Mastodawn

Jaguars vs Cows: JBS Fuelling Biodiversity Collapse in Brazil’s Forests

A damning Global Witness investigation exposes how JBS, the world’s largest meat company, is directly linked to deforestation in some of Brazil’s most biodiverse ecosystems, including the Amazon and Pantanal. Despite greenwashing promises, JBS continues sourcing cattle from ranchers involved in illegal deforestation in areas that overlap with protected jaguar territory—pushing iconic species like the jaguar closer to extinction. The company’s failure to track indirect suppliers undermines greenwashing and zero-deforestation claims. JBS is financed by British Bank Barclays who made a whopping $1.7 billion from this decimation of the environment. This scandal highlights the urgent need to divest your wealth from Barclays until they stop funding JBS. Also in the supermarket you can #BoycottMeat and be #vegan for not only farmed animals but also for wild animals like jaguars and countless others. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

#Meat giant 🥩☠️ #JBS is driving #deforestation in the #Amazon🐆 ❌ Jaguars are losing their home to cows killed for burgers 🤮💰 Billions in profits to #Barclays and zero accountability 📣 Divest NOW! NO to #BigCat #extinction! #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan https://palmoildetectives.com/2026/01/21/jaguars-vs-cows-jbs-fuelling-biodiversity-collapse-in-brazils-forests/

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Global Witness. (2024, May 15). Jaguars vs cows: The biodiversity crisis under JBS’s shadow. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/forests/jaguars-vs-cows-the-biodiversity-crisis-under-jbs-shadow/

A Global Witness investigation has found that jaguars, vital guardians of Amazonian ecosystems and critical apex predators — are under siege as Brazil’s forests are cleared at alarming rates. New findings from Global Witness show that over 27 million hectares of the jaguar’s historic habitat in Brazil have been razed for industrial agriculture, particularly cattle ranching, between 2014 and 2023.

A single supplier to JBS, the world’s largest meat company, illegally cleared over 1,200 hectares of protected jaguar habitat in just a decade. Across the jaguar’s range in Pará and Mato Grosso states, 75% of farms linked to JBS’s supply chain broke environmental laws in the past five years. Deforestation and habitat fragmentation have devastated jaguar populations, classified as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List.

Jaguars are a keystone species, crucial to maintaining ecosystem health. Their decline ripples throughout the Amazon and Cerrado, triggering wider biodiversity loss. Meanwhile, financial institutions in Europe, China, and the US continue backing JBS despite its environmental breaches, profiting while forests fall.

With Brazil hosting COP30 this year, Global Witness is calling for world leaders to show real commitment. They must strengthen laws regulating supply chains and finance to protect remaining forests and Indigenous territories, or risk missing the 2030 deadline to halt deforestation.

Without urgent action, jaguars — once revered as guardians of the rainforest — could vanish forever.

The Global Witness investigation found over 27 million ha of jaguar habitat – an area larger than the UK – had been converted to agricultural land in the states of Mato Grosso and Pará as of 2023.

“We decided to investigate the loss of jaguar habitat driven by industrial agriculture because jaguars are a keystone species. They play a crucial role in stabilising ecosystems and maintaining biodiversity in areas such as the Amazon and Cerrado. When their territories are destroyed, the entire ecosystem suffers,” said Marco Mantovani, a Global Witness investigator leading the data analysis.

A road in Brazil which drives deep into jaguar habitat. Ricardo de O. Lemos/ShutterstockJaguar Panthera onca by Ecuadorian artist Juanchi PérezA jaguar in the jungle of southern Mexico. Mardoz/Shutterstock

“Deforestation is a solvable issue, but it’s one where there is stalling, a lack of political will to actually meet the global agreement to end forest loss by 2030,” said Global Witness’s Reid, referring to the landmark pledge reached at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021.

She told Mongabay that she hopes that at COP30 countries will put forward plans “to actually deliver [on] their commitments when it comes to forest loss.”

British banking giant Barclays was a main financier of the megaproject and made an extraordinary $1.7 billion from financing JBS, surpassing 30 other global financial institutions bankrolling the meatpacker. A key way to take action is to not only boycott meat in solidarity to cows and jaguars, but to also divest your funds from Barclays.

Global Witness. (2024, May 15). Jaguars vs cows: The biodiversity crisis under JBS’s shadow. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/forests/jaguars-vs-cows-the-biodiversity-crisis-under-jbs-shadow/

ENDS

Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry

Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus

Capped langurs are found in India Bhutan Bangladesh and Myanmar, they are vulnerable from palm oil and other forms of deforestation. Take action for them!

Wealthiest people in USA and China responsible for 2/3 of global warming since 1990. Climate policies needed to target the richest people on the planet now!

In fragmented forests of Mexico, big cats find it hard to locate prey ungulates instead seeking tree-dwelling #monkeys – that’s bad news for primates!

Mountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque

Mountain Tapirs are the most threatened large mammals of the northern Andes, hunting, climate change and mining are threats, take action and boycott gold!

Commodifying forests as merely an investment for ‘carbon credits’ has many dangerous loopholes that human rights to indigenous peoples, take action!

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Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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

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

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#Barclays #bigCat #bigcat #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #corruption #deforestation #extinction #Jaguar #JaguarPantheraOnca #Jaguars #JBS #meat #meatAgriculture #meatAndSoyDeforestationInBrazil #meatDeforestation #News #PalmOil #vegan

Palm Oil Detectives Dec 17

Finance giants fuel $8.9 trillion deforestation economy

Global Canopy’s Forest 500 report reveals that 150 of the world’s largest financial institutions invested nearly $9 trillion in deforestation-linked industries during 2024, with six out of ten firms lacking any public deforestation policies. The analysis tracked $8.9 trillion in direct and indirect financial support for 500 companies exposed to forest-risk commodities including palm oil, soy, beef, cocoa, and timber, with $864 billion going to businesses making no public commitments against deforestation. Financial titans Vanguard, BlackRock and JPMorgan Chase alone accounted for more than one-fifth of total funding at $1.6 trillion. The EU’s upcoming Deforestation Regulation #EUDR will ban imports of products linked to forest destruction from December 30, potentially locking out companies without robust policies. Urgent action needed to redirect finance away from forest destruction and toward Indigenous-led forest protection. Support a strong and strict EUDR to safeguard forests, be vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

💰☠️ $8.9 TRILLION funds deforestation! BlackRock, Vanguard, JPMorgan lead with $1.6T funding #palmoil, #soy and #meat #deforestation 🌴🔥 Support the #EUDR ban Dec 30 ⛔️ #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2025/12/17/finance-giants-fuel-8-9-trillion-deforestation-economy/

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https://youtu.be/CAqjKOnUkqA

Sustainable Times. (2024). Global finance giants under fire for fueling an $8.9 trillion ‘deforestation economy’ in 2024. Sustainable Times. https://www.sustainabletimes.co.uk/post/global-finance-giants-under-fire-for-fueling-an-8-9-trillion-deforestation-economy-in-2024

The world’s largest financial institutions Vanguard, BlackRock, and JPMorgan Chase are bankrolling a massive $8.9 trillion deforestation economy whilst offering minimal safeguards against forest destruction, according to explosive new research that exposes the banking sector’s complicity in global environmental destruction.

Global Canopy’s comprehensive Forest 500 report tracked investments from 150 of the planet’s biggest financial institutions throughout 2024, revealing systematic funding of industries driving tropical rainforest annihilation across palm oil, soy, beef and timber sectors. The scale of financial exposure proves staggering, with institutions providing $8.9 trillion in direct and indirect support for 500 companies engaged in forest-risk commodities.

The research exposed catastrophic policy failures across the financial sector. Six out of ten institutions reviewed maintain no publicly stated deforestation policies whatsoever, representing only marginal improvement from the previous year when two-thirds lacked such protections. Even more alarming, fewer than four in ten financial giants openly acknowledge that deforestation poses business risks to their portfolios.

Three financial behemoths dominate the destruction economy. Vanguard, BlackRock, and JPMorgan Chase “alone were responsible for more than one-fifth of the total” funding, collectively channelling $1.6 trillion toward forest-risk industries. Their enormous market influence means policy changes from these titans “could trigger rapid change across the global financial system,” according to Global Canopy analysts.

The geographic concentration of destruction finance reveals systematic patterns. Beyond the United States, “China and France also emerged as central hubs of financial flows into deforestation-linked industries.” This concentration demonstrates how relatively few financial centres drive global forest destruction through investment decisions.

Perhaps most damning, nearly $864 billion flowed directly to companies making zero public commitments against deforestation. This represents “almost one in every ten dollars” of total financing going to businesses with no safeguards protecting tropical forests from destruction for palm oil plantations, cattle ranches, or soy cultivation.

Global Canopy researchers emphasised the sector’s transformative potential, stating: “Unless financial institutions engage portfolio companies to act on deforestation risk – for instance, through strong stewardship of investee companies – their financing activities will undermine the positive impact of any transition finance they provide.” However, they noted these “financial heavyweights could use their investment strategies to drive better practice and transform commodity supply chains for the better.”

The European Union’s new Deforestation Regulation dramatically increases pressure on financial institutions to implement robust policies. Beginning December 30, the EU “will ban large businesses from importing beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, natural rubber, soy, or wood if these products are linked to deforestation.” The ban will eventually extend to smaller businesses, creating comprehensive market exclusions for forest-destructive products.

This regulatory shift creates urgent risks for financial institutions backing non-compliant companies. “Without robust policies, they will find themselves backing companies that are locked out of key markets,” the report warns. Financial institutions face the prospect of massive portfolio devaluations as their investee companies lose access to lucrative European markets.

A handful of progressive institutions demonstrate viable alternatives. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, Deutsche Bank, and Lloyds Banking Group represent “the only institutions shown to be screening and monitoring all the highest-risk commodities.” Their comprehensive approaches “provide a blueprint for others to follow” in developing effective deforestation policies.

Global Canopy outlined essential components for credible deforestation policies extending “well beyond a vague pledge.” Effective policies require “clear standards for screening clients and portfolio holdings, active engagement to bring non-compliant firms into line, and strict deadlines for divestment if companies fail to improve.” Additionally, institutions must maintain “transparent reporting of progress and commitments to human rights safeguards.”

The analysis examined nine critical forest-risk commodities: “beef, cocoa, coffee, leather, palm oil, pulp and paper, soy, rubber, and timber.” Each sector drives habitat destruction threatening wildlife populations whilst displacing Indigenous communities dependent on intact forests for survival.

The report concludes that financial institutions possess “immense influence over whether deforestation is curbed or allowed to spiral further out of control.” Current investment patterns tell “a troubling story, but with the right commitments, banks and investment firms could become powerful drivers of change” toward forest protection rather than destruction.

Sustainable Times. (2024). Global finance giants under fire for fueling an $8.9 trillion ‘deforestation economy’ in 2024. Sustainable Times. https://www.sustainabletimes.co.uk/post/global-finance-giants-under-fire-for-fueling-an-8-9-trillion-deforestation-economy-in-2024

ENDS

Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry

Finance giants fuel $8.9 trillion deforestation economy

Forest 500 report shows 150 of the world’s largest financial institutions invested nearly $9 trillion in deforestation-linked industries. Support EUDR!

Saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis

Saolas are rare and considered Southeast Asia’s ‘unicorns’, this Critically Endangered antelope is facing imminent extinction due to hunting and deforestation

Songbirds communicate with different species during nocturnal flights sharing vital info about navigation and stopover habitats. Save their fascinating world!

Why Pangolins Are So Special

Pangolins get their name from the Malay ‘pengguling’ meaning rolling up. These special critically endangered animals deserve a break from savage poaching

Tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis

Tucuxi, small freshwater dolphins of Peru Ecuador Colombia and Brazil are Endangered due to fishing nets, deforestation, mercury poisoning from gold mining.

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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.

Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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

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

Pledge your support

#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #corruption #crime #deforestation #ecocide #ecolabel #EUDR #greenwashing #meat #meatAgriculture #meatAndSoyDeforestationInBrazil #News #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #soy

Palm Oil Detectives Jun 11, 2021

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/

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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

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

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

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

Crested Capuchin Sapajus robustus

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.

✓ Subscribed

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.

Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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

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

Pledge your support

#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

Palm Oil Detectives Oct 22, 2021

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

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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.

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Further Information

Donate to help orphaned capuchins at Merazonia

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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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

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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

Palm Oil Detectives Aug 16, 2025

Savage’s Glass Frog Centrolene savagei

Savage’s Glass Frog Centrolene savagei

Locations: Endemic to Colombia, found in the Cordillera Central and Cordillera Occidental mountain ranges in the departments of Quindío, Risaralda, Caldas, and Valle del Cauca, between 1,400 and 2,410 metres above sea level.

Perched on delicate leaves above rushing mountain streams, Centrolene savagei is a rare frog of wonder. The Savage’s Glass Frog, also known as the Savage’s Cochran Frog has translucent emerald skin that shimmers under moonlight, revealing a celestial map of organs and veins. These appear like a tiny universe of stars glowing beneath their skin. This remarkable adaptation serves as camouflage, allowing them to blend seamlessly into their misty rainforest habitat. Male frogs fiercely protect a clutch of around 30 eggs while females gather food. Tragically these magnificent #frogs face mounting threats from #deforestation for #palmoil #soy #meat along with #climatechange which is disrupting the delicate balance of their cloud forest home. Protecting the cloud forests of #Colombia is essential to ensuring their continued survival. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Savage’s Glass #Frogs of #Colombia 🇨🇴 have skin 🤯 that glows like sparkling stars 🌌 Males fiercely guard egg clutches. #PalmOil #Soy and #Meat #Deforestation are threats. Help them and be #Vegan 🥕🍆🌴🪔⛔️ #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-a8R

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Savage’s Glass Frogs 🐸 live in the cloud #forests of #Colombia 🇨🇴 and face threats from the #pet trade and #agriculture. Their see-through skin protects them from predators. Help them survive and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔🧐🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-a8R

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Appearance & Behaviour

Savage’s Glass Frog is an exquisite amphibian with skin so translucent that their inner organs are visible, glowing like a hidden constellation beneath a veil of green. Their slender limbs end in sticky, webbed toes, perfectly adapted for clinging to leaves in humid forests. Their wide, golden eyes, speckled with flecks of black, provide keen night vision, allowing them to detect predators and prey under the dim glow of the forest canopy. At night, they call softly to attract mates, their gentle trills merging with the sounds of the rainforest.

Threats

Savage’s Glass Frog (Centrolene savagei) faces numerous threats that are rapidly altering their cloud forest habitat in the Colombian Andes. A study by Prado-Sañudo et al. (2020) found that the species was absent from certain locations where they had previously been recorded, suggesting population declines may already be underway. Conservation efforts must prioritise protecting Colombia’s cloud forests from further degradation.

Palm Oil and Soy Monoculture

Large-scale agricultural expansion for palm oil and soy plantations is devastating Colombia’s biodiverse rainforests. These monocultures replace native vegetation with single-crop plantations, destroying the undergrowth and streamside vegetation that Centrolene savagei relies on for shelter and breeding. As forest cover disappears, humidity levels drop, making their microhabitats drier and less suitable for egg development. The clearance of forests also leads to soil erosion, which can result in sedimentation of the clear mountain streams where these frogs lay their eggs.

Cattle Ranching

Extensive cattle ranching in the Colombian Andes is another major driver of deforestation. Forests are slashed and burned to create pastures, reducing available habitat for Centrolene savagei. The removal of trees along waterways destroys vital breeding sites, while cattle compact the soil, disrupting the natural flow of water and increasing erosion. The destruction of riparian zones reduces the availability of suitable egg-laying sites, directly impacting the frog’s ability to reproduce.

Illegal Pet Trade

Centrolene savagei is at risk of being targeted by the illegal pet trade due to their striking appearance and rarity. Glass frogs are often smuggled and sold internationally to collectors who seek out exotic species. This illegal trade removes individuals from wild populations, reducing genetic diversity and making the species more vulnerable to extinction. Additionally, captured frogs often suffer high mortality rates due to stress, improper handling, and unsuitable captive conditions.

Climate Change and Extreme Weather

Rising global temperatures are altering the delicate climatic conditions of Colombia’s montane forests. Extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts and intense rainfall, are becoming more frequent. Droughts can dry up the small streams where Centrolene savagei reproduces, leading to egg desiccation and failed breeding seasons. Intense storms, on the other hand, cause flash floods that wash away egg clutches and displace adult frogs. Long-term shifts in temperature and precipitation could also disrupt breeding cycles and reduce the availability of insect prey.

Pesticides and Pollution Runoff into Rivers

Agricultural chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides used in large-scale farming, often wash into nearby streams and rivers. Centrolene savagei, like many amphibians, has highly permeable skin that makes them exceptionally sensitive to toxins. Pesticide exposure can lead to developmental deformities, weakened immune systems, and increased mortality rates in both tadpoles and adults. Additionally, runoff containing fertilisers can trigger algal blooms, depleting oxygen levels in the water and further degrading their habitat.

Geographic Range

Savage’s Glass Frog is endemic to Colombia’s Andean cloud forests, occupying both the Cordillera Central and Cordillera Occidental. They are found in humid montane forests, clinging to vegetation near fast-flowing streams where they breed and shelter.

Diet

These frogs are insectivorous, feeding on a diet of small invertebrates, including flies, moths, and spiders. Their sticky tongues enable them to snatch unsuspecting prey with precision, while their nocturnal hunting habits help them avoid daytime predators.

Mating and Reproduction

Male Centrolene savagei play a vital role in protecting their offspring. They guard egg clutches laid on leaves overhanging streams, keeping them hydrated by absorbing water and transferring it to the eggs with their bodies. This parental care reduces embryo desiccation and shields them from predators. Once the eggs hatch, the tiny, transparent tadpoles drop into the water below, beginning their journey to adulthood.

FAQs

Why do Savage’s Glass Frogs have transparent skin?

Their translucent skin serves as an advanced form of camouflage. By reflecting the colour and light of their surroundings, they can evade predators more effectively. This adaptation, combined with their nocturnal habits, makes them exceptionally difficult to spot in the wild.

What are the main threats to Savage’s Glass Frog?

Deforestation for agriculture and human expansion poses the greatest risk. As forests are cleared, populations become isolated, making it harder for them to find mates and maintain genetic diversity. Additionally, climate change could alter their delicate montane ecosystems, impacting their breeding success. The illegal pet trade is a growing risk as these beautiful frogs are sought out for private collections reducing their populations in the wild.

Do Glass Frogs Make Good Pets?

No, glass frogs— including Centrolene savagei—do not make good pets. Keeping them in captivity is not only unethical but also contributes to their decline in the wild. These frogs have highly specialised habitat needs that are impossible to replicate in captivity. They require pristine, high-humidity cloud forests with access to flowing, oxygen-rich streams for breeding. Even small environmental changes can stress them, leading to illness and death.

Beyond the difficulty of caring for them, removing Centrolene savagei from the wild is a major conservation issue. Every individual taken for the pet trade weakens wild populations, reducing genetic diversity and making the species more vulnerable to extinction. Many glass frogs die in transit due to improper handling, dehydration, and stress. Others perish in captivity because of unsuitable conditions or lack of knowledge about their complex dietary and breeding requirements.

If you truly care about these remarkable amphibians, the best way to help them is to never buy wild-caught glass frogs and to actively speak out against the exotic pet trade. Instead, support habitat conservation efforts and help protect the fragile ecosystems they depend on. #BoycottWildlifeTrade #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

What makes Savage’s Glass Frog unique?

Their combination of transparent skin, nocturnal behaviour, and dedicated male parental care sets them apart from many other amphibians. The ability of males to hydrate and defend their eggs is a rare adaptation that improves their offspring’s chances of survival.

Are Savage’s Glass Frogs endangered?

More research is needed to determine their current population trends. However, habitat destruction and population declines in certain areas suggest that conservation efforts are needed to ensure their long-term survival.

Take Action!

Colombia’s cloud forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, threatening the survival of Centrolene savagei and countless other species. Protect their habitat by supporting indigenous-led conservation initiatives and refusing to buy products linked to deforestation. Use your voice to demand stronger environmental protections and share awareness about the importance of preserving these fragile ecosystems. Every choice matters. Go #Vegan for the animals and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

Support Savage’s Glass Frogs 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

Escobar-Lasso, S., & Rojas-Morales, J. A. (2012). Antipredatory behaviors of the Colombian endemic glassfrog Centrolene savagei (Anura: Centrolenidae). Boletín Científico. Centro de Museos. Museo de Historia Natural, 16(1), 1–10.

IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. 2017. Centrolene savagei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T54990A63062174. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T54990A63062174.en. Accessed on 09 February 2025.

Ospina, A. M., Navarro-Salcedo, P., Rios-Soto, J. A., Duarte-Marín, S., & Vargas-Salinas, F. (2019). Temporal patterns, benefits, and defensive behaviors associated with male parental care in the glassfrog Centrolene savagei. Herpetological Journal, 162–174.

Prado-Sañudo, M. L., Giraldo, A., & Bolívar, W. (2020). Population status of Centrolene savagei in the Western and Central Andes of Colombia. Boletín Científico Centro de Museos Museo de Historia Natural, 24(2), 116–124.

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.

✓ Subscribed

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.

Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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

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

Pledge your support

Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

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

Blonde Capuchin Sapajus flavius

Keep reading

Savage’s Glass Frog Centrolene savagei

Keep reading

Pesquets Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus

Keep reading

Tanimbar Eclectus Parrot Eclectus riedeli

Keep reading

Malayan Flying Fox Pteropus vampyrus

Keep reading

Mountain Cuscus Phalanger carmelitae

Keep reading

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)

Palm Oil Detectives Aug 9, 2025

Corporate Control of Food Harms Us All

Around 800 million people in our world go hungry each day. Yet around the globe we have enough food to go around. So why the discrepancy? Market concentration and corporate monopoly of our global food system means that corporate giants control everything from access to seeds, access to land, #workersrights, #greenwashing and wages. Mergers and acquisitions take place at all stages of the global food system – from seeds and fertilisers to machinery and manufacturing. This is what contributes to bad health outcomes and food inequality. Learn how you can boycott big brands causing the corporate crush and other solutions. #Boycott4Wildlife

Corporate control over global food #supplychain harms us all, causes #hunger, #food #poverty. Learn about #corporate power grabs behind seemingly innocuous #supermarket items. Reject the system 🥩 🥓🌴🚫 #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-8UV

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Written by Liam Keenan, Assistant Professor in Economic Geography, University of Nottingham; Dariusz Wojcik, Professor of Financial Geography, National University of Singapore, and Timothy Monteath, Assistant Professor, University of Warwick. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Across the world, over 800 million people spend their days hungry. More than 2 billion have limited access to food. Yet today’s global food system produces enough to feed every person on the planet.

This imbalanced situation can be explained in part by the effects of things like natural disasters, war, fragile supply chains and economic inequality. These are all significant factors which highlight the problems of a truly global food system, where shocks spread quickly from one place to another with sometimes devastating results.

But they do not provide the full picture and cannot fully explain the rise of ultra-processed foods, the financial difficulties facing farmers, or why the world has failed to address the harmful environmental impacts of food production.

To account for these trends, we need to look at market concentration, and how a small number of very big companies have come to dominate the production, greenwashing and supply of the food we all eat.

For the global food system has become much more concentrated in recent years, partly through an increase in mergers and acquisitions, where large firms buy up rival companies until they completely dominate key areas.

High levels of market concentration mean less transparency, weaker competition, and more power in the hands of fewer firms. And our research reveals that a rise in the number of mergers and acquisitions is taking place at all stages of the global food system – from seeds and fertilisers to machinery and manufacturing.

This is all part of food being increasingly seen as a source not only of human sustenance, but as a profitable investment – or what is known as the “financialisation of food”.

And while people have been buying and selling food for a very long time, the global system has seen a major incursion of big finance in recent decades. Pension funds, private equity and asset management firms have invested heavily in the sector.

The logic is simple. Everybody needs food, so the sector promises safe and potentially lucrative returns.

But feeding the world while looking after the planet costs money, and unfortunately, big financial actors are all about the bottom line. They aim to maximise returns, provide value to shareholders, and meet the expectations of markets.

This makes mergers and acquisitions an attractive business proposition. Why make risky, long-term investments in sustainable food solutions, when you can buy your competitor, increase your market share, and potentially make a lot of money in the process? By boosting share prices and removing competition, buy-outs have been used widely throughout the global food system as an easier way to achieve further growth.

Food for financial thoughts. Billion Photos/Shutterstock

Hunger games

This has resulted in more concentration and fewer, more powerful firms. One report revealed that just four firms control 44% of the global farm machinery market, two companies control 40% of the global seed market, and four businesses control 62% of the global agrochemicals market. This trend is matched in food retail, with four firms – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons – estimated to control over 64% of the UK grocery market.

This level of concentration and power affects everyone. It means less bargaining power for farmers, who are forced to negotiate with powerful conglomerates. Workers across key stages of the global food sector face downward pressures on wages, rights, and conditions. Local communities lose autonomy over how their land is cultivated and how the rewards are distributed.

And the negative effects are not limited to those working in food.

Fewer firms and less transparency can lead to higher prices. And research on Europe has shown that places with higher food market concentration, including the UK and Germany, sell more ultra-processed food.

The global food system also plays a big part in climate change. Too much corporate power limits the opportunities for communities to tackle environmental issues, and move towards sustainable provision of healthy food for everyone by producing more food themselves.

With so much at stake, improved regulation should surely be on the menu. Our research revealed the majority of food system mergers and acquisitions take place between firms of the same nationality. This could provide an opportunity for governments to prevent further market concentration within their borders – and even to seek to dilute what already exists.

International arrangements are more complicated, and would require a coordinated, international approach. However, this may prove difficult given the first-ever UN “food systems summit” in 2021 remained “strategically silent” on the issue.

We believe market concentration must become a defining feature of food system reform. To address climate change, provide a fair deal for workers, and eradicate hunger, we need power to be less corporate – for the benefit of the entire global community.

Written by Liam Keenan, Assistant Professor in Economic Geography, University of Nottingham; Dariusz Wojcik, Professor of Financial Geography, National University of Singapore, and Timothy Monteath, Assistant Professor, University of Warwick. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

ENDS

Read more about human health, veganism, nutrition and why you should #Boycottpalmoil, #Boycottmeat for your own and the planet’s health

Blonde Capuchin Sapajus flavius

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…

Tesso Nilo National Park in #Sumatra, #Indonesia, has lost 78% of its primary forest between 2009 and 2023, primarily due to #palmoil plantations. This #deforestation threatens the habitat of critically endangered species like…

Perched on delicate leaves above rushing mountain streams, Centrolene savagei is a rare frog of wonder. The Savage’s Glass Frog, also known as the Savage’s Cochran Frog has translucent emerald skin that shimmers…

Human Activities Shift Tree Species in Brazilian Forests | Research by Lancaster University reveals that human-induced deforestation and degradation in Brazilian forests are causing a shift towards fast-growing, small-seeded tree species. These changes…

Around 800 million people in our world go hungry each day. Yet around the globe we have enough food to go around. So why the discrepancy? Market concentration and corporate monopoly of our…

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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.

✓ Subscribed

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.

Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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

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

Pledge your support

#BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #corporate #diet #food #greenwashing #health #humanHealth #hunger #industrialAgriculture #meatAgriculture #meatAndSoyDeforestationInBrazil #nutrition #PalmOil #plantBasedDiet #poverty #saturatedFats #soyDeforestation #supermarket #supplyChain #supplychain #WorkersRights

Palm Oil Detectives Mar 18, 2023

Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei

Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei

Red List Status: Endangered

Locations: Western Assam (India), Black Mountain (Bhutan), Manas National Park, Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Kakoijana Reserve Forest, and forest fragments along the foothills of the Himalayas.

The regal, striking looking Golden #langurs Trachypithecus geei is also known by the common names Gee’s Golden #langur. They are the most endangered primate species in #India and are considered to be sacred to many Himalayan peoples. Once widespread, they are now only found in a handful of fragmented forests straddling India and Bhutan. They are classified as endangered due to #palmoil, #meat and #timber #deforestation and hunting. Golden langurs are known for their expressive eyes and grumpy expressions. This has made them the subject of global fascination and online memes. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan, #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife

Golden #Langurs 🙉🐒 are the most #endangered primate in #India 🇮🇳🪷 threatened by #palmoil and #meat #deforestation. Help save them and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🩸🚜🔥☠️❌ #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket! @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/03/19/golden-langur-trachypithecus-geei/

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Regal and striking Golden #Langurs are known for their grumpy faces 🙊🐒 😠They have reason to be annoyed #Assam #India 🇮🇳 is being destroyed for #palmoil #deforestation. Fight for them when you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/03/19/golden-langur-trachypithecus-geei/

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https://youtu.be/F9iyXroZM4Y

Appearance & Behaviour

Adults golden langurs are striking with their vivid black faces framed by a mane of pale hair, and their expressive, deep-set eyes reflect intelligence and curiosity. By contrast, infant langurs are born with cream-coloured fur that darkens as they mature. Golden langurs are medium-sized primates, with males weighing up to 13 kilograms and females slightly less. Their long tails, often longer than their bodies, help them balance as they leap gracefully between branches. Golden langurs are highly social, living in groups of up to 40 individuals, and communicate with a repertoire of calls, grunts, and alarm barks. They spend most of their lives high in the trees, rarely descending to the ground, and their movements are fluid and silent, like shadows flickering through the leaves.

Golden Langur Eyes: Windows to Intelligent Souls

The eyes of a golden langur are truly captivating, reminiscent of the molten gold in the dappled sunlight of their forest home in India. These golden langur eyes are the subject of countless online memes, possibly because of their human-like expressions. The expressive eyes of golden langurs convey a range of emotions that resonate deeply with people. Their gaze can appear curious, contemplative, cantankerous, moody or even agitated, making these animals relatable and endearing to a broad audience. This relatability, combined with their striking appearance, makes golden langur eyes a perfect focal point for memes, highlighting the beauty of these monkeys and the importance of conserving their natural habitats.

Golden langurs are heavily dependent upon forests for their ongoing existence. They are diurnal, preferring to forage in the morning and afternoon with a midday siesta. They spend most of the time in tree canopies and rarely come down to the ground.

Social grooming and social interaction is important to Golden langurs and they typically live in troops of between 8 to 50 individuals with several females to each adult male. Grooming is an important social activity and strengthens connection between group members.

Threats

Palm oil, timber, charcoal and livestock deforestation

The Red List classifies the golden langur as Endangered, with palm oil expansion and deforestation for charcoal, livestock and timber as major drivers of habitat loss. Vast tracts of forest have been cleared for plantations and farmland, leaving the golden langur’s habitat fragmented and isolated. As the forest disappears, langur groups are forced into ever-smaller patches, increasing competition for food and shelter and exposing them to greater risks from predators and humans. The relentless pace of deforestation threatens to erase the golden langur from much of their former range, turning once-vibrant forests into silent, empty fields.

Logging and habitat fragmentation

Logging has carved roads and clearings through the golden langur’s habitat, severing the canopy highways they rely on for movement and social cohesion. Fragmentation isolates groups, reducing genetic diversity and making populations more vulnerable to disease and environmental change. In some areas, only a handful of individuals remain, cut off from neighbouring groups by expanses of cleared land. The scars of logging are visible everywhere—fallen trees, eroded soil, and the distant sound of chainsaws echoing through the forest.

Human-wildlife conflict, poaching and the illegal pet trade

As forests shrink, golden langurs are increasingly forced into contact with humans, leading to conflict and persecution. Some are killed or captured for the illegal pet trade. There is a high rate of juvenile mortality and inbreeding when golden langurs are collected as pets. This is a cruel and devastating fate for any golden langurs who are captured. Some golden langurs fall victim to retaliatory attacks when they raid crops. Snares and traps set for other animals can maim or kill golden langurs. Unexpected human-caused deaths exert a heavy toll on wild troops and their social cohesion and structure. Poaching remains a persistent threat, fuelled by demand for exotic pets and body parts in Chinese medicine.

Climate change

Shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures threaten to alter the delicate balance of the Himalayan forests. Changes in fruiting and flowering times can disrupt the golden langur’s food supply, while extreme weather events—such as floods and landslides—destroy habitat and isolate populations even further. The golden langur’s survival is now tied to the fate of the forests and the stability of the climate.

Habitat & geographical region

The golden langur’s range is restricted to the forests of western Assam in India and the Black Mountain region of Bhutan. Key strongholds include Manas National Park, Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Kakoijana Reserve Forest, and a scattering of forest fragments along the Himalayan foothills. Once widespread, the golden langur now survives in isolated pockets, their habitat reduced and fragmented by decades of deforestation and human encroachment.

Diet

The Golden langur is primarily folivorous, feeding on a diverse array of young leaves, fruits, flowers, and seeds. Their diet shifts with the seasons, following the cycles of fruiting and leaf flush in the forest. In times of scarcity, they may consume bark, twigs, or cultivated crops, bringing them into conflict with farmers. Golden langurs are selective feeders, choosing the most nutritious and digestible parts of plants, and their foraging plays a vital role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration.

Mating and reproduction

Golden langurs breed throughout the year, with a peak in births during the late monsoon and early winter months. Females give birth to a single infant after a gestation period of around 200 days. The newborns are born with lighter fur, which darkens as they mature, and are cared for by their mothers and other group members in a system of cooperative parenting. Social bonds are strong, with frequent grooming and play reinforcing relationships within the group. Infants cling tightly to their mothers as the group moves through the canopy, learning the skills they will need to survive in a challenging and ever-changing environment. The average lifespan of a golden langur in the wild is estimated at around 15 to 20 years, though few reach this age due to the many threats they face.

FAQs

What is the current population size of the golden langur Trachypithecus geei?

Estimates suggest that fewer than 6,500 golden langurs remain in the wild, with populations continuing to decline due to ongoing habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching. The largest populations are found in Manas National Park and the surrounding forests of Assam and Bhutan, but even here, numbers are falling as forests are cleared for agriculture and plantations. Researchers warn that without urgent action, the golden langur could disappear from much of their current range within a generation (Biswas et al., 2024; Das et al., 2021).

How long do golden langurs live in the wild?

Golden langurs can live up to 20 years in the wild, though most do not reach this age due to threats from habitat loss, poaching, and conflict with humans. In captivity, some individuals have lived longer, but the stresses of confinement and social isolation take a heavy toll on their health and wellbeing. The golden langur’s longevity is closely tied to the health of their forest home and the strength of their social bonds (Das et al., 2021).

What are the main conservation challenges for the golden langur?

The greatest challenges facing the golden langur are palm oil, charcoal and meat deforestation, human-wildlife conflict, poaching and collection for the illegal pet trade. These threats destroy the forests these remarkable primates depend on, isolate populations, and expose them to increased risk of disease and predation. Effective protection requires indigenous-led conservation, agroecology, and the safeguarding of forest ecosystems from further destruction. Help them every time you shop and be #Vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife (Biswas et al., 2020; Das et al., 2021).

Do golden langurs make good pets?

Absolutely not! Golden langurs do not make good pets. Captivity causes extreme stress, loneliness, and early death for these highly social, intelligent primates. The illegal pet trade tears families apart and fuels extinction, as infants are stolen from their mothers and forced into unnatural, impoverished conditions. Protecting golden langurs means rejecting the illegal pet trade and supporting their right to live wild and free in their forest homes (Das et al., 2021).

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology. Reject products linked to deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade. Adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #BoycottMeat to protect wild and farmed animals alike. Every choice matters—stand with the golden langur and defend the forests of Assam and Bhutan.

Spectacled bear sticking out his tongue by Natalia So for Getty Images

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

Biswas, J., Shil, J., Sasi, R., Ahmed, M. U., Barman, K., Das, N., Basumatary, B., & Kumara, H. N. (2024). Ecological determinants of occupancy of golden langur Trachypithecus geei and its population characteristics in India. Global Ecology and Conservation, 53, e03003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03003

Das, J., Medhi, R. & Molur, S. 2008. Trachypithecus geei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T22037A9348940. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T22037A9348940.en. Accessed on 12 November 2022.

Gee’s Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei on Wikipedia

An Indian documentary about the dangers of consuming palm oil

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#animals #Assam #Bhutan #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #ChineseMedicine #climateChange #deforestation #endangered #EndangeredSpecies #ForgottenAnimals #GoldenLangurTrachypithecusGeei #herbivore #herbivores #humanWildlifeConflict #hunting #illegalPetTrade #India #langur #Langurs #livestock #Mammal #meat #meatAgriculture #monkey #monkeys #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poachers #poaching #Primate #timber #vegan

Palm Oil Detectives May 31, 2025

Brazilian three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus

Brazilian three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus

Vulnerable

Extant (resident): Brazil: Minas Gerais, Bahia, Alagoas, Sergipe, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Goiás, Tocantins, Piauí, Paraíba, Ceará, Maranhão.

The Brazilian three-banded #armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus, known as “tatu-bola” in Portuguese, is a rare and unique species native to #Brazil. With the ability to roll into a near-impenetrable ball, this endearing behaviour has made them an icon of conservation efforts. They are found in the dry forests and savannahs of Brazil, particularly in the #Cerrado and Caatinga biomes. These fascinating armoured creatures are Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to agricultural expansion for #palmoil, #soy and #meat. Fragmentation of their ecosystem is ongoing for infrastructure projects and #goldmining. With their population in sharp decline, efforts to protect their habitats are essential for their survival. Help them every time you shop and adopt a #vegan diet, and #BoycottPalmOil #BoycottGold #Boycott4Wildlife on social media!

https://youtu.be/pVG-7CyjLmo

Resilient Brazilian three-banded #armadillos are fascinating real-life #pokemon of #SouthAmerica. They’re vulnerable from #palmoil meat and soy #deforestation in #Brazil. Resist their #extinction! Be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-8R9

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Brazilian three-banded #armadillos are the adorable armoured tanks of #Brazil’s #Cerrado who can curl into an armoured ball. They are #vulnerable from #deforestation. Help them survive by being #vegan and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-8R9

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Appearance & Behaviour

The word “armadillo” means “little armoured one” in Spanish.
They are known as ‘kwaráu’ in the now extinct Huamoé language and ˈkʌ̨́ñíkį̀ in the Kambiwá language of Brazil.
Brazilian three-banded armadillos have a good nose and can smell termites and ants through up to 20 cm of soil.
Their loose armour creates a layer of air, helping them to regulate their temperature in harsh climates.
They are one of only two armadillo species that can roll into a tight ball.

Brazilian three-banded armadillos are easily recognised by their distinctive armour, which is composed of bony plates known as scutes. These scutes, covered in keratinised skin, form a protective shell around the animal’s body, allowing them to roll into a tight ball when threatened. This unique defence mechanism makes them virtually immune to most natural predators in the wild – except for humans. Their compact body length of 22 to 27 cm and a weight of about 1 to 1.6 kg makes it easy for them to navigate in the forest.

Their distinctive sharp claws and elongated snouts are perfectly adapted for foraging for ants and termites. Although primarily solitary, they sometimes travel in small family groups. They keep their noses to the ground sniffing out insects and move in a deliberate cautious way. Unlike other burrowing armadillos they prefer to hide in bushes for shelter and camouflage.

Threats

Deforestation for palm oil, soy and meat agriculture

Forest and grassland destruction for soy, palm oil, sugar cane and meat plantations is a serious threat. This has drastically reduced the Brazilian three-banded armadillo’s range in the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes.

Human encroachment for infrastructure projects

The Brazilian three-banded armadillo is impervious to many natural threats in their environment. However, infrastructure projects, roads, housing have become a significant threat to their survival.

Illegal hunting

Brazilian three-banded armadillos are hunted for their skins and meat.

Conservation

Conservation efforts for the Brazilian three-banded armadillo are indirect and focused on habitat protection rather than direct intervention. Protected areas within the Cerrado and Caatinga offer some refuge for the species. Yet large portions of their habitat remains at risk for deforestation.

Habitat

Resilient and tough, this armadillo has adapted over millions of years to thrive in harsh landscapes of poor rainfall and poor soil. Brazilian three-banded armadillos are found primarily in the northeastern regions of Brazil, inhabiting the open savannahs of the Cerrado and the dry woodlands of the Caatinga.

Diet

Brazilian three-banded armadillos are primarily insectivores, relying heavily on ants and termites as their main food source. Sharp claws allow them to dig into insect nests, and they use their long, sticky tongues to collect the prey. Occasionally they supplement their diet with molluscs, worms, fruit, and carrion.

Mating and breeding

The breeding season occurs between October and January. After a gestation period of approximately 120 days, females give birth to a single pup. Newborns are born blind, and their armour remains soft and pliable in the first weeks of life. A young armadillo’s shell hardens by week four. By this time they will be capable of protective rolling into a ball and walking. They are weaned by 10 weeks of age and reach reproductive maturity between 9 and 12 months.

Support Brazilian Three-Banded Armadillos 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

Miranda, F., Moraes-Barros, N., Superina, M., & Abba, A. M. (2014). Tolypeutes tricinctus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T21975A47443455. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T21975A47443455.en

Wikipedia Contributors. (n.d.). Brazilian three-banded armadillo. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 16, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_three-banded_armadillo

Animalia. (n.d.). Brazilian Three-Banded Armadillo. Retrieved from https://animalia.bio/brazilian-three-banded-armadillo

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

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Brazilian three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus

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Palm Oil Detectives Feb 1, 2025

Nancy Ma’s Night Monkey Aotus nancymaae

Nancy Ma’s Night Monkey Aotus nancymaae

Endangered

Extant (resident)

Brazil (Amazonas); Colombia; Peru

Deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the Nancy Ma’s Night Monkeys peer out of the trees during the dusk with their large, soulful eyes and striking facial markings. Also known as the Ma’s night monkey or the Peruvian red-necked owl monkey, this nocturnal primate is named in honour of Dr. Nancy Shui-Fong Ma, who played a significant role in understanding their genetics and later led to the discovery of other species.

These monkeys are endemic to Brazil, Peru, and parts of Colombia, these monkeys are an essential part of their ecosystem. They now face direct threats from expansion for palm oil, soy and meat deforestation and are wild captured for scientific research – much of primate research is not even relevant to human health. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil, be #vegan and #Boycott4Wildlife!

Nurturing small monkeys with big eyes, Nancy Ma’s Night Monkeys care in convivial family groups. Threats: capture for use in medical research 👎 and #palmoil #deforestation 🪔 #BanPrimateExperiments 🙈#Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-8Hi

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Nancy Ma’s Night #Monkeys are little wonders of #Peru #Brazil 💌🇧🇷 🩷They’re now #endangered due to soy, #palmoil and meat #ecocide and capture for cruel experiments 🤮🚫 #BanPrimateExperiments 🙊 #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-8Hi

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https://youtu.be/8Tr3WeFCDWU

Appearance & Behaviour

These diminutive monkeys weigh around 700 grams and are around 90 cm long from head to tail. They are famous for their large eyes, which have evolved for excellent night vision. They sport an endearing heart-shaped patch of white fur around their eyes and mouth, contrasted by dark brown or black outlines. Their coats are a mix of reddish-orange, light brown, and grey fur, and they possess a black, non-prehensile tail. Their hands are adept at grasping, equipped with long fingers and wide pads.

Nancy Ma’s Night Monkeys play a vital role in forest ecosystems by dispersing seeds, which aids in forest regeneration. They are nocturnal and crepuscular creatures are most active during twilight and dawn. They forage in the upper canopy and sleep in the lower canopy or understory during the day.

Quirky Facts

Nancy Ma’s Night Monkeys are unique among Latin American monkeys due to their monochromatic vision, seeing the world in shades of black and white. This adaptation does not impede their nocturnal activities; instead, it enhances their ability to move gracefully and catch insects in the dark. Their exceptional night vision, along with a strong sense of smell, helps them locate fruits, flowers, and insects without needing to perceive color.

Living high in the trees, these monkeys are primarily arboreal and only venture to the ground when absolutely necessary. They source their food from the upper canopy but descend to the lower canopy or understory to rest. Their peak activity periods are at twilight and dawn, making them crepuscular creatures. Daytime, however, is reserved for sleep.

When it comes to finding a place to sleep, Nancy Ma’s Night Monkeys are very particular. They prefer tree hollows or branches and shrubs that offer natural depressions or can be manipulated to create a secure hiding spot. Their shelters must be large enough for the entire group to sleep together, hidden from predators and equipped with multiple escape routes in case of danger. This meticulous selection of sleeping quarters helps mitigate the risk posed by daytime predators.

Take Action!

Strong government and global legislation to protect their rainforest home is needed. Additionally, the maintenance and guardianship of forests by indigenous peoples keeps these animals protected. Consumers can take action every time they shop, by being vegan and boycotting meat and boycotting palm oil, as animal agriculture, soy and palm oil deforestation is a major threat to the Nancy Ma’s Night Monkey. Use your wallet as a weapon for future generations!

Threats

IUCN Red List highlights a major threat these monkeys being palm oil deforestation across their range. A second totally unnecessary and tragic threat is their use for medical research. The findings of using primates in human research have been widely criticised, there are now much better, animal-free ways to do research.

Habitat Loss: Deforestation for agriculture, logging, and palm oil plantations poses the greatest threat. In Peru, extensive forest areas are cleared for rice cultivation and livestock pastures. In Brazil, rainforest destruction is driven by cattle pastures and soybean production.
Illegal Trade: These monkeys are frequently found in the illegal pet trade and are also used in biomedical research, particularly for malaria studies, severely impacting their wild populations.

Habitat

Nancy Ma’s Night Monkeys inhabit the lowland tropical rainforests of Northern Peru, Western Brazil, and certain regions of Colombia. They prefer areas that experience seasonal flooding, which provide more tree hollows and soft vegetation for nesting.

Diet

Nancy Ma’s Night Monkeys primarily feast on fruits and flowers found in the upper reaches of the forest canopy. Though their diet mainly consists of fruits, they occasionally supplement it with insects. Their dexterous hands make them adept at capturing insects on branches; they often hold the insect with one hand while using the other to pick it apart for consumption.

Being nocturnal gives these monkeys an advantage, as they forage under the cover of darkness, avoiding competition with diurnal herbivores. This nighttime activity allows them to access food resources without the pressure of daytime competitors.

Mating and breeding

If want to find an example of a loving parental bond look no further than Nancy Ma’s Night Monkeys! The mother and father become the nucleus of a small family, including their offspring until they reach adulthood, which is around two years old.

During this time, the young monkeys will eventually leave to find their own lifelong mates. Typically, a family group consists of the parents and up to three children.

The bonded pair mates year-round but usually has only one or two offspring each year. The gestation period is approximately 133 days (a little over four months). For the first week after birth, both parents equally share the responsibilities of caring for their newborn.

After the initial week, the father takes on the primary role in child-rearing, with the mother mainly handling nursing duties. Babies nurse for about one to three weeks. After nursing, mothers encourage the baby to return to the father, who continues to carry the infant until it can move independently. The father is responsible for protection, grooming, nurturing, and additional feeding once the baby is weaned. This remarkable paternal involvement makes Nancy Ma’s Night Monkeys an inspiring example of fatherhood in the animal world.

Support Nancy Ma’s Night Monkeys 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

Maldonado, A., Guzmàn-Caro, D., Shanee, S., Defler, T.R. & Roncancio, N. 2020. Aotus nancymaae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T41540A115578713. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T41540A115578713.en. Accessed on 24 July 2024.

Neotropical Primate Conservation. (n.d.). Nancy Ma’s night monkey. Retrieved from https://neprimateconservancy.org/nancy-mas-night-monkey/

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Nancy Ma’s night monkey. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Ma%27s_night_monkey

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.

Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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

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

4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.

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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

Glaucous Macaw Anodorhynchus glaucus

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Attenborough’s Long-Beaked Echidna Zaglossus attenboroughi

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Nancy Ma’s Night Monkey Aotus nancymaae

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Visayan Broadbill Sarcophanops samarensis

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Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

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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)

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Palm Oil Detectives

Palm Oil Detectives May 9, 2023

Ultra-processed Foods: Trashing Health and The Planet

Our world is facing a huge challenge: we need to create enough high-quality, diverse and nutritious food to feed a growing population – and do so within the boundaries of our planet. This means significantly reducing the environmental impact of the global food system. Below is information about how you can identify ultra processed foods containing palm oil and other harmful ingredients in order to avoid them – for your own health and the health of the planet. Help the planet, animals and indigenous peoples – #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

#Palmoil 🌴🪔 and #meat 🥩🍖💀 are ultra-processed unhealthy foods 🍔🍟 that are harmful to health and harmful to the planet 🌏🔥 Here’s how to avoid them. Be #vegan for the animals, and the planet! #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/05/10/ultra-processed-foods-are-trashing-our-health-and-the-planet/

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Ultra processed #foods #UPF: #palmoil #meat and #dairy are harmful to health and linked to chronic disease and mortality 🫁🫀💀 Here’s how to avoid them for environmental and #health reasons #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/05/10/ultra-processed-foods-are-trashing-our-health-and-the-planet/

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There are more than 7,000 edible plant species which could be consumed for food. But today, 90% of global energy intake comes from 15 crop species, with more than half of the world’s population relying on just three cereal crops: rice, wheat and maize.

The rise of ultra-processed foods is likely playing a major role in this ongoing change, as our latest research notes. Thus, reducing our consumption and production of these foods offers a unique opportunity to improve both our health and the environmental sustainability of the food system.

Food agriculture is a major driver of environmental damage and ecocide

Agriculture is a major driver of environmental change. It is responsible for one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions and about 70% of freshwater use. It also uses 38% of global land and is the largest driver of biodiversity loss.

While research has highlighted how western diets containing excessive calories and livestock products tend to have large environmental impacts, there are also environmental concerns linked to ultra-processed foods.

Sumatran Rhino Dicerorhinus sumatrensis. 10,000s of animal species, like the Sumatran Rhino are pushed out of their homes by the encroachment of agriculture to make cheap, processed foods

The impacts of these foods on human health are well described, but the effects on the environment have been given less consideration. This is surprising, considering ultra-processed foods are a dominant component of the food supply in high-income countries (and sales are rapidly rising through low and middle-income countries too).

Our latest research, led by colleagues in Brazil, proposes that increasingly globalised diets high in ultra-processed foods come at the expense of the cultivation, manufacture and consumption of “traditional” foods.

How to spot ultra-processed foods

Ultra-processed foods are a group of foods defined as “formulations of ingredients, mostly of exclusive industrial use, that result from a series of industrial processes”.

They typically contain cosmetic additives and little or no whole foods. You can think of them as foods you would struggle to create in your own kitchen. Examples include confectionery, soft drinks, chips, pre-prepared meals and restaurant fast-food products.

In contrast with this are “traditional” foods – such as fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, preserved legumes, dairy and meat products – which are minimally processed, or made using traditional processing methods.

While traditional processing, methods such as fermentation, canning and bottling are key to ensuring food safety and global food security. Ultra-processed foods, however, are processed beyond what is necessary for food safety.

Australians have particularly high rates of ultra-processed food consumption. These foods account for 39% of total energy intake among Australian adults. This is more than Belgium, Brazil, Columbia, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico and Spain – but less than the United States, where they account for 57.9% of adults’ dietary energy.

According to an analysis of the 2011-12 Australian Health Survey (the most recent national data available on this), the ultra-processed foods that contributed the most dietary energy for Australians aged two and above included ready-made meals, fast food, pastries, buns and cakes, breakfast cereals, fruit drinks, iced tea and confectionery.

What are the environmental impacts?

Ultra-processed foods also rely on a small number of crop species, which places burden on the environments in which these ingredients are grown.

Maize, wheat, soy and oil seed crops (such as palm oil) are good examples. These crops are chosen by food manufacturers because they are cheap to produce and high yielding, meaning they can be produced in large volumes.

Also, animal-derived ingredients in ultra-processed foods are sourced from animals which rely on these same crops as feed.

The rise of convenient and cheap ultra-processed foods has replaced a wide variety of minimally-processed wholefoods including fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, meat and dairy. This has reduced both the quality of our diet and food supply diversity.

Ferrero and Nutella responsible for palm oil deforestation despite supposedly using “sustainable” palm oil. Image: Charlie Hebdo

In Australia, the most frequently used ingredients in the 2019 packaged food and drink supply were sugar (40.7%), wheat flour (15.6%), vegetable oil (12.8%) and milk (11.0%).

Some ingredients used in ultra-processed foods such as cocoa, sugar and some vegetable oils are also strongly associated with biodiversity loss.

Hersheys is responsible for palm oil deforestation despite supposedly using “sustainable” palm oil.

What can be done?

The environmental impact of ultra-processed foods is avoidable. Not only are these foods harmful, they are also unnecessary for human nutrition. Diets high in ultra-processed foods are linked with poor health outcomes, including heart disease, type-2 diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer and depression, among others.

To counter this, food production resources across the world could be re-routed into producing healthier, less processed foods. For example, globally, significant quantities of cereals such as wheat, maize and rice are milled into refined flours to produce refined breads, cakes, donuts and other bakery products.

These could be rerouted into producing more nutritious foods such as wholemeal bread or pasta. This would contribute to improving global food security and also provide more buffer against natural disasters and conflicts in major breadbasket areas.

Other environmental resources could be saved by avoiding the use of certain ingredients altogether.

Demand for palm oil (a common ingredient in ultra-processed foods, and associated with deforestation in Southeast Asia) could be significantly reduced through consumers shifting their preferences towards healthier foods.

Reducing your consumption of ultra-processed foods is one way by which you can reduce your environmental footprint, while also improving your health.

Kim Anastasiou, Research Dietitian (CSIRO), PhD Candidate (Deakin University), Deakin University; Mark Lawrence, Professor of Public Health Nutrition, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University; Michalis Hadjikakou, Lecturer in Environmental Sustainability, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering & Built Environment, Deakin University, and Phillip Baker, Research Fellow, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Deakin University

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

ENDS

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.

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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.

Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

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

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

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