologise and to create educational exhibits that explain how the illegal trade and use of wildlife harms nature and society. Surprisingly, these types of legal strategies that aim to repair harm – rather than punish perpetrators – have been largely overlooked by conservationists in many countries. The Indonesian zoo lawsuit could demonstrate the value of a new legal approach for protecting threatened wildlife.

Komodo dragons were illegally exhibited at the zoo. Anna Kucherova/Shutterstock

Historical precedents

The zoo lawsuit parallels landmark pollution cases, such as the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon oil spills, where the responsible parties (in these cases, oil companies) were sued by government agencies and citizens and required to clean up pollution, compensate victims and restore affected habitats. It is also similar to innovative climate change lawsuits that have argued for the world’s largest oil and gas companies to pay for building protective sea walls, and other measures which help mitigate the effects of global warming.

Similar legal approaches haven’t been a major part of enforcing conservation laws. But through our work in Conservation Litigation – a project led by conservationists and lawyers – colleagues and I are working to bring such lawsuits against offenders globally.

Many countries already have laws that would allow these lawsuits, including in biodiversity hotspots such as Mexico, Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia. The 1992 UN Rio Convention called on states to “develop national law[s] regarding liability compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage”. Although laws that oblige offenders to remedy environmental harm have been established already, the Indonesian zoo case is unique as one of the first times such a law has been applied to address wildlife crime. https://player.vimeo.com/video/510514912

The case could serve to influence public views and policies around biodiversity. This has been an important benefit of litigation in other areas, such as in cases against tobacco companies and opioid manufacturers.

Over the years, these lawsuits have secured compensation for healthcare costs, public admissions of guilt from executives and corrective adversiting to clarify earlier misinformation. These cases have not only benefited individual victims, but helped shift attitudes and reform public health policies and company practices.

The zoo lawsuit could achieve something similar by holding the zoo liable for downstream harms caused by its involvement in the illegal wildlife trade. By requesting public apologies and support for educational programmes, the lawsuit would not only seek to remedy harm to individual animals and species, but to help shape public perceptions and policy.

It’s also significant that this case is being brought by a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Governments can bring criminal cases against offenders, while the NGOs cannot. But in many countries, citizens and civil society groups are permitted to launch civil lawsuits in response to environmental harm, expanding the potential for public conservation action.

These types of lawsuits are often hindered by difficulties paying lawyers, corruption in legal systems and the intimidation of activists. With more than one million species potentially facing extinction, it’s important to recognise and support these rare cases which are testing new ways to protect the planet’s most threatened forms of life.

Jacob Phelps, Senior Lecturer in Conservation Governance, Lancaster University

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

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.

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.

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.

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 or to help pay for ongoing running costs.

Contribute

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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

Southern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus siki

Southern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus siki

Red List Status: Critically Endangered

Location: Central Laos (east of Mekong River), Central Vietnam (Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri Provinces)

In the misty canopies of Southeast Asian forests, where ancient trees reach towards clouded peaks and dawn breaks with haunting melodies, Southern White-cheeked Gibbons swing through their rapidly shrinking world.

Southern White-cheeked #Gibbons stand among Southeast Asia’s most melodic #primates, their haunting territorial songs echoing through evergreen forests at dawn. These remarkable apes face an 80% population decline over three generations as #rubber plantations, agricultural expansion, and #hunting devastate their homeland. #Vietnam has lost 15% of its forest cover in just 15 years and could lose another 45% by 2050, while #Laos faces similar destruction. With fewer than 425 groups remaining in fragmented patches, these singing #apes teeter on #extinction’s edge. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Southern White-cheeked #Gibbons 🐒🐵 sing together in regional dialects 🪇🎶🎷 and live in #Cambodia #Laos #Vietnam. They’re critically #endangered on due to #rubber #palmoil #deforestation and hunting. Help them and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🚫 @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/29/southern-white-cheeked-gibbon-nomascus-siki/

Endangered Primate Rescue Centre

Appearance and Behaviour

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons display striking sexual dimorphism that transforms with age. Juveniles begin life as light brown infants, turning black after weaning. Adult males remain jet black with distinctive white patches framing their mouths, while females develop rich brown colouring with delicate white facial edging. Their long, powerful arms span up to 1.5 metres, perfectly adapted for their brachiating lifestyle.

These gibbons begin each day with spectacular duet songs that can be heard up to 2 kilometres away. Mated pairs sing together to defend territories and strengthen bonds, their regional accents distinguishing different populations. Southern White-cheeked Gibbons are strictly arboreal, spending their entire lives in the canopy where they move with breathtaking grace and speed.

Diet

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons are primarily frugivorous, spending 33% of their day feeding on diverse forest fruits that ripen throughout the year. They supplement their diet with tender leaves, young shoots, and flowers, occasionally capturing small prey like lizards or Finlayson’s squirrels. These gibbons provide a critical ecosystem service by being seed dispersers, carrying viable seeds in their digestive systems across vast territories before depositing them in new locations through their faeces. Their feeding activities help regenerate forest biodiversity across their 37.9-hectare home ranges.

Reproduction and Mating

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons form monogamous pairs that mate for life, raising their young together in tight family units. Females typically give birth to their first offspring between seven and eight years of age. Because raising young is extremely demanding, both parents share childcare duties, and mothers wait until their current offspring becomes relatively independent before having another infant. Families consist of two parents, a juvenile, and an infant at any given time. Young gibbons leave their parents’ territory once they reach maturity between three and six years of age.

Geographic Range

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons inhabit a restricted range in central Laos east of the Mekong River and central Vietnam’s mountainous provinces. Their historical distribution extended from the Nam Theun and Rao Nay rivers in the north to the Banghiang and Thach Han rivers in the south.

In Vietnam, populations are heavily fragmented and scattered, while in Laos populations of gibbons remain larger. Key populations survive in protected areas including Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area.

Threats

Timber, rubber and palm oil deforestation

Agricultural expansion converts primary forests into farmland and human settlements, destroying the tall broadleaf evergreen forests Southern White-cheeked Gibbons require for survival. Logging operations target luxury timber species, selectively removing the largest trees that provide crucial fruiting resources and nesting sites.

Rubber cultivation destroys the fruiting trees that sustain gibbon populations while fragmenting territories below viable thresholds for family groups. The conversion process typically involves clear-cutting entire forest sections, eliminating decades of ecological relationships in mere weeks. In Cambodia’s Virachey National Park, large areas have been cleared for rubber production in recent years, particularly along the eastern borders where gibbons once thrived.

Infrastructure development and roads

Infrastructure development opens previously inaccessible areas to human exploitation, bringing roads, settlements, and hunting pressure into formerly secure habitats. The fragmentation creates isolated forest patches too small to support viable gibbon populations, leading to local extinctions across their range. Agricultural conversion eliminates the continuous canopy connections these strictly arboreal primates need for movement and foraging.

Hunting and wildlife trade

Traditional medicine practitioners highly value Southern White-cheeked Gibbons for their body parts. Opportunistic hunting with firearms targets gibbons alongside other wildlife, often killing entire family groups when hunters encounter them.

The illegal pet trade tears infant gibbons from their families, condemning them to lives of isolation and psychological trauma in captivity. Local communities hunt gibbons for bushmeat, viewing them as readily available protein sources. Gun ownership and hunting access have increased significantly with infrastructure development, bringing previously secure populations within reach of hunters. The small group sizes and territorial nature of gibbon families make them particularly vulnerable to hunting pressure.

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop. Adopt a vegan lifestyle protecting both wild and farmed animals from agricultural expansion. Support indigenous-led protection recognising traditional forest guardianship. Refuse products containing rubber from deforested areas and demand supply chain transparency. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan

FAQs

What sounds do Southern White-cheeked Gibbons make?

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons are renowned for their spectacular dawn songs that can be heard up to 2 kilometres away through dense forest. Mated pairs perform elaborate duets combining whoops, hoots, and melodic phrases that last 15-30 minutes each morning. These territorial songs serve to defend their home ranges and strengthen pair bonds between mates. Each population has developed regional accents, with slight variations in song structure distinguishing different gibbon communities across their range. Males typically begin the duet with deep hooting calls, while females add higher-pitched, more complex phrases that create hauntingly beautiful harmonies echoing through the forest canopy.

How high can Southern White-cheeked Gibbons swing?

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons are masterful brachiators, swinging through forest canopies 15-50 metres above the ground using their extremely long arms and powerful shoulder joints. They travel at speeds reaching 55 kilometres per hour through the canopy. Their incredible agility allows them to navigate dense forest canopies with extraordinary precision.

How long do Southern White-cheeked Gibbons live?

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons can live 35-40 years. Young gibbons remain with their parents for 3-6 years, learning essential survival skills including territorial singing, foraging techniques, and canopy navigation.

Are Southern White-cheeked Gibbons dangerous to humans?

These gentle apes are primarily frugivorous and spend their time high in forest canopies, far from human activity. Their territorial behaviour is directed only towards other gibbon groups, not humans, and consists of vocal displays rather than physical aggression.

Do Southern White-cheeked Gibbons make good pets?

It is deeply cruel to keep these wild apes as pets. Southern White-cheeked Gibbons suffer extreme psychological trauma, loneliness, and early death in captivity. The illegal pet trade rips infant gibbons from their families, causing severe trauma while removing potential breeding individuals from critically endangered populations.

Captive Southern White-cheeked Gibbons often develop depression and aggression as they attempt to cope with social isolation and environmental deprivation. Legal ownership is prohibited under CITES Appendix I and national laws in both Vietnam and Laos.

Why do Southern White-cheeked Gibbons sing?

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons sing elaborate duets to defend their territories, strengthen pair bonds, and communicate with neighbouring families across the forest landscape. These dawn songs serve as acoustic boundaries, informing other gibbon groups about occupied territories and preventing potentially dangerous physical confrontations. Mated pairs coordinate their duets to demonstrate their strong partnership and reproductive fitness to potential rivals. The songs also help family members locate each other in dense forest canopies and may serve to teach young gibbons proper vocal techniques essential for establishing their own territories. Regional variations in song structure function like dialects, allowing gibbons to identify members of their local population versus strangers from distant areas.

Further Information

Can, D. N., Trai, L. T., Ninh, L. V., Hieu, T. D., Nghia, H. V., Mai, T. T., & Tu, L. N. (2020). The status of southern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus siki) in Truong Son key biodiversity area. Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology, 42(1), 31-42.

Nguyen, M.H., Coudrat, C.N.Z., Roos, C., Rawson, B.M. & Duckworth, J.W. 2020. Nomascus siki. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39896A17968765. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T39896A17968765.en. Downloaded on 28 January 2021.

Southern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus siki) in Nakai-Nam Theun National Protected Area, Lao PDR. Conservation and Science Report, Northeast Primate Conservancy.

Southern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus siki

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

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

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.

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

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

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#Agriculture #Ape #apes #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Cambodia #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #endangered #extinction #frugivore #Gibbon #Gibbons #hunting #illegalPetTrade #infrastructure #Laos #Mammal #palmoil #petTrade #Primate #primates #roads #rubber #SeedDispersers #seeddispersal #song #SouthernWhiteCheekedGibbonNomascusSiki #vegan #Vietnam

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons Nomascus siki looking concerned

Southern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus siki

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons Nomascus siki boycott palm oil

Southern White-cheeked Gibbons Nomascus siki couple canoodling

Crested Capuchin Sapajus robustus

Crested Capuchin Sapajus robustus

IUCN Status: Endangered

Location: Brazil (southern Bahia, eastern Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo). In Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, where morning mist clings to ancient trees, the crested capuchin moves through their shrinking world with quiet intelligence.

The crested capuchin stands as one of Brazil’s most endangered primates. Their distinctive scarlet crests catch filtered sunlight as they navigate forest fragments between the Jequitinhonha and Doce rivers. With only 14,400 individuals remaining, these intelligent tool-users face extinction as palm oil plantations, soy agriculture, and urban sprawl devour their ancestral homes. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop and be #Vegan to help their survival.

https://youtu.be/tu9-T8Aapg8

Cheeky Crested #Capuchins are gregarious tool-using #monkeys, #endangered in #Brazil 🇧🇷 from #palmoil 🌴⛔️ meat 🥩🐮⛔️ and soy #deforestation and the illegal #pettrade 🏹 Help save them, when you shop #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/06/12/crested-capuchin-sapajus-robustus/

Reduced range of the endangered crested capuchin monkey (Sapajus robustus) and a possible hybrid zone with Sapajus nigritus

Main threats to Crested Capuchins are agriculture, urban sprawl, deforestation, increasing energy matrix, increasing road matrix habitat fragmentation, habitat reduction, hunting, harvesting and extensive areas of monoculture eucalyptus and pine.
IUCN red list

Appearance and Behaviour

The Crested Capuchin’s most striking feature blazes against the Atlantic forest canopy —a conical crest of brilliant scarlet adorned with a black spot. Their crests may extend around their faces, creating elegant black beards. Their robust bodies measure 33-57 centimetres with tails reaching 40-47 centimetres. Males weigh up to 3.8 kilograms.

These remarkable and gregarious primates reveal intelligence through sophisticated tool use. They employ eleven distinct actions including hammering, probing, and sponging. The social structure of Crested Capuchins features linear hierarchies spanning both sexes, with dominant males commanding respect from highest-ranking females.

Crested Capuchin Sapajus robustus

Diet

Crested capuchins are master foragers. As frugivore-insectivores, they feast on fruits from 56 native species, protein-rich arthropods, tender shoots and leaves, and occasionally small mammals. Their nimble little hands extract seeds from tough-shelled fruits with craftsperson precision. Crested capuchins maintain preferences for wild forest fruits even when exotic options become available, allowing them to maintain home ranges of approximately 120 hectares.

Reproduction and Mating

Groups of capuchins ranging from 12 to 27 individuals create dynamic communities. Males typically disperse from natal groups seeking new territories. Females remain within birth communities, creating matrilineal bonds spanning generations. Dominant males secure priority access to females during breeding seasons. Mothers teach essential foraging skills and social behaviours determining offspring survival prospects.

Geographic Range

Once ranging broadly between the Doce and Jequitinhonha rivers across Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, and Bahia, crested capuchins now survive primarily in forest fragments. Climate projections predict significant habitat deterioration by 2070. Their extent of occurrence spans greater than 119,000 square kilometres, yet actual occupancy remains unknown as habitat fragments into smaller islands.

Threats

Cattle ranching, timber, palm oil and soy deforestation

Palm oil plantations strip away multilayered canopy, replacing complex ecosystems with sterile monocultures. Soy cultivation and cattle ranching carve geometric scars across landscapes. Roads slice through forest fragments, creating barriers preventing genetic exchange. Energy infrastructure fragments habitat further. Urban sprawl consumes forest edges with relentless appetite. Pine and eucalyptus plantations replace native forest with fast-growing exotic trees providing neither food nor shelter.

Hunting and illegal wildlife trade

Hunters target crested capuchins for bushmeat near human settlements. The illegal pet trade tears infants from mothers’ arms, condemning them to stress, loneliness, and early death. Young capuchins suffer psychological trauma often proving fatal. Local communities facing economic hardship may turn to hunting as protein sources. Law enforcement struggles to patrol vast fragmented areas.

Climate change

Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns disrupt seasonal rhythms. Prolonged droughts stress fruit trees, reducing food source abundance. Earlier or delayed fruiting seasons create mismatches between peak food availability and energy demand periods. Extreme weather events caused by climate change destroy habitat and force populations of crested capuchins into marginal areas.

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop. Reject soy-fed meat and adopt a vegan lifestyle protecting wild and farmed animals. Support indigenous-led protection and agroecology. Refuse products containing palm oil and meat, which is driving Atlantic Forest deforestation. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife and go plant-based every time you shop.

FAQs

What is the current population of crested capuchins?

The total remaining population of Crested Capuchins is estimated at 14,400 individual monkeys based on census data in protected areas. Population densities range from 2.47 sightings per 10 kilometres in protected areas to 0.22 groups per 10 square kilometres in degraded habitats. Groups of capuchins typically consist of 12-15 individuals, though larger assemblages of up to 27 individuals show remarkable fluidity. The species faces ongoing population decline of at least 50% over three generations due to continuing habitat loss.

How long do crested capuchins live?

Related capuchin species typically live 15-25 years in the wild and potentially longer in captivity. Their longevity depends heavily on habitat quality, food availability, and human disturbance levels. Dominant individuals may enjoy better access to resources and greater longevity. However, ongoing deforestation and declining food availability may be reducing average lifespans of Crested Capuchins as individuals face increased stress and greater exposure to human-related mortality factors.

What are the main conservation challenges facing crested capuchins?

The primary challenge is relentless destruction of their Atlantic Forest habitat, with less than 12% of original forest remaining in small, isolated fragments. Palm oil plantations, soy cultivation for livestock feed, and cattle ranching continue converting forest into monocultures. Climate change compounds pressures by altering rainfall patterns, potentially making suitable habitat uninhabitable by 2070. Hunting for bushmeat and illegal pet trade further reduce numbers while disrupting social structures. Their restricted range makes them particularly vulnerable to local extinctions.

What are some interesting and unusual facts about crested capuchins?

Crested capuchins display remarkable intelligence through sophisticated tool use, employing eleven distinct actions including hammering, probing, and sponging. They modify tools for specific tasks and learn from watching companions. Their most distinctive feature is the brilliant scarlet conical crest adorned with a black spot. They show remarkable dietary flexibility, maintaining preferences for wild forest fruits even when exotic cultivated options become available. Their social groups can reach up to 27 individuals with remarkable fluidity, sometimes forming temporary subgroups.

Do crested capuchins make good pets?

Absolutely not. Crested capuchins suffer extreme stress, loneliness, and early death in captivity. These highly social primates have complex needs that cannot be met domestically. The illegal pet trade rips infants from mothers’ arms, causing severe trauma while removing breeding individuals from critically endangered populations. They require sophisticated social interactions, diverse natural foods, and extensive territories. Legal ownership is prohibited under Brazilian law, making possession illegal and unethical.

Further Information

Chiarello, A. G. (1999). Effects of fragmentation of the Atlantic forest on mammal communities in south-eastern Brazil. Biological Conservation, 89(1), 71-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(98)00130-X

Fragaszy, D. M., Izar, P., Visalberghi, E., Ottoni, E. B., & de Oliveira, M. G. (2004). Wild capuchin monkeys (Cebus libidinosus) use anvils and stone pounding tools. American Journal of Primatology, 64(4), 359-366. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20085

Martins, W. P., de Melo, F. R., Kierulff, M. C. M., Mittermeier, R. A., Lynch Alfaro, J. W., & Jerusalinsky, L. (2021). Sapajus robustus (amended version of 2019 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T42697A192592444. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T42697A192592444.en

Santos, P. M., Bocchiglieri, A., & Chiarello, A. G. (2023). Impacts of climate change and habitat loss on the distribution of the endangered crested capuchin monkey (Sapajus robustus). American Journal of Primatology, 85(11), e23548. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23548

Steinberg, D. L., Lynch, J. W., & Cartmill, E. A. (2022). A robust tool kit: First report of tool use in captive crested capuchin monkeys (Sapajus robustus). American Journal of Primatology, 84(11), e23428. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23428

You can support this beautiful animal

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Further Information

Donate to help orphaned capuchins that are rescued from traffickers. At Merazonia Wildlife Sanctuary

Martins, W.P., de Melo, F.R., Kierulff, M.C.M., Mittermeier, R.A., Lynch Alfaro, J.W. & Jerusalinsky, L. 2021. Sapajus robustus (amended version of 2019 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T42697A192592444. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T42697A192592444.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2021.

Wikipedia

Crested Capuchin Sapajus robustus

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

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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.

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

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.

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

#Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brazil #bushmeat #capuchin #Capuchins #climateChange #climatechange #CrestedCapuchinSapajusRobustus #deforestation #endangered #EndangeredSpecies #hunting #illegalPetTrade #insectivore #meatAgriculture #meatAndSoyDeforestationInBrazil #monkey #monkeys #palmoil #petTrade #pettrade #Primate #primates #SouthAmericaSpeciesEndangeredByPalmOilDeforestation #vegan

Crested Capuchin Sapajus robustus close-up of primate's face while smiling, a burning Amazon background

Crested Capuchin Sapajus robustus threats

Crested Capuchin Sapajus robustus by Leonardo Prest Mercon Ro from Getty Images

Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin Cebus aequatorialis

Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin Cebus aequatorialis

Red List status: Critically Endangered

Locations: Western lowland Ecuador (Esmeraldas, Manabí, Guayas, Los Ríos, Santa Elena provinces) and extreme north-west Peru (Tumbes, Piura). The Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin survives in fragments of coastal dry forest and humid foothill woodland.

https://youtu.be/MDhDS6km_F0

The Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin is a clever, social monkey, once a common sight in Ecuador’s lush coastal forests. Today, their world is shattered—over 90% of their habitat has vanished to palm oil, cattle, and soy. Chainsaws, fire, and bulldozers have left only scattered islands of green. Farmers shoot capuchins for raiding crops, hunters snatch infants for the illegal pet trade, and #mining operations poison the streams where they once drank. Now, fewer than ten thousand remain. Stand with indigenous communities defending the last forests. Use your wallet as a weapon. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan

Ecuadorian White-fronted #Capuchins 🐒 are critically #endangered #monkeys of #Peru 🇵🇪 #Ecuador 🇪🇨. Threats: #palmoil and #meat #deforestation and hunting. Help them when you shop, be #vegan 🫑🍉#BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/10/23/ecuadorian-white-fronted-capuchin-cebus-aequatorialis/ @palmoildetect

Donate to help orphaned capuchins at Merazonia

Appearance and Behaviour

The Ecuadorian White-fronted #Capuchin is a medium sized monkey with light brown back and white underside, giving this species its alternative name of Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin. This species is very similar to other species of white-fronted capuchin, and was only classified as a separate species in 2013.

The Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin is a medium-sized primate, measuring 35–50 cm with a tail of equal length and weighing 2–4 kg. Their fur is warm brown above and creamy white on the face, chest, and inner limbs. Dark, expressive eyes scan for danger while nimble fingers probe bark crevices for insects. Troops of up to twenty individuals move through the canopy, led by experienced females who choose the day’s path. At dawn, males bark in chorus, warning rivals and claiming feeding rights. These capuchins are quick learners, using sticks to dig for insects and stones to crack open nuts. They are deeply social, grooming each other and forming strong family bonds.

Threats

The Ecuardorian White-fronted Capuchin is affected by deforestation and hunting for bushmeat and the pet trade. Forests in the western lowlands of Ecuador have been severely reduced in the past half-century (Dodson and Gentry 1991, Sierra 2013, Gonzalez-Jaramillo 2016). Where habitat loss has fragmented forests, Cebus aequatorialis forages in plantations of corn (maize), bananas, plantain and cacao, and is persecuted and hunted by farmers for this reason.
IUCN red list

Palm oil, timber, meat, and soy deforestation

The Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin is classified as Critically Endangered due to catastrophic habitat loss, with over 90% of their original forest destroyed since the 1970s. Palm oil plantations, cattle ranching, and soy fields have replaced ancient trees and dense canopies with monocultures that offer no food or shelter. Logging companies and ranchers burn the understory, while new roads slice through the last forest fragments, leaving capuchins trapped in shrinking islands.

Hunting, bushmeat, and illegal pet trade

When the forest is destroyed this exposes the capuchins to predatory birds, domestic dogs, and hunters. Farmers shoot Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchins when they raid crops. Hunters target adults for bushmeat and capture infants for sale in local markets and border towns. The pet trade is especially brutal: infants are torn from mothers, who are often killed. Most captured juveniles die from stress, dehydration, and malnutrition before sale. Removing even a few breeding females from a small population can collapse an entire troop. Weak enforcement and low penalties mean illegal hunting and trade continue, even in protected areas. The trauma of captivity and the loss of family bonds cause extreme suffering and early death for capuchins in the illegal pet trade (Cervera et al., 2018; Guerrero-Casado et al., 2020).

Hunting, bushmeat, and illegal pet tradeMining, pollution, and fire

Mining operations in Esmeraldas and Manabí dump toxic sediment and chemicals into rivers and streams, killing the aquatic insects and crabs capuchins need for protein. Open-pit mines destroy entire watersheds, leaving behind barren land where forest once stood. Mining roads allow illegal loggers and hunters deeper access, accelerating destruction. Fires set for pasture or mining often escape, burning fruit trees and destroying nesting sites. Pesticides and herbicides sprayed on crops poison insects and contaminate streams, further reducing food sources for capuchins. The cumulative impact of mining, fire, and pollution leaves the remaining habitat degraded and dangerous for the Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin (González-Jaramillo et al., 2016; Sierra, 2013).

Fragmentation and population collapse

Many forest fragments are now too small to support a troop year-round. Deforestation continues even inside protected areas, with satellite data showing ongoing annual losses. Isolated groups face genetic bottlenecks and inbreeding, further threatening survival (Dodson & Gentry, 1991; González-Jaramillo et al., 2016; Sierra, 2013).

Field surveys at 83 forest fragments found capuchins at only 13 sites, many with encounter rates below one animal per kilometre walked. Camera traps in Pacoche and Punta Gorda record fewer than two capuchins per thousand trap-days. The population is now so small and scattered that inbreeding, disease, and local extinction are constant risks. Suitable habitat in Peru is confined to just 611 km² inside two reserves, both threatened by illegal logging and fire. Even a small increase in adult deaths could push the species beyond recovery (Guerrero-Casado et al., 2020; Jack & Campos, 2012).

Diet

Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchins are omnivores, feasting on figs, guavas, palm nuts, beetles, spiders, and small lizards. They dig into rotten logs and leaf litter with agile hands, and wade into streams to catch freshwater crabs. When wild fruit is scarce, they raid maize, banana, and cacao plantations, bringing them into conflict with farmers (Campos & Jack, 2013). Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchins are the prey animals of large raptors, small cat carnivores such as margays and snakes.

Reproduction and Mating

Females give birth every two to three years after a gestation of about 160 days. A single infant clings to their mother’s back for five months and nurses for up to a year. Youngsters practise tool use and foraging skills by eight months, watched by older siblings and aunts. Males leave their birth troop at four to five years, while females often stay and form the core of the group. In undisturbed forest, capuchins can live for 25 years or more, but hunting and habitat stress cut most lives short (Campos & Jack, 2013).

Geographic Range

The Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin once ranged from the Guayllabamba–Esmeraldas river system in Ecuador south to Tumbes and Piura in Peru. Today, they survive in a handful of protected areas and private reserves: Cerro Blanco, Mache-Chindul, Chongón-Colonche, Jama-Coaque, Pacoche, and the Noroeste Biosphere Reserve. Their range has shrunk by more than 90%, and the remaining fragments are separated by farmland and pasture (Guerrero-Casado et al., 2020; Jack & Campos, 2012).

FAQs

How many Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchins remain in the wild?

Population estimates suggest fewer than ten thousand Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchins remain, with some sources placing the number below five thousand. Habitat suitability modelling once projected a carrying capacity of 12,500 individuals if all remaining forest fragments were occupied at median density, but field surveys show many of these areas are now empty. The population has declined by more than 80% over the last three generations, meeting IUCN criteria for Critically Endangered status. Camera trap studies in protected areas record encounter rates of less than one capuchin per 1,000 trap-days, indicating extremely low population densities (Campos & Jack, 2013; Cervera et al., 2018).

Why is the Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin classed as Critically Endangered?

The Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin has lost over 90% of their original forest habitat to palm oil, cattle, and soy. Ongoing hunting and the illegal pet trade further reduce numbers. Even inside reserves, illegal logging, mining, and fires persist, preventing population recovery. The combination of these threats meets the Red List criteria for Critically Endangered. The species is at risk of extinction within a generation unless urgent action is taken (Dodson & Gentry, 1991; Sierra, 2013).

Do Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchins make good pets?

No. Captive capuchins develop bone disease, dental problems, and severe stress. The pet trade drives hunters to kill mothers and seize infants, accelerating extinction. Keeping these monkeys as pets is illegal and causes immense suffering. The pet trade is immensely cruel, rips families of monkeys apart and fuels extinction (Cervera et al., 2018).

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology. Adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #BoycottMeat to protect wild and farmed animals alike.

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

Campos, F. A., & Jack, K. M. (2013). A potential distribution model and conservation plan for the critically endangered Ecuadorian capuchin, Cebus albifrons aequatorialis. International Journal of Primatology, 34(5), 899–916. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-013-9704-x

Guerrero-Casado, J., Vega Guarderas, Z., & Cabrera, J. (2020). New records of the critically endangered Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin (Cebus aequatorialis) in western Ecuador. Neotropical Primates, 26(1), 1–5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31915955/

Jack, K. M., & Campos, F. A. (2012). Distribution, abundance, and spatial ecology of the critically endangered Ecuadorian capuchin (Cebus albifrons aequatorialis). Tropical Conservation Science, 5(2), 173–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/194008291200500207

Moscoso, P., de la Torre, S., Cornejo, F.M., Mittermeier, R.A., Lynch, J.W. & Heymann, E.W. 2021. Cebus aequatorialis (amended version of 2020 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T4081A191702052. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T4081A191702052.en. Downloaded on 06 June 2021.

Sierra, R. (2013). Patrones y factores de deforestación en el Ecuador continental, 1990–2010: Y un acercamiento a los próximos 10 años. Conservación Internacional Ecuador and Forest Trends. https://www.forest-trends.org/publications/patrones-y-factores-de-deforestacion-en-el-ecuador-continental-1990-2010/

https://mongabay.libsyn.com/palm-oil-plantations-and-their-many-impacts-have-arrived-in-the-amazon

Santa Marta White-fronted Capuchin Cebus malitiosus

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

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

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#Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #Brands #capuchin #Capuchins #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #criticallyendangered #deforestation #Ecuador #EcuadorianWhiteFrontedCapuchinCebusAequatorialis #endangered #ForgottenAnimals #goldMining #Mammal #meat #meatAgriculture #mining #monkey #monkeys #palmoil #Peru #pettrade #pollution #Primate #primates #roads #SouthAmerica #soyDeforestation #vegan

Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin Cebus aequatorialis sleeping

Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin Cebus aequatorialis

Sulawesi #Hornbills are spectacular birds 🦜🫶💚 endemic to #Sulawesi #Indonesia, #vulnerable from #palmoil #deforestation #hunting and the #pettrade. Help them survive every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥💀⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife
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Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata

Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata

Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata

IUCN Status: Near Threatened

Location: The Blue-streaked Lory is endemic to the Banda Sea Islands in Indonesia, primarily found on the Tanimbar Islands, including Yamdena and Larat, with possible populations on Babar. Small numbers recorded on Damar, Kai Kecil, and Kai Kesar Islands are believed to be introduced populations (BirdLife International, 2019).

Brilliantly coloured and full of energy, the Blue-streaked Lory (Eos reticulata) is a striking and unique #parrot living in the forests of the Banda Sea Islands, #Indonesia. Their scarlet plumage is decorated with iridescent blue streaks, creating a dazzling and electrifying colours both when they’re at rest and in flight. With a sharp, hooked beak adapted for nectar-feeding, these #birds flit from flower to flower, playing a vital role in rainforest #pollination.
Despite their adaptability, habitat destruction and the pet trade threaten their survival. These birds have been heavily trapped for the illegal bird trade, with over 3,000 individuals captured annually in the 1980s. Although they remain relatively common in their range, continued #deforestation and capture for the caged #pettrade and bird market may be pushing them towards decline. If these mesmerising lories are to have a future in the wild, their habitat must be protected, and the demand for keeping them as pets must end. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/yM06_Zg1fvs

Blue-streaked lorries are #Indonesia’s 🇮🇩 rare jewels. These crimson and blue #parrots 🦜🌈 are ‘Near Threatened’ by the #pet trade 🙀 and #PalmOil #Deforestation. Protect these #birds when u #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-a8d

Stunning #parrots of scarlet ❤️ and electric blue 💙plumage, Blue-streaked lorries are #birds 🦜🕊️🪽 facing threats of #climatechange and #palmoil #deforestation. Help them survive! #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔🤮☠️❌ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-a8d

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Appearance & Behaviour

The Blue-streaked Lory is a medium-sized #bird, reaching 31 cm in length. Their body is covered in a vivid red plumage, contrasting with iridescent blue streaks on the head and back. Their beak is bright orange, and their eyes gleam with preternatural intelligence. Their long tail feathers taper to fine points, creating an elegant silhouette at rest and in flight.

These lories have a brush-tipped tongue, specially adapted to collect nectar and pollen from flowers. They are highly social, forming loud, chattering flocks that dart through the forest canopy in search of food. When alarmed, their sharp, shrill calls echo through the trees, alerting others to danger.

Threats

Protecting these birds means stopping the pet trade and preserving their native forests.

Trapping for the illegal bird trade

Over 3,000 individuals were taken from the wild each year in the 1980s, leading to concerns about population decline (BirdLife International, 2019). While still relatively common, trapping remains a threat, with birds being exported or kept as pets in local villages.

Habitat destruction for palm oil and timber

Deforestation for palm oil agriculture, logging, and infrastructure projects continues to shrink their rainforest home. Although they can survive in secondary forests and plantations, further destruction could push them towards more rapid declines (Tracewski et al., 2016).

Climate change

Extreme temperature and rainfall changes as a result of climate change impact the availability of food for many bird species and have flow-on effects impacting other animals in their ecosystem.

Geographic Range

The Blue-streaked Lory is native to the Banda Sea Islands in Indonesia, particularly Yamdena and Larat in the Tanimbar Islands. Possible populations exist on Babar Island, but sightings on Damar, Kai Kecil, and Kai Kesar are likely due to human introduction (BirdLife International, 2019).

Diet

The Blue-streaked Lory is a nectarivore, primarily feeding on the nectar and pollen of forest flowers. Their specialised brush-tipped tongues allow them to extract nectar efficiently. In addition to flowers, they consume soft fruits, berries, and seeds.

They play a crucial role in pollination, transferring pollen between flowers as they feed, ensuring the survival of many rainforest plant species.

Mating and Reproduction

These lories form strong monogamous pairs and are highly territorial during breeding. They nest in tree hollows, often competing with other parrot species like Tanimbar Corellas (Cacatua goffiniana) and Eclectus Parrots (Eclectus roratus) for nesting sites (Haryoko et al., 2021).

During breeding, pairs work together to defend their territory, with the female laying 2–3 eggs, which she incubates while the male provides food. The chicks hatch after 24–26 days and fledge in about two months.

FAQs

What is the status of the Blue-streaked Lory?

The Blue-streaked Lory is currently classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. While still relatively common in its range, habitat loss and illegal trapping for the pet trade continue to pose threats to their survival (BirdLife International, 2019).

Why is the Blue-streaked Lory threatened?

This species is trapped for the illegal bird trade and faces habitat destruction due to deforestation. In the 1980s, over 3,000 individuals were taken from the wild each year. Although trapping rates have declined, continued loss of forests and poaching threaten their populations.

What is the Blue-streaked Lory’s habitat?

These lories inhabit tropical rainforests, but they are adaptable and can also be found in secondary forests, plantations, and coastal woodlands. However, continued deforestation and logging threaten their remaining habitat.

What does the Blue-streaked Lory eat?

They primarily consume nectar and pollen, using their specialised brush-tipped tongues to collect food from flowers. They also eat soft fruits, berries, and seeds, playing a crucial role as pollinators in their ecosystem.

How do Blue-streaked Lories breed?

They are monogamous, forming lifelong pairs. They nest in tree cavities, often competing with other parrots for nesting space. The female lays 2–3 eggs, incubating them while the male provides food. Chicks hatch after 24–26 days and fledge in about two months.

Would the Blue-streaked Lory make a good pet?

No. Keeping a Blue-streaked Lory as a pet is deeply unethical. These birds are wild animals, not domestic pets. They are highly social, need large forests to thrive, and suffer terribly in captivity. Many parrots taken from the wild die from stress, malnutrition, or improper care. By refusing to buy or keep wild birds as pets, you help protect them from extinction.

How much does a Blue-streaked Lory cost?

The true cost of keeping a Blue-streaked Lory is the destruction of their species. While poachers may place a monetary value on them, their real worth is in their role as pollinators and as a vital part of their ecosystem. Trapping these birds drives them towards extinction. Instead of buying one, take action to protect their wild habitats and end the bird trade.

Take Action!

These incredible birds need your help to survive. Use your wallet as a weapon—refuse to support the wildlife trade!
🚫 Never buy birds to keep in cages
🌱 Support indigenous-led conservation efforts.
🔥 Boycott palm oil, which is destroying their rainforest home.
🌍 Adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #BoycottMeat to reduce deforestation.
📢 Spread awareness about the illegal bird trade and habitat destruction.
Fight for their survival every time you shop. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the Blue-streaked Lory by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

BirdLife International. 2019. Eos reticulata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22684515A152066747. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22684515A152066747.en. Accessed on 07 February 2025.

Haryoko, T., O’Hara, M., Mioduszewska, B., et al. (2021). Bird Diversity on Tanimbar Islands with Special Reference to the Tanimbar Corella. Atlantis Press. https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/isplrsad-20/125957691.

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Blue-streaked Lory. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 7 February 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-streaked_lory.

World Parrot Trust. (n.d.). Blue-streaked Lory (Eos reticulata). Retrieved 7 February 2025, from https://www.parrots.org/encyclopedia/blue-streaked-lory.

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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.

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Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNG

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

Blonde Capuchin Sapajus flavius

Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

Read more about RSPO greenwashing

Lying Fake labels Indigenous Land-grabbing Human rights abuses Deforestation Human health hazards

A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)

Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata beautiful face

Two Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata sitting together

Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata leaning down on a rope

Close up of a Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata

Blonde Capuchin Sapajus flavius

IUCN Status: Endangered

Locations: Brazil

The blonde capuchin is found in the northeastern Atlantic Forest of Brazil, primarily in the states of Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Alagoas. Some populations have also been recorded in the Caatinga biome of Rio Grande do Norte, possibly due to habitat loss forcing them into new environments.

The blonde #capuchin (Sapajus flavius) is an enigmatic and critically endangered #primate found in the northeastern forests of Brazil. With their striking golden-yellow fur and intelligent, expressive faces, these capuchins are among the most visually distinctive of their genus. Once thought to be extinct, they were rediscovered in 2006, yet their populations remain fragmented and highly vulnerable. They inhabit a range of environments, from the coastal mangrove forests and várzea floodplains to terra firme forests in #Brazil’s Atlantic Forest biome. However, their survival is increasingly threatened by deforestation, agricultural expansion, #hunting, and the illegal #pettrade.
Blonde capuchins are known for their exceptionally large social groups, sometimes exceeding 150 individuals, where complex interactions, vocalisations, and even tool use have been observed. Unlike many primates, they do not have a specific breeding season, and infants can be seen being carried by their mothers year-round. Their remarkable adaptability to different habitats, including flooded forests and human-altered landscapes, underscores their resilience—but without immediate conservation action, these monkeys may not survive the pressures of habitat loss and hunting. Help them to survive every time you shop adopt a #Vegan lifestyle and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket.

Blonde #capuchins 🐒🐵 are #endangered due to #palmoil 🌴 sugarcane and meat 🥩 #deforestation in #Brazil 🇧🇷. Supremely intelligent, they use tools and mourn dead in their troop. Take action! #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-a9q

#Monkeys of #Brazil, blonde #capuchins 🐒 are super smart and rub millipedes into their fur as an bug repellent. #PalmOil #meat and the illegal #pet trade are threats. Be #vegan for them 🥕🍆🧅 and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🧐🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-a9q

https://youtu.be/jCECaQvtxtY

Appearance & Behaviour

Evidence of social cohesion and empathic community behaviour, group and individual mourning of infant deaths.
Use up to 29 distinctive calls used to communicate.
Live in large groups of up to 150 individuals.
Evidence of complex tool use for self-medication and locating food.

Blonde capuchins are striking primates, their golden-yellow coats shimmering against the deep greens of the Atlantic Forest. They have a distinctive whitish cap on the front of their heads, which contrasts sharply with their dark brown eyes and black facial markings. Their fur is short and dense, suited to the humid tropical climate. Their hands and feet are a lighter shade of gold, with hairless black palms and soles for better grip while climbing. Males and females are similar in appearance, but males are typically larger and more muscular.

These capuchins are highly intelligent and social, living in large, multi-male, multi-female groups that can contain over 150 individuals. They use a complex system of vocalisations, with at least 29 distinct calls, to communicate. Their societies function with a fission-fusion dynamic, meaning they frequently split into smaller foraging groups to reduce competition over food. This flexibility is key to their survival in fragmented habitats.

Despite spending most of their time in the trees, blonde capuchins also frequently descend to the ground, particularly in Caatinga dry forests and areas where fruit is scarce. They exhibit high levels of problem-solving and tool use, including using sticks to fish for termites and rubbing millipede secretions onto their fur as an insect repellent.

These monkeys have strong social bonds, and mothers play an essential role in infant care, carrying their young for months after birth. Although males do not carry infants, they play a protective role, ensuring the safety of the group, particularly mothers and offspring. In a fascinating example of primate grief, a female blonde capuchin was observed carrying her dead infant for an extended period, refusing to abandon the body despite the risks of slowing down. Two adult males guarded the grieving mother, offering protection as she lagged behind the group, demonstrating a strong sense of social cohesion and empathy.

Threats

Sugar Cane, Palm Oil and Soy Monoculture

The relentless expansion of industrial agriculture, particularly sugar cane, palm oil and soy plantations, has led to the destruction of the Atlantic Forest—the blonde capuchin’s primary habitat. These plantations fragment their environment, forcing them into isolated forest patches where food scarcity increases competition and stress.

Cattle Ranching Deforestation

Large-scale cattle ranching contributes to deforestation, eliminating vast tracts of forest that blonde capuchins depend on. The clearing of land for pasture not only destroys their habitat but also reduces biodiversity, making it harder for them to find food and shelter.

Illegal Pet Trade

Blonde capuchins are frequently captured for the illegal pet trade. Their intelligence and playful nature make them highly sought after, but life in captivity is cruel. Confined to small cages and deprived of their social groups, they suffer immense psychological distress. The capture process is often violent, leading to injuries and death for both the captured individuals and the infants left behind.

Climate Change-Induced Extreme Weather

Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns are disrupting food availability and seasonal cycles. Extreme droughts and storms destroy fruiting trees, leading to food shortages. Additionally, prolonged dry periods increase the risk of wildfires, further threatening their habitat.

Pesticides and River Pollution from Agriculture

Agricultural runoff, laden with pesticides and fertilisers, contaminates water sources. Blonde capuchins, like many primates, drink from forest streams, exposing them to toxic chemicals that weaken their immune systems and reduce reproductive success.

Geographic Range

Blonde capuchins are found in the fragmented forests of northeastern Brazil, particularly in the Atlantic Forest and, more recently, in the drier Caatinga biome. The latter may represent a forced adaptation due to habitat destruction.

Diet

Blonde capuchins are omnivores, feeding primarily on fruits, seeds, nuts, insects, and small vertebrates. In degraded habitats, they have been observed relying heavily on sugarcane, raiding plantations for food. This dietary shift highlights the impact of habitat destruction on their natural feeding behaviours.

Mating and Reproduction

Blonde capuchins (Sapajus flavius) exhibit year-round reproduction, meaning they do not adhere to a strict breeding season. This constant reproductive cycle allows for continuous population growth when environmental conditions permit. However, habitat destruction and human encroachment threaten this delicate balance, leading to increased infant mortality and population decline.

Maternal Care and Infant Development

Female blonde capuchins provide the primary care for their young, carrying infants on their backs for several months after birth. This close physical contact ensures warmth, protection, and the opportunity for infants to learn social behaviours by observing their mothers. Studies show that 68% of observed infant carrying was performed by females, emphasising their role as the primary caregivers (Medeiros et al., 2019).

Male Involvement in Infant Protection

Although males do not typically engage in direct infant care, they provide an essential protective role within the group. In some cases, two adult males have been observed guarding a vulnerable mother carrying her deceased infant, demonstrating social cooperation and the importance of group dynamics in protecting reproductive females (Andrade et al., 2020). This protective behavior ensures that mothers and infants are less vulnerable to predators while traveling with the group.

Infant Death and Maternal Grief

In rare but significant cases, female blonde capuchins have been documented engaging in corpse carrying behaviour, where a grieving mother carries her dead infant for days, even at the risk of slowing down her movements and exposing herself to danger. One such case involved a female who continued to carry her deceased infant despite being at increased risk of predation. Two males remained close to her, offering protection as she moved through the forest, suggesting that male blonde capuchins may provide indirect support to grieving mothers (Andrade et al., 2020).

This behavior is consistent with thanatology in primates, a field that examines how primates react to death. It suggests that blonde capuchins, like other cognitively complex primates, may experience a form of grief and maternal attachment beyond immediate survival instincts.

FAQs

Do blonde capuchins make good pets?

No. Keeping a blonde capuchin as a pet is both cruel and illegal. These intelligent primates require complex social interactions, large territories, and the freedom to forage and move. Captivity leads to severe mental and physical suffering. Additionally, the pet trade fuels poaching, further endangering wild populations.

How intelligent are blonde capuchins?

Blonde capuchins are among the most intelligent primates. They exhibit tool use, such as using sticks to extract termites and rocks to crack nuts. They also apply millipede secretions to their fur as a natural insect repellent, demonstrating problem-solving skills and cultural behaviours.

Why are blonde capuchins endangered?

The primary threats include deforestation for palm oil, sugar cane, soy and meat agriculture, habitat fragmentation, and the illegal pet trade. These pressures have drastically reduced their populations, leaving them confined to small, isolated forest patches.

How can I help protect blonde capuchins?

The best way to help is by supporting indigenous-led conservation initiatives and refusing to support industries that contribute to deforestation. Boycott palm oil and meat in the supermarket to fight against these destructive industries. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Take Action!

Blonde capuchins are in urgent need of protection. Every time you shop, you have the power to fight for their survival. Refuse products that contribute to deforestation and the destruction of their habitat. Support indigenous-led conservation efforts and advocate for stronger wildlife protection laws. Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Support Blonde Capuchins by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

Andrade, B. M. T., Freire-Filho, R., & Bezerra, B. (2020). The behaviours of a female blonde capuchin (Sapajus flavius) towards her dead infant. Behaviour. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-bja10031

Bastos, M., Medeiros, K., Jones, G., & Bezerra, B. (2018). Small but wise: Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) use acoustic signals as cues to avoid interactions with blonde capuchin monkeys (Sapajus flavius). American Journal of Primatology, 80(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22744

Bezerra, B. M., Bastos, M., Souto, A., Keasey, M. P., Eason, P., Schiel, N., & Jones, G. (2014). Camera Trap Observations of Nonhabituated Critically Endangered Wild Blonde Capuchins, Sapajus flavius (Formerly Cebus flavius). International Journal of Primatology, 35(5), 895–907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-014-9782-4

Hance, J.(2011). Critically endangered capuchins make tools to gather termites. Mongabay https://news.mongabay.com/2011/03/critically-endangered-capuchins-make-tools-to-gather-termites/

Medeiros, K., Bastos, M., Jones, G., & Bezerra, B. (2019). Behavior, Diet, and Habitat Use by Blonde Capuchin Monkeys (Sapajus flavius) in a Coastal Area Prone to Flooding: Direct Observations and Camera Trapping. International Journal of Primatology, 40(5), 511–531. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-019-00103-z

Prado-Sañudo, M. L., Giraldo, A., & Bolívar, W. (2020). Population status of Sapajus flavius in the Western and Central Andes of Colombia. Boletín Científico Centro de Museos Museo de Historia Natural, 24(2), 116-124. https://doi.org/10.17151/bccm.2020.24.2.8

Valença-Montenegro, M.M., Bezerra, B.M., Martins, A.B., Jerusalinsky, L., Fialho, M.S. & Lynch Alfaro, J.W. 2021. Sapajus flavius (amended version of 2020 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T136253A192592928. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T136253A192592928.en. Accessed on 10 February 2025.

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Blonde capuchin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blond_capuchin

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Ecuadorean Viscacha Lagidium ahuacaense

Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNG

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

Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

Read more about RSPO greenwashing

Lying Fake labels Indigenous Land-grabbing Human rights abuses Deforestation Human health hazards

A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)

Blonde Capuchin Sapajus flavius in a tree

Blonde Capuchin Sapajus flavius close up of face

Happy #WorldLizardDay 🦎🎉🥳 #Reptiles are fascinating creatures, sadly feared and persecuted by humans. Stand up for #lizards don't buy them as #pets - as many are #endangered by the #pettrade! When u shop #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/11/05/reptiles-why-one-in-five-species-face-extinction-heres-how-you-can-help-them/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=Palm+Oil+Detectives&utm_campaign=publer

Cheeky Crested #Capuchins are gregarious tool-using #monkeys, #endangered in #Brazil 🇧🇷 from #palmoil 🌴⛔️ meat 🥩🐮⛔️ and soy #deforestation and the illegal #pettrade 🏹 Help save them, when you shop #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social palmoildetectives.com/2021/06/12/c...

Crested Capuchin Sapajus robus...

Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot Eclectus riedeli

IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Locations: Endemic to Yamdena and Larat islands, Tanimbar Archipelago, Indonesian occupied West Papua.

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.

Stunning and vibrantly coloured Tanimbar Eclectus #Parrots 🦜💚💋are #vulnerable due to the illegal pet trade and #palmoil’s endless devastation. Fight for their survival when u #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔☠️⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-a7t

The curious Tanimbar Eclectus #Parrots 🦜 of #WestPapua fall in love with each other’s exquisite plumage 🌈😻 #PalmOil #ecocide is a big threat 😿 Resist for these #birds and go #PalmOilFree #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🛢️💩🤮❌ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2025/07/20/tanimbar-eclectus-parrot-eclectus-riedeli/

https://youtu.be/iv9xPVenLEw

Appearance & Behaviour

Tanimbar Eclectus parrots are known for their dramatic sexual dimorphism. Male birds are covered in vibrant green feathers, with a yellow-orange beak, while females are deep red with bright blue undersides and a striking black beak. Their unique colours provide camouflage in the dense tropical foliage of their island home. These parrots are highly intelligent, social, and vocal, using a range of calls to communicate with their mates and flock members. They are strong fliers and spend most of their time in the high canopy, searching for food and nesting sites.

Threats

Palm Oil and Timber Deforestation

The Tanimbar Islands still hold large areas of forest, but deforestation for timber and palm oil is rapidly increasing. Logging, agricultural expansion, and human settlement rapidly shrinking the habitat of the Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot. This bird species’ range has already experienced an estimated 8% loss over the past three generations, and this rate is expected to accelerate as pressure on the islands’ forests grows.

The Illegal Pet Trade

Although the Tanimbar Eclectus is not yet widely traded internationally, it is still caught and sold within local markets. Parrots stolen from the wild often die from stress and injury before they even reach a buyer. The pet trade not only depletes populations but also leaves chicks abandoned in nests, causing further losses.

Climate Change

Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns threaten the Tanimbar Eclectus in multiple ways. Intense storms and cyclones damage the forests they rely on, destroying nesting trees and food sources. Heatwaves and prolonged droughts also impact their breeding success and reduce fruit availability, making survival even more challenging.

Geographic Range

The Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot is found exclusively on the islands of Yamdena and Larat in the Tanimbar Archipelago, of West Papua, a region illegally occupied by Indonesia. They primarily inhabit lowland and forest edges, relying on dense tropical forests for nesting and foraging.

Diet

The Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot feeds primarily on fruit, seeds, nuts, and flowers. They are particularly dependent on native fig trees and tropical fruiting plants found in their lowland forests. Their role as seed dispersers is crucial for maintaining the health of their ecosystem.

Mating and reproduction

These parrots are monogamous and form strong pair bonds. Breeding pairs nest in large tree hollows, where the female seals herself inside for protection while incubating eggs. The male is responsible for feeding his mate and chicks throughout this period. They typically lay 2–3 eggs, though only one chick often survives due to competition for food.

FAQs

Are Eclectus parrots endangered?

Yes, the Tanimbar Eclectus is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat destruction and the pet trade. While not as heavily trafficked as some other bird species, local trapping remains a threat, and deforestation is reducing their available habitat.

How much do Eclectus parrots cost?

The real cost of buying an Eclectus parrot is far greater than any price tag. Whether wild-caught or captive-bred, keeping these intelligent, highly social birds in cages is cruel and unnatural. In the wild, they soar across vast rainforests, flying hundreds of kilometres each day, foraging, socialising, and raising their young in the towering canopy. No cage—no matter how large—can ever replace this freedom.

Parrots are not ornaments, conversation pieces, or living decorations. Confined to captivity, they suffer from boredom, frustration, and loneliness, often plucking out their own feathers, screaming incessantly, or developing neurotic behaviours. Their wings, meant for the open skies, become symbols of imprisonment.

Rather than supporting the pet trade, which fuels the demand that threatens wild populations, the best way to protect the Tanimbar Eclectus is to advocate for their conservation, protect their rainforest habitat, and reject the captivity of wild animals altogether.

How to keep an Eclectus Parrot as a pet?

Keeping a wild Tanimbar Eclectus or Eclectus Parrot as a pet is an incredibly damaging and selfish act. Many parrots captured for the pet trade are taken from their nests as chicks, leading to the destruction of their family units. Parrots stolen from the wild often die from stress and malnutrition before they even reach a buyer. Removing them from their habitat weakens their population, pushing them closer to extinction. Parrots born in a cage live in unnatural and cruel conditions all of their lives. These intelligent beings never know what its like to fly for 100’s of kilometres a day as they are meant to do. How would you feel to be born in a cage, live for around 70 years and then die in a cage?

Are Eclectus parrots aggressive?

Eclectus parrots are not naturally aggressive, but they are highly intelligent and require constant social interaction and mental stimulation. In captivity, frustration and isolation can cause behavioural issues, including biting and screaming. This is another strong reason why these birds should be left in the wild.

How does climate change affect the Tanimbar Eclectus / Eclectus Parrot?

Climate change poses a serious threat to this species. Rising temperatures, unpredictable storms, and habitat degradation are already having negative effects. More frequent cyclones destroy nesting trees and fruiting plants, while prolonged droughts limit their food supply. Changes in seasonal patterns may also disrupt their breeding cycles.

Take Action!

The Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot needs your help. The pet trade and palm oil deforestation are driving them toward extinction. Every time you shop, make ethical choices to protect their future.

🐦 Do not support the illegal pet trade!
🌳 Support indigenous-led conservation efforts to protect forests.
🛑 Avoid products containing palm oil.
🔥 Use your wallet and supermarket choices to help save them—#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Support the Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

Bishop, K.D., & Brickle, N. W. (1999). The status of the Tanimbar Eclectus in Indonesia. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T155073764A155087808.en.

BirdLife International. 2019. Eclectus riedeli. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T155073764A155087808. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T155073764A155087808.en. Accessed on 07 February 2025.

Parrots.org. (n.d.). Tanimbar Eclectus species profile. Retrieved from https://www.parrots.org/encyclopedia/tanimbar-eclectus.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Pesquets Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus

Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNG

Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot Eclectus riedeli

Malayan Flying Fox Pteropus vampyrus

Mountain Cuscus Phalanger carmelitae

Andean condor Vultur gryphus

Brazilian three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrot

Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

Read more about RSPO greenwashing

Lying Fake labels Indigenous Land-grabbing Human rights abuses Deforestation Human health hazards

A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)

One male and two female Tanimbar Eclectus Parrots in a rainforest

Male and female Tanimbar Eclectus Eclectus riedeli in a jungle

As of 2009, the IUCN recognises 19 species of #parrot as #extinct since 1500 (the date used to denote modern extinctions). This does not include species like the New Caledonian lorikeet, which has not been officially seen for 100 years, yet is still listed as critically #endangered.

What is wrong with humanity? 😢

#conservation #parrots #environment #wildlife #birds #pettrade

The Guardian reports on the trend of exotic pet ownership in Thailand, where wealthy elites are increasingly buying animals like lions for social media likes on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

"Similar trends are emerging with other non-native species, including ring-tailed lemurs and #RedPandas."

👉 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/28/thailand-lion-exotic-pet-trade-instagram-tiktok-aoe

#RedPanda #RoterPanda #KleinerPanda #PandaRoux #PandaRosso #PandaRojo #Wah #RedPandas #AilurusFulgens #Pandačervená #PetTrade #Thailand #lion #lemur

Borneo Forest Dragon Gonocephalus bornensis

Borneo Forest Dragon Gonocephalus bornensis

Extant (resident): Brunei Darussalam; Indonesia (Kalimantan); Malaysia (Sarawak, Sabah)

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 crest and beautifully camouflaged body, allowing them to blend seamlessly into their rainforest surroundings. Found primarily in undisturbed and secondary rainforests, the Borneo Forest Dragon thrives in humid environments, often near streams.

Although the latest assessment by IUCN Red List revealed that they are ‘least concern’, the plans to move the capital of Indonesia to Kalimantan is concerning to conservationists and animal lovers alike. Rampant habitat loss from #palmoil and #timber #deforestation on the island of Borneo posses a grave threat. Protect these striking animals and their rainforest home when you #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife!

https://youtu.be/gN-KYLuDvPg?si=EGkkENV83ehkPF5p

Cheeky, charismatic Borneo Forest #Dragons 🦎are the most beautiful #lizards you’ve never heard of. Living inside of #Borneo’s #forests, threats include #palmoil #deforestation and more. Help them survive #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-8PU

Borneo Forest Dragons 🦎 are cold-blooded #reptile royalty in the #rainforests of #Malaysia and #Indonesia. Endless forests are being destroyed for #palmoil and #mining. Fight for #lizards 👊💚when u shop #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-8PU

Appearance & Behaviour

Male Borneo Forest Dragons are bigger than females, with longer tails and a more prominent crest. They lay up to four eggs per clutch, which are deposited in a small burrow in the soil. Their colouration provides excellent camouflage from predators in the rainforest canopy, where they spend most of their time.

Males can grow to up to 13.6 cm long and with longer tails than females, who are slightly smaller. These lizards stand out thanks to the crest on their necks and backs, which looks like a sharp, lance-shaped ridge. Males and females show colour dimorphism, with males typically brown, olive, and green, with dark patterns. Meanwhile females have a striking rust-red colour with oval spots on their sides.

Found in the vines and tree trunks of primary and secondary rainforests, these lizards are tree-dwellers, spending most of their time in the forest canopy. When they feel threatened, they raise their bodies and flare the crest on their neck to look bigger.

Threats

Palm oil and timber deforestation

The primary threat to the Borneo Forest Dragon is habitat loss due to the clearing of forests for agriculture, including palm oil plantations, and logging activities. As rainforests are cut down, lizards lose access to the trees they depend on for shelter, food, and breeding sites. Fragmentation of their habitat isolates populations and increases their vulnerability to other threats. They are also threatened by agricultural run-off and toxic pesticides impacting their fragile ecosystem.

Habitat destruction

Selective logging and human encroachment have fundamentally changed the structure of the forest making it less suitable for arboreal species like the Borneo Forest Dragon and other reptiles. Secondary forests, while still viable habitats, do not offer the same quality of resources as primary forests.

Climate change

Extreme weather and changes to rainfall patterns due to climate change are likely to threaten their rainforest ecosystem. This shift in weather conditions may disrupt their breeding and food availability, forcing them to move to less suitable environments.

Diet

The Borneo Forest Dragon is an insectivore, feeding primarily on small invertebrates found in their rainforest habitat. These lizards may opportunistically eat other small prey available in the forest, hunting in the trees.

Mating & Reproduction

Borneo anglehead lizards reproduce by laying eggs. Females deposit up to four eggs in a small burrow dug in the soil. The eggs, which are around 22 mm in length, are laid at intervals of three months. The species’ arboreal nature means they rely on well-structured forests with plenty of trees and lianas for shelter and nesting sites.

Habitat

The Borneo Forest Dragon is endemic to the island of Borneo. Their range includes Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) and Indonesia (Kalimantan), along with the Kingdom of Brunei. The Borneo Anglehead Lizard inhabits primary and secondary rainforests up to 700 metres above sea level. Preferring humid environments near streams where they can find abundant food and nesting sites.

Support the Borneo Forest Dragon by going vegan and boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

Ecology Asia. (2024). Borneo anglehead lizard. Retrieved from https://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/lizards/borneo-anglehead-lizard.htm

Iskandar, D. & McGuire, J. 2019. Gonocephalus bornensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T99929470A99929479. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T99929470A99929479.en. Accessed on 15 September 2024.

Wikipedia contributors. (2024). Gonocephalus bornensis. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonocephalus_bornensis

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Global South America S.E. Asia India Africa West Papua & PNG

Tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis

Frill-Necked Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii

Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum

Ecuadorean Viscacha Lagidium ahuacaense

Southern Pudu Pudu puda

Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata