Dung Beetles Are Rainforests’ Diligent Regrowth Soldiers

Unsung heroes of the Amazon jungle, the dung beetle may eat and nest in poop, but their role in nature is anything but humble. These hard-shelled scarabs live on every continent of the world except Antarctica, recycling feces and suppressing parasites that could otherwise harm people and animals. Dung beetles also spread both seeds and nutrients into the soil, helping to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #BoycottGold and #Boycott4Wildlife

Written by Filipe França, Researcher, Tropical Ecology, Federal University of Pará and Joice Ferreira, Researcher in Ecology, Federal University of Pará. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Dung #beetles 🪲🦗🐛 are unsung heroes of ecosystems. If both drought and fire kill off dung beetles, then the Amazon #rainforest is in serious trouble. Help them to survive by going #vegan and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔☠️🤮⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-4IZ

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Conversely, dung beetles suffer when an ecological system is struggling. In tropical forests, for example, stress caused by environmental disturbances causes dung beetles to gain body fat and work less. Species diversity declines.

That’s why, as Amazon researchers, we use the marvelous, hard-working dung beetle to measure the ecological health of the world’s largest rainforest. Since 2010, we have collected and studied over 14,000 dung beetles from 98 different species in the vast and still wild interior of Brazil’s Santarém region, a remote corner of the Amazon forest – part of a long-term project with the Sustainable Amazon Network.

Most recently, we studied dung beetles to assess the Amazon’s recovery from the intense drought and forest fires of 2015 and 2016, extreme climatic events brought on by the most severe El Niño on record.

Stressed beetles take less crap

Some forests in our 10,586-square-mile research area were burned in the El Niño fires, which scorched 4,000 square miles of the Amazon. These climate-triggered fires are not to be confused with last year’s Amazon fire crisis, which was deforestation-related. Other Amazonian forests in our study experienced extreme drought but not fire.

We knew going into this project that Amazonian fauna are particularly sensitive to fire – unlike animals in Australia, which have a long history of fire adaptation. But our study, which was published in the scientific journal Biotropica in February 2020, reveals that both forest fires and drought are far more damaging than previously thought.

Dung beetles are captured in traps baited with – what else? – human and pig poop. There we count and physically examine them. To assess their activity level, we trick dung beetles into dispersing seeds by building a small arena filled with a mix of dung and artificial seeds on the forest floor.

Researchers measuring beetles’ dung-removal and seed-dispersal services. Marizilda Cuppre/ RAS Network, Author provided

Comparing our catches before and after the El Niño forest fires, we learned that almost 70% of dung beetles had disappeared. We believe that’s because most dung beetles nest in shallow soil depths of between zero to 6 inches, so fire heat is likely to kill them.

The El Niño droughts likewise decimated the Amazonian dung beetle populations. Their populations dropped by about 60% in forests affected only by drought, not fire.
Author Filipe França with an Amazonian dung beetle. Marizilda Cuppre/RAS Network, Author provided
Together, extreme drought and forest fires in the Amazon had severely diminished the beetles’ ability to remove dung and spread seeds, which declined by 67% and 22%, respectively, in comparison to data recorded in 2010 – before El Niño. This reduced haul is probably the result of population loss.

Both the reduction in the number of dung beetles captured and their diminished waste disposal functions persisted even two years after El Niño. While dung beetle populations recover quickly in fire-dependent ecosystems, insect recovery from fire disturbance in tropical forests can take many years.

Tropical beetles: If both drought and fire kill off dung beetles, the Amazon forests are in serious trouble

In damaged forests, most regrowth depends on seed dispersal by animals. Dung beetles disperse the seeds that promote revegetation and spread nutrients in the soil, helping seedlings survive.

They aren’t the only animals that play this critical ecological function. Tapirs, monkeys, ants, bee beetles and even wasps also spread the seeds that aid vegetation regrowth.

But many studies show that dung beetle responses to environmental stress are similar to those suffered by other seed-spreading animals necessary to tropical forest health. And climate change is likewise causing the collapse of these insect populations, killing off ants, bees, butterflies and wasps.

Without these important tropical animals, forests damaged by fire and drought will recover much more slowly. That means they may barely begin their regrowth before the next disaster. And with climate change projected to bring the tropics more intense and frequent droughts, along with hotter and dry global temperatures, such disasters will likely come ever more quickly.

From our field sites deep in the Amazon, we are rooting for all the little creeping and crawling creatures that keep the world running – with, admittedly, some particular affection and concern for the humble dung beetle.

Here are some other ways you can help by using your wallet as a weapon and joining the #Boycott4Wildlife

What is greenwashing?

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Why join the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Read more

Greenwashing Tactic #4: Fake Labels

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The Counterpunch: Consumer Solutions To Fight Extinction

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#AmazonRainforest #animalBehaviour #AnimalBiodiversityNews #animalExtinction #beetles #biodiversity #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottGold #BoycottPalmOil #deforestation #dungBeetle #extinction #fire #ForgottenAnimals #insects #PalmOil #rainforest #ReasonsToBeHopeful #vegan

Major Food Companies Sued Over Addictive Ultra-Processed Foods Targeting Children

A landmark lawsuit filed in Philadelphia names major food companies: Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, Post Holdings, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestlé, Kellogg’s, Mars, and ConAgra and accuses them of designing and marketing ultra-processed foods (UPFs) with addictive qualities, particularly targeting children. The suit alleges that these practices have led to serious childhood health issues, such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The case and its repercussions echo sinister marketing tactics employed by Big Tobacco in decades past. In a similar way it is alleged, global food giants manipulate consumers with misleading health claims and aggressive marketing. A large body of research shows that cutting UPFs could save millions of lives, while palm oil’s role in deforestation and biodiversity loss compounds the crisis. It’s time to reject harmful foods and demand accountability. Choose wholefoods, protect wildlife, and fight for a healthier planet. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.

#FMCG food brands #KraftHeinz #Mondelez 🥫 & #CocaCola 🥤 face lawsuit for using #tobacco 🚬🚭 style tactics to hook kids on #UPF #ultraprocessed foods, causing chronic #health issues 🤮🌎 Resist when you eat #wholefoods and #BoycottPalmOil @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-9E1

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In a groundbreaking legal action, some of the world’s largest food and beverage corporations are facing allegations of deliberately engineering ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to be addictive, with a specific focus on marketing these products to children. The lawsuit, filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, names companies including Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, Post Holdings, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestlé, Kellogg’s, Mars, and ConAgra.

The 148-page complaint drawing unsettling parallels with insidious strategies employed by the tobacco industry, asserts that these companies have employed strategies reminiscent of those used by tobacco giants, utilising research on addiction to create hyper-palatable food products that are difficult to resist. This approach is alleged to have contributed to a rise in serious health conditions among children, notably Type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease—ailments that were once rare in this age group.

https://youtu.be/EpRiqCVtDRA?si=hNH-aZV0CAY2r25f

The plaintiff, represented by the law firm Morgan & Morgan, contends that the defendants have prioritised profit over public health, leading to a public health crisis characterised by increased rates of chronic diseases linked to diet. The lawsuit seeks to hold these corporations accountable for their role in promoting and distributing products that may pose significant health risks to consumers, particularly vulnerable populations like children.

This case underscores the growing scrutiny of ultra-processed foods and their impact on health, especially among younger demographics. It raises critical questions about corporate responsibility, marketing ethics, and the need for greater transparency in the food industry.

The compliant alleges that these tactics originate from a time when tobacco giants acquired and operated major food brands, using the same addiction research once employed to hook smokers on cigarettes. This same research was subsequently applied to make ultra-processed foods tasty and irresistible to children.

This lawsuit represents a pivotal moment in the fight against corporate practices that prioritise profits over human health and planetary well-being. With childhood obesity rates and diet-related illnesses climbing, the case forces society to reckon with the profound consequences of marketing UPFs to vulnerable populations.

Big Food Taking from Big Tobacco’s Playbook of Deception

The lawsuit alleges that Big Food employs tactics alarmingly similar to those pioneered by the tobacco industry, including targeting children, engineering addiction, and lobbying to obstruct regulation. These claims echo findings from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Bulletin (2021), which likened the palm oil industry’s tactics to Big Tobacco’s playbook. The report detailed how industries undermine health policies through lobbying, greenwashing, and misleading claims.

In the context of ultra-processed foods, companies exploit health-conscious messaging to disguise their products’ true impact. Misleading packaging, claims of “low-fat” or “fortified” products, and cartoon characters lure children into consuming foods with little to no nutritional value. These strategies mirror the tobacco industry’s decades-long effort to obfuscate health risks while marketing addictive products to the public and in particular to children.

The Hidden Danger of Ultra-Processed Foods

Ultra-processed foods, rich in refined palm oil, sugars, salts, and additives, are engineered to override natural satiety signals, encouraging overconsumption. They not only fuel obesity and chronic diseases but also wreak havoc on cardiovascular health.

Dawn Harris Sherling, in her research published in The American Journal of Medicine (2024), highlights the immense influence of multinational corporations producing ultra-processed foods:

“The multinational companies that produce ultra-processed foods are just as, if not more, powerful than tobacco companies were in the last century, and it is unlikely that governments will be able to move quickly on policies that will promote whole foods and discourage the consumption of ultra-processed foods,” said Sherling.

She argues that this corporate dominance makes swift government action to promote whole foods and discourage ultra-processed food consumption unlikely, underscoring the challenges of addressing this public health crisis. (Sherling, Hennekens, & Ferris, 2024).

Palm Oil’s Role in the UPF Crisis

Palm oil is a cornerstone of UPFs, contributing not only to their health risks but also to widespread environmental destruction. As detailed on Palm Oil Detectives, the palm oil industry drives deforestation, biodiversity loss, and violations of indigenous rights. The unchecked expansion of palm oil plantations continues to exacerbate climate change and disrupt ecosystems vital to planetary health.

Companies like Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo rely heavily on palm oil, underscoring their complicity in both public health and environmental degradation. Addressing these interlinked crises requires holding corporations accountable and rethinking our food systems.

Take Action!

The evidence is clear: ultra-processed foods are a health hazard, and the industries behind them profit from addiction, environmental destruction, and misleading marketing. Here’s what you can do:

• Boycott Palm Oil: Refuse to buy products containing palm oil to combat deforestation, biodiversity loss, and corporate greenwashing.

• Choose Whole Foods: Opt for fresh, minimally processed plant-based foods to prioritise your health and reduce dependency on harmful UPFs.

To learn more about the dangers of UPFs and the palm oil industry’s impact on health and the environment, visit Palm Oil Detectives. Share your commitment to change with the hashtags #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.

References

Dawn Harris Sherling, Charles H. Hennekens, Allison H. Ferris. (2024). Newest updates to health providers on the hazards of ultra-processed foods and proposed solutions. The American Journal of Medicine, DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.02.001

Kadandale, S., Marten, R., & Smith, R. (2019). The palm oil industry and noncommunicable diseases. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 97(2), 118–128. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6357563/

LawInc Staff. (2024, December 10). Hooked by design: Landmark lawsuit alleges Kraft, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and others used Big Tobacco tactics to addict kids to ultra-processed foods. LawInc. Retrieved from https://www.lawinc.com/hooked-by-design-landmark-lawsuit-kraft-coca-cola-pepsico-addict-kids-ultra-processed-foods

Palm Oil Detectives. (2024). Cutting down on ultra-processed foods could save lives, research reveals. Retrieved from Palm Oil Detectives.

Palm Oil Detectives. (2022). Four things to know about cholesterol. Retrieved from Palm Oil Detectives.

Hanley-Jones, S, Wood, L, Letcher, T and Winstanley, M. 5.13 Products and packaging created to appeal to new users. In Greenhalgh, EM, Scollo, MM and Winstanley, MH [editors]. Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues. Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria; 2022. Available from https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-5-uptake/5-13-products-and-packaging-created-to-appeal-to-n

#News: #FMCG brands like #KraftHeinz 🫘🫛 & #CocaCola 🥤 face a lawsuit for using #tobacco 🚬🚭 style tactics to hook kids on #UPF #ultraprocessed foods, causing chronic #health issues 🤮🌎 #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
https://www.lawinc.com/hooked-by-design-landmark-lawsuit-kraft-coca-cola-pepsico-addict-kids-ultra-processed-foods#

ENDS

Read more about deforestation and ecocide in the palm oil industry

Tufted Ground Squirrel Rheithrosciurus macrotis

The tufted ground squirrel, or groove-toothed squirrel, is a striking nut-cracking rodent native to the island of Borneo. Sporting a voluminous, club-shaped tail, the tufted ground squirrel carries the largest tail-to-body size ratio…

Read more

Research: Climate Change Collapsing Insect Numbers by 63%

The world may be facing a devastating “hidden” collapse in insect species due to the twin threats of climate change and habitat loss. #Palmoil 🪔 #soy #meat 🥩 and #cocoa 🍫 #agriculture along…

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Visayan Broadbill Sarcophanops samarensis

The Visayan broadbill Sarcophanops samarensis is a brightly colored bird endemic to the islands of Samar, Leyte, and Bohol in the central Philippines. Males flaunt striking reddish-pink underparts, while females are marked by…

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How banks and investors are bankrolling extinction and ecocide

This article highlights the significant role that banks and investors play in fuelling a global biodiversity crisis – particularly in relation to palm oil, meat, soy and timber deforestation.

By financially supporting…

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If You Love Moo Deng, Help to Save Her Home!

Moo Deng, the chubby, moody and adorable baby pygmy hippo has highlighted the plight of these elusive large mammals living in Africa’s rainforest and mangrove environments. The message to animal lovers is clear,…

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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.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• WordPress
• YouTube
• Mail
• Mastodon

Sign Up

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 in His Own Words

Read more

Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

Read more

Anthropologist and author of ‘In the Shadow of the Palms’ Dr Sophie Chao: In Her Own Words

Read more

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen: In His Own Words

Read more

The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

Read more

How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

Read more

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 #Boycott4Wildlifehttps #BoycottPalmOil #CocaCola #corruption #deforestation #FMCG #health #KraftHeinz #Mondelez #News #PalmOil #palmOilBiofuel #palmOilDeforestation #tobacco #ultraprocessed #UPF #vegan #wholefoods

Palm Oil Detectives

2025-01-11 15:54:00

Tufted Ground Squirrel Rheithrosciurus macrotis

Tufted Ground Squirrel Rheithrosciurus macrotis

Vulnerable

Extant (resident)

Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia (Borneo).

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The tufted ground squirrel, or groove-toothed squirrel, is a striking nut-cracking rodent native to the island of Borneo. Sporting a voluminous, club-shaped tail, the tufted ground squirrel carries the largest tail-to-body size ratio of any mammal. Scientists believe the tail could serve to confuse predators or attract mates. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and are threatened by deforestation, hunting, and forest conversion to palm oil. To protect these charismatic creatures, make sure you #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket!

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With the most magnificent tail of all in the #jungle, the #vulnerable Tufted Ground Squirrel of #Borneo 🇲🇾🇮🇩 is losing a battle against #palmoil #ecocide. Fight for them when you shop and be #vegan 🥕🥦🍆 #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7P9

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Mistaken as ‘vampire squirrels’ 🧛🦷 for their sharp teeth, Tufted Ground #Squirrels only eat nuts. They are vulnerable in #Indonesia and #Malaysia from #palmoil #deforestation. Help them survive! #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔🤮⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7P9

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https://youtu.be/kVrHOSagv2Y

Appearance & Behaviour

The tufted ground squirrel, or groove-toothed squirrel, is a striking nut-cracking rodent native to the island of Borneo. Weighing in at around 2 kg their bodies are overshadowed by a fluffy, charcoal-and-white frosted tail that’s 130% the volume of their body. Their head-and-body length is around 34 cm with a tail almost as long, bringing their total length to nearly 70 cm! They have the largest tail-to-body ratio of any animal on the planet.

Their sharp incisors feature 7-10 saw-like grooves that are perfect for cracking hard nuts. Their fur is primarily brown with a reddish tint, and they sport dramatic tufts of dark fur on their ears, giving them a striking appearance. They’re agile climbers and forage both on the forest floor and in the lower canopy.

• “Vampire Squirrel” myth is patently untrue: Though local folklore suggests that these squirrels attack deer from above to feast on their organs, researchers have yet to find scientific proof. Instead, they mostly munch on incredibly hard seeds, especially those from the Canarium tree.

Threats

• Deforestation: Conversion of their habitat into monoculture plantations like palm oil is the biggest threat.
• Logging: Unsustainable logging practices impact their primary forest habitat.
• Hunting and Trapping: Although not specifically targeted, these squirrels can become victims due to their ground-foraging habits.

You can help spread awareness about impacts of palm oil on these squirrels and 1000’s of other species. By using your wallet as a weapon every time you shop and being a part of the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife you are taking an empowering step for them.

Habitat

Glimpsing Tufted Ground Squirrels in their natural home is exceedingly rate. They are found only on the island of Borneo and prefer dense lowland primary forests up to 1,100 meters in elevation. However, they will sometimes venture into secondary forests, orchards or smallholdings. They are elusive and not often seen, sometimes their fluffy tailed forms are captured by camera traps or chance sightings.

Diet

The tufted ground squirrel’s diet includes mostly hard seeds, particularly those of the Canarium tree. They also eat fruits, nuts, and insects, adapting to the available food sources in their forest habitat. Despite their sharp teeth, tales of their carnivorous nature have led to them being dubbed “vampire squirrels”, however these claims were subsequently discovered to be lacking in evidence. Their ultra sharp teeth give them the ability crack open even the toughest nuts.

Mating and breeding

Much remains unknown about the mating and reproduction of the tufted ground squirrel due to their elusive nature. Researchers hope that future studies using motion-activated cameras will uncover more details about their behaviour, including how their elaborate tail might play a role in courtship.

Support Tufted Ground Squirrel 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

Animalia. (n.d.). Tufted ground squirrel: Groove-toothed squirrel. https://www.animalia.bio/tufted-ground-squirrel

Meijaard, E. 2016. Rheithrosciurus macrotis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T19474A22248783. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T19474A22248783.en. Accessed on 08 May 2024.

Pare, S. (2023, December 24). Tufted ground squirrel: The Borneo rodent once believed to disembowel deer and feast on their organs. https://www.livescience.com/animals/land-mammals/tufted-ground-squirrel-the-rodent-once-believed-to-disembowel-deer-and-feast-on-their-organs

Stokstad, E. (2015, September 2). ‘Vampire’ squirrel caught on film: Researchers in Borneo get first video of mammal with fluffiest tail. https://www.science.org/content/article/vampire-squirrel-caught-film-rev2

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Tufted ground squirrel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tufted_ground_squirrel

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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.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• WordPress
• YouTube
• Mail
• Mastodon

Sign Up

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 in His Own Words

Read more

Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

Read more

Anthropologist and author of ‘In the Shadow of the Palms’ Dr Sophie Chao: In Her Own Words

Read more

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen: In His Own Words

Read more

The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

Read more

How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

Read more

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

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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

Visayan Broadbill Sarcophanops samarensis

Keep reading

Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus

Keep reading

Nicobar Long-Tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosa

Keep reading

Phayre’s Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus phayrei

Keep reading

Giant Pangolin Smutsia gigantea

Keep reading

Solomon Islands skink Corucia zebrata

Keep reading

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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)

Read more

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#animals #Borneo #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #Brunei #deforestation #ecocide #ForgottenAnimals #hunting #Indonesia #jungle #Malaysia #Mammal #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #rodent #SouthEastAsia #Squirrels #TuftedGroundSquirrelRheithrosciurusMacrotis #vegan #vulnerable #VulnerableSpecies

Palm Oil Detectives | Auckland

Palm Oil Detectives, Auckland, New Zealand. 609 likes · 11 talking about this. A collective of like-minded artists, writers, photographers, musicians and wildlife conservationists who share and...

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Tufted Ground Squirrel Rheithrosciurus macrotis

Tufted Ground Squirrel Rheithrosciurus macrotis

Vulnerable

Extant (resident)

Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia (Borneo).

The tufted ground squirrel, or groove-toothed squirrel, is a striking nut-cracking rodent native to the island of Borneo. Sporting a voluminous, club-shaped tail, the tufted ground squirrel carries the largest tail-to-body size ratio of any mammal. Scientists believe the tail could serve to confuse predators or attract mates. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and are threatened by deforestation, hunting, and forest conversion to palm oil. To protect these charismatic creatures, make sure you #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket!

With the most magnificent tail of all in the #jungle, the #vulnerable Tufted Ground Squirrel of #Borneo 🇲🇾🇮🇩 is losing a battle against #palmoil #ecocide. Fight for them when you shop and be #vegan 🥕🥦🍆 #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7P9

Share to BlueSky
Share to Twitter

Mistaken as ‘vampire squirrels’ 🧛🦷 for their sharp teeth, Tufted Ground #Squirrels only eat nuts. They are vulnerable in #Indonesia and #Malaysia from #palmoil #deforestation. Help them survive! #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔🤮⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7P9

Share to BlueSky
Share to Twitter

https://youtu.be/kVrHOSagv2Y

Appearance & Behaviour

The tufted ground squirrel, or groove-toothed squirrel, is a striking nut-cracking rodent native to the island of Borneo. Weighing in at around 2 kg their bodies are overshadowed by a fluffy, charcoal-and-white frosted tail that’s 130% the volume of their body. Their head-and-body length is around 34 cm with a tail almost as long, bringing their total length to nearly 70 cm! They have the largest tail-to-body ratio of any animal on the planet.

Their sharp incisors feature 7-10 saw-like grooves that are perfect for cracking hard nuts. Their fur is primarily brown with a reddish tint, and they sport dramatic tufts of dark fur on their ears, giving them a striking appearance. They’re agile climbers and forage both on the forest floor and in the lower canopy.

• “Vampire Squirrel” myth is patently untrue: Though local folklore suggests that these squirrels attack deer from above to feast on their organs, researchers have yet to find scientific proof. Instead, they mostly munch on incredibly hard seeds, especially those from the Canarium tree.

Threats

• Deforestation: Conversion of their habitat into monoculture plantations like palm oil is the biggest threat.
• Logging: Unsustainable logging practices impact their primary forest habitat.
• Hunting and Trapping: Although not specifically targeted, these squirrels can become victims due to their ground-foraging habits.

You can help spread awareness about impacts of palm oil on these squirrels and 1000’s of other species. By using your wallet as a weapon every time you shop and being a part of the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife you are taking an empowering step for them.

Habitat

Glimpsing Tufted Ground Squirrels in their natural home is exceedingly rate. They are found only on the island of Borneo and prefer dense lowland primary forests up to 1,100 meters in elevation. However, they will sometimes venture into secondary forests, orchards or smallholdings. They are elusive and not often seen, sometimes their fluffy tailed forms are captured by camera traps or chance sightings.

Diet

The tufted ground squirrel’s diet includes mostly hard seeds, particularly those of the Canarium tree. They also eat fruits, nuts, and insects, adapting to the available food sources in their forest habitat. Despite their sharp teeth, tales of their carnivorous nature have led to them being dubbed “vampire squirrels”, however these claims were subsequently discovered to be lacking in evidence. Their ultra sharp teeth give them the ability crack open even the toughest nuts.

Mating and breeding

Much remains unknown about the mating and reproduction of the tufted ground squirrel due to their elusive nature. Researchers hope that future studies using motion-activated cameras will uncover more details about their behaviour, including how their elaborate tail might play a role in courtship.

Support Tufted Ground Squirrel 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

Animalia. (n.d.). Tufted ground squirrel: Groove-toothed squirrel. https://www.animalia.bio/tufted-ground-squirrel

Meijaard, E. 2016. Rheithrosciurus macrotis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T19474A22248783. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T19474A22248783.en. Accessed on 08 May 2024.

Pare, S. (2023, December 24). Tufted ground squirrel: The Borneo rodent once believed to disembowel deer and feast on their organs. https://www.livescience.com/animals/land-mammals/tufted-ground-squirrel-the-rodent-once-believed-to-disembowel-deer-and-feast-on-their-organs

Stokstad, E. (2015, September 2). ‘Vampire’ squirrel caught on film: Researchers in Borneo get first video of mammal with fluffiest tail. https://www.science.org/content/article/vampire-squirrel-caught-film-rev2

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Tufted ground squirrel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tufted_ground_squirrel

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.

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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 in His Own Words

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Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

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Anthropologist and author of ‘In the Shadow of the Palms’ Dr Sophie Chao: In Her Own Words

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Health Physician Dr Evan Allen: In His Own Words

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The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

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How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

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3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.

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

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

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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