The siamang is the largest and most vocal of all gibbons, known for their spectacular morning calls that resonate across the forests of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Their complex vocalisations, amplified by a throat sac, serve as a hallmark of their species and a testament to the
The siamang is the largest and most vocal of all gibbons, known for their spectacular morning calls that resonate across the forests of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Their complex vocalisations, amplified by a throat sac, serve as a hallmark of their species and a testament to their social bonds.
Despite their ecological importance as seed dispersers and their striking behaviours, siamangs face serious threats from deforestation, palm oil plantations, and illegal pet trade. With forest habitats shrinking rapidly, their populations continue to decline. Fight for their survival by boycotting palm oil and supporting conservation efforts. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
The siamang is a large, arboreal primate, weighing between 10 to 15 kg and reaching up to 90 cm in height. Their jet-black fur contrasts with their bare faces and hands, and they are easily distinguished by the large throat sac that inflates dramatically during their vocalisations. This sac can expand to the size of a grapefruit, amplifying their calls to carry over several kilometres.
Siamangs are highly social and monogamous, typically forming small family groups consisting of a mated pair and their offspring. Their complex duet calls, often performed at dawn, reinforce pair bonds and establish territory. Their long arms and powerful shoulders make them exceptional brachiators, swinging effortlessly between tree branches.
Their intelligence has been a subject of fascination; recent research suggests siamangs demonstrate advanced cognitive abilities, including problem-solving and tool use (Gibbons et al., 2023).
Geographic Range
Siamangs are native to the tropical forests of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, preferring lowland and hill forests up to 2000 metres in elevation in some areas of Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. They are most commonly found in primary and secondary forests, where they rely on continuous canopy cover for brachiation. Palm oil deforestation has confined them to protected areas such as Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra and Taman Negara National Park in Malaysia (IUCN, 2020). However, the species future in both Malaysia and Indonesia is uncertain. oil palm expansion has been identified as one of the main causes of deforestation in Peninsular Malaysia (Miyamoto et al. 2014). Also, as in Sumatra, rates of forest loss have accelerated over the last several years and are likely to range between 70-100% within the range of siamangs.
Diet
Siamangs are primarily frugivorous, with fruits making up around 60% of their diet. They also consume young leaves, flowers, and insects when fruit availability is low. By consuming fruits and dispersing seeds throughout the forest, they play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and promoting forest regeneration (Yusuf et al., 2022).
Reproduction and Mating
Siamangs are monogamous, forming lifelong bonds with their partners. After a gestation period of approximately seven months, females give birth to a single infant. Both parents are actively involved in raising their young, with males frequently carrying infants during their first year.
Young siamangs remain with their family group for up to seven years before dispersing to establish their own territories. The slow reproductive cycle, combined with low birth rates, makes their populations particularly vulnerable to decline (NePrimate Conservancy, 2024).
Threats
This species is threatened by forest conversion, mining, road construction, human encroachment and opportunistic poaching for pet trade and human consumption on Sumatra, with these threats often extending to populations in national parks and protected forests.
IUCN Red List
The siamang is classified as Endangered by the IUCN, with populations continuing to decline across their range. Conservation efforts include habitat restoration, anti-poaching patrols, and public awareness campaigns to reduce demand for palm oil and exotic pets. Protected areas such as Gunung Leuser National Park and Taman Negara are critical to their survival. Yet they are no guarantee for protection and so-called āsustainableā palm oil companies regularly and illegally expand into protected areas.
IUCN Status: Endangered
Palm oil and timber deforestation: Extensive deforestation for palm oil plantations, logging, and agriculture has destroyed vast swathes of their habitat, forcing siamangs into increasingly fragmented forests.
Habitat Fragmentation: The loss of continuous canopy cover limits their ability to travel, forage, and maintain genetic diversity, further isolating populations.
Illegal Pet Trade: Infant siamangs are often captured for the illegal pet trade, typically involving the killing of their mothers.
Climate Change: Altered rainfall patterns and rising temperatures threaten the fruiting cycles of trees they depend on for food.
Population Decline: It is estimated that their population has declined by over 50% in the past four decades.
Organisations like the Gibbon Conservation Alliance work tirelessly to study and protect siamangs, advocating for stronger wildlife laws and community-led conservation initiatives. However, long-term survival requires a collective effort to address habitat destruction and curb illegal activities.
Take Action!
Protect siamangs every time you shop by boycotting palm oil. Share their story and demand stronger wildlife protections. Use your influence to make a difference. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Between 1985 and 2007 on Sumatra, over 40% of the conceivable habitat for this species was lost to fires, logging, road development and conversion to agriculture or plantations (Laumonier et al. 2010). The forests, where they remain, are extremely fragmented (Margono et al. 2012).
Siamangs have no protection or conservation in place in Sumatraā¦
This endangered primate faces an uncertain future, most are kept as pets and very little is done to inforce the law to protect them. The outcome to this is they are kept in shocking conditions as pets in Sumatra. This female is 8 years old and has been kept in this same cage for that whole period. I gained access through a friend, this is what I witnessed. Sad thing is there are no NGOās to help these and the other primates caught and thrown into the pet trade. There is nowhere for them to go when rescued apart from the zoo. While taking this I had to act like a tourist who was interested in Siamangs otherwise I wouldnāt have gained access to this unseen hell. Part of me wishes I hadnāt seen such torment.
This siamang has spent her whole life in this cage, a vision that was a true nightmare. Craig Jones Wildlife PhotographyThis siamang has spent her whole life in this cage, a vision that was a true nightmare. Craig Jones Wildlife PhotographyThis siamang has spent her whole life in this cage, a vision that was a true nightmare. Craig Jones Wildlife Photography youtube.com/watch?v=IKCBK8zZmAā¦
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.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youāre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
The Pileated Gibbon is listed as Endangered as they are suspected to have experienced a reduction of more than 50% over a time frame of three generations (45 years) in the past. Most populations are not yet secured in protected areas, and the main threats are habitat loss due to logging, agricultural conversion, hydroelectric development and new human settlements (W. Brockelman pers. Comm.)
[strong]The Pileated Gibbon[/strong] belongs to the genus Hylobates. The word Hylobates means āForest Walkerā in Greek. The gibbons in this genus are known for the white circle of fur around their faces. They are known to communicate in species-specific song when defining territory or attracting mates. They sing in regional accents to each other, have long swinging arms, inquisitive natures and superior acrobatic skills, they spend most of their lives high up in the tree-tops. Researchers find the species somewhat shyer and more elusive than the Lar Gibbon (W. Brockelman pers. Comm.)
Mating and Reproduction
The Pileated Gibbons form strong monogomous bonds with their partners and children.
Habitat and Geographic Range
They live in moist, seasonal evergreen and mixed deciduous-evergreen forests and have been recorded living to about 1,500 m in Cambodia and to around 1,200 m in Thailand.
Diet
The Pileated Gibbon is similar to the Lar Gibbon in diet and general ecology and they eat mostly fruits, shoots, and some immature leaves, as well as insects (Srikosamatara 1980, 1984).
Threats
Hunting and habitat loss: This species is threatened by both hunting, primarily for subsistence, and severe habitat fragmentation and degradation (Duckworth et al. 1999, Traeholt et al. 2005).
In Thailand, all populations are now within protected conservation areas and the era of logging and slash-and-burn agriculture (Brockelman 1983) is now mostly over.
Deforestation even in āprotectedā forests is a threat: Nevertheless, severe encroachment has occurred in eastern Khao Yai Park and other major protected areas, and subsistence hunting by minor forest product collectors is still uncontrolled (Phoonjampa and Brockelman 2008). In Cambodia, however, habitat destruction is a more immediate threat than poaching, especially in remote areas.
Most populations are not yet secured in protected areas, and the main threats are habitat loss due to logging, agricultural conversion, hydroelectric development and new human settlements (W. Brockelman pers. Comm.) How to easily identify gibbons by Noah RNS Shepherd
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.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youāre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. AuĆerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.
The Black Crested Gibbon, found in Vietnam, Laos, and southern China, communicates using distinctive songs for territory marking and mate attraction, even showcasing regional accents. These gibbons form breeding pairs and primarily inhabit subtropical evergreen forests. However, they face severe threats from local forest destruction, hunting, logging, and agriculture expansion. Preserve their melodious habitats and use your wallet as a weapon: be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
The Black Crested Gibbon, found in Vietnam, Laos, and southern China, communicates using distinctive songs for territory marking and mate attraction, even showcasing regional accents. These gibbons form breeding pairs and primarily inhabit subtropical evergreen forests. However, they face severe threats from local forest destruction, hunting, logging, and agriculture expansion. Preserve their melodious habitats and use your wallet as a weapon: be #vegan #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
The biggest threat to the Black Crested Gibbon is destructive local forest use and hunting while selective logging and agriculture encroachment are additional threats (Geissmann et al. 2000; Jiang et al. 2006; Sun et al. 2012; Wei et al. 2017).
This species lives in subtropical and montane evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous forest (Fan et al. 2009c, Jiang et al. 2006) and in China it is restricted to broadleaved evergreen forests (Fan et al. 2009a). In the Wuliang and Ailao Mountains, Nomascus concolor concolor occur at altitudes ranging from 1,800 to 2,800 m (Bleisch and Chen 1991; Jiang et al. 2006; Li et al. 2011; Luo 2011) with no group occurring at elevations lower than 1,500 m (Fan pers. comm.)
Pengfei, F., Nguyen, M.H., Phiaphalath, P., Roos, C., Coudrat, C.N.Z. & Rawson, B.M. 2020. Nomascus concolor. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T39775A17968556. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.202ā¦. Downloaded on 28 January 2021.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youāre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Hello, Iām Melody Lumby from the US state of Oregon. Throughout my career and life (over 50 years) I have been a passionate devotee of plants and a horticulturalist. Prior to retiring, I was a horticultural buyer for a retail nursery business and a lab technician in a horticultural laboratory, testing soil amendments and soil media for quality assurance.
I have always loved Begonias. I have loved them since falling for them at age 16 when I joined the American Begonia Society in Portland, Oregon ā I am still a member!
When I first joined, it was me and a bevvy of sweet grannies and together we gathered to discuss and marvel over these plants.
Now after 50 years of living with, working with and loving begonias ā Iām the one with the grey hair!
Iāve seen begonias go in and out of fashion over this time.
āOh, yes. Begonias are a little old lady plant,ā they used to sayā¦.now look at them!
Begonias are no longer citizens of Dorkville. They are coveted and collected by the hip and āplantyā
Begonias are greatly coveted by hobbyists and are shown off on social media by hip and āplantyā enthusiasts.
I used to pay around $3.99 USD for certain begonias. Now? Some folks will pay $399 USD for unusual and desirable species of Begonia. Sometimes it can be even more expensive than that.
Begonias have been with me through the decades, a lovely silent friend to come home to after work, during lifeās trials and joys, a beautiful accompaniment to a happy life.
~ Mel Lumby
Hidden in the jungles of SE Asia, scientists estimate that there are undiscovered begonia species to the tune of three to five hundred new species on Papua New Guinea. They occupy shady forest floors and limestone cliffs, without any name given by human kind. Horticultural commerce hasnāt had a glimpse of them yet.
On Borneo, it is estimated that 400 possibly even more species of Begonia exist ā primarily in the under surveyed Kalimantan district.
Begonias, along with orangutans and many other rainforest inhabitants are in danger now. Will these precious jewels of the jungle be located by scientists, described, eventually named and shared, so that people can love and marvel at their incredible beauty? Or will the bulldozer get there first, destroying where they live, making way to plant oil palm plantations for cheap palm oil?
[Pictured] Begonia Rex, National Gallery of Canada (1868)
Come on an enchanting and curious journey into of the worldās most beautiful, medicinal and endangered plants of the rainforest: #Begonias with retired horticulturalist Mel Lumby @[url=https://mastodon.social/users/Norska11]Norska11[/url] #Boycott4Wildlife #Boycottpalmoil
Will exquisite #begonias become historical relicsā¦no longer found in real life #rainforests? Not if Begonia lover Mel Lumby @[url=https://mastodon.social/users/Norska11]Norska11[/url] has anything to do with it! Help her fight for rare plants #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Beautiful #begonias are the unsung heroes of #rainforests. Their supreme beauty dazzles us. Their medicine protects us. Yet #corporate greed threatens them. By Horticulturalist Mel Lumby @[url=https://mastodon.social/users/Norska11]Norska11[/url] #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
We buy inexpensive products that contain palm oil now. It is a cheap, useful, oil that manufacturers like to use. Cookies, crackers, frozen pizza, shampoo, face lotion.
We buy these products without realising that we are contributing to rainforest destruction. Those rainforest shady places where beautiful Begonias grow are vulnerable to deforestation for palmoil.
āWe are destroying swathes of rainforest containing beautiful, jewel-like, treasures. I cannot sit by quietly, while our beautiful earth burns. I must act!ā
āI thought that I would quietly retire at the beach, grow a flower garden and happily live out my days with my chickens. I have done this. But I cannot be silent. I am now adding my voice to many others who are trying to save the animals and plants we love from mass extinction. I am only one person, but I can do something.ā
Mel lumby
Mel Lumby on Instagram: More begonias being carefully, lovingly grownMel Lumbyās Begonia moysesii in bloom Mel Lumbyās Instagram: Evey Big Buff and Eloise Little Miss, two of my buddies hanging out in the garden bed. Photos: Mel Lumby on Instagram @spock_like_object
āI am able to help fight against the greed of palm oil. This feels so good!ā
This issue has been on my mind for quite some time now.
It really bothers me that there are beautiful undiscovered begonias that took millions of years to evolve.
We wonāt even get to know about them because of dumb old palm oil!
Nobody even asked for this in our food, etc. The Palm Oil Detectives gal is really a cool person ā it is an honour to try to help her.
Deforestation for agriculture is a clear and present threat to tropical rainforests. Especially in Indonesia and Malaysia, economic growth has come at an enormous cost to its unique plants, wild animals and indigenous peoples.
In Indonesia, 10 million hectares of primary forest was lost over the past two decades. A 2019 study identified palm oil plantations to be responsible for 23% (the single largest proportion) of the deforestation in Indonesia between 2001 and 2016.
Over 3 million hectares of the forest estate in 2019 were allocated to palm oil production, which was in strict violation of national forestry law.
It is gut-wrenching and soul-destroying to see. Now palm oil threatens plants, animals and indigenous peoples in South America, India, Papua and Africa as well.
A diversity that rivals the African continent. This may be the highest number of plants of any region on Earth.
There are 931 Begonia species in Southeast Asia
Currently, there are 216 species and one subspecies of Begonia in Borneo.
In Sarawak alone there are 96 species, with an average of at least 10 species described per year over the past 7 years.
In Borneo, there are also 3,000 species of trees, 1,700 species of orchids and 50 carnivorous pitcher plant species.
The natural habitat of begonias is cool, moist forests and tropical rainforests, but some begonias are adapted to drier climates
[Pictured] Begonia socotrana grows in between the shady cracks in rock formations on the arid island of Socotra, Yemen.
Fast facts about the family Begoniaceae
They grow in the deeply shaded forest understory from the lowlands to mountain tops and on all rock types including granite, limestone, sandstone and ultramafic rocks.
The Begonia was named after a French botanist in the 17th century.
There are over 2,000 known species of family Begoniaceae ā one of the largest genera of flowering plants. New species are being discovered almost on a monthly basis.
They are mostly terrestrial and are either herbs or undershrubs, but occasionally may be grown from air (ephiphytic).
They thrive in moist tropical and subtropical climates of South and Central America, Africa and southern Asia.
Their leaves are often large, vividly marked and are they are assymetrical and unequal-sided, giving each plant unique beauty.
They are popular ornamental plants for conservatories. Currently, begonias are incredibly trendy and are coveted and admired by house plant lovers all over the world.
[Pictured] Begonia Rex, National Gallery of Canada (1868)
The worldās tiniest begonia was recently discovered Begonia elachista.
They exist at the mouth of a limestone cave in central Peru and nowhere else in the world.
Then there is a newly described giant begonia from Tibet, tall enough to tower over a person: Begonia giganticaulis.
The pretty Floristās Reiger Begonia comes in a fantastic array of colours including pinks, peaches, oranges, reds, yellows, white.
We cannot forget the lovely tuberous begonias that we plant in the shady reaches of our yards.
To plant large flowerbeds full of Wax begonias in summertime is a sheer delight.
During drought periods, Begonia socotrana drop their pretty, round, leaves and survive as a tuber.
Many years ago, Begonia socotrana was used as one of the parent plants to eventually create Floristās Reiger Begonia mentioned above.
Mel Lumby
Exceptionally beautiful begonia paintings from history
Those lovely plants are there, for now, surrounded by tropical bird call and orangutan hoots. They often live in very small stretches of area, sometimes only existing on one hillside and nowhere else in the world. Plants canāt run away if that bulldozer comes, they are sessile, fixed in one place.
If a bulldozer razes everything and scrapes that Begonia inhabited hillside bare, thatās it ā that particular begonia will be lost, gone forever from our earth in the wild. Millions of years of evolution, gone. All that beauty, gone.
Mel Lumby
[Pictured] āDiversity of Species in the Rainforest by Oro Verde ā the Rainforest Foundation (2009).
Scientists are constantly discovering new Begonia species in Indonesia
Indonesia has one of the largest concentrations of of begonia species diversity, especially in Southeast Asia with 243 species. In 2022 alone, at least a dozen new species were discovered, here in this article below, seven are mentioned.
Hoya batutikarensis
Hoya buntokensis
Dendrobium dedeksantosoi
Rigiolepis argentii
Begonia robii
Begonia willemii
Etlingera comosa
Read the full story: āIndonesian researchers discover seven new species of ornamental plants,ā Indonesian Window.
Indonesia is an archipelago consisting of approximately 17,508 islands and is covered by tropical rain forest, seasonal forest, mountain vegetation, subalpine shrub vegetation, swamp and coastal vegetation. With its reflective mixture of Asian and Australian native species, Indonesia is said to possess the second largest biodiversity in the world, with around 40,000 endemic plant species including 6,000 medicinal plants
We may be losing plants with medicinal purposes and cures as yet unknown which will help humankind
If we bulldoze Borneo, plow down Papua New Guinea, annihilate the Amazon, we wipe out incredibly beautiful plants that havenāt yet been discovered!
It isnāt just Begonias. Itās orchids and all sorts of fascinating tropical plant species. Nepenthes, the pitcher plant species. Aroids ā the wonderful Philodendron relatives of Begonias that are also popular now.
Begonia medicinalis was discovered only recently in 2019 by scientists. This incredible species of begonia native to Sulawesi has been used as a medicinal plant by Indigenous peoples for 1000ās of years. Now this plant has been shown to have the potential to fight cancer!
Begonia medicinalis is known as benalu batu in Bahasa Indonesia is a herbal plant that is locally used for traditional medicines. The secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, and terpenoids have been reported to be found in these plant extracts. The content of flavonoids can lead to anti-cancer abilities while heat-sensitive flavonoid compounds can be extracted by the Ultrasound-assisted Extraction (UAE) method.
In this study, the anticancer potential of B. medicinalis extracts from the leaves (leaves extract/LE) and stem (stem extract/SE) in three cell lines (Hela, MDA-MB, HT-29) have been performed.
The anticancer potential was obtained from cytotoxic measurements by the MTT method on 3 types of cancer cells incubated with the extract for 24 hours. The value of total flavonoid content (TFC) in the LE was higher than that of SE extracts. Both extracts have the potential as a remedy for the treatment of cancer.
Prihardina & S Fatmawati; (2021); āCytotoxicity of Begonia medicinalis aqueous extract in three cancer cell line,ā: IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 913 012084. iopscience.iop.org/article/10.ā¦
Begonia isoptera is used by indigenous peoples in Borneo and has profoundly important medicinal properties
This Begonia species found in Borneo has been used by indigenous peoples for aeons for medicinal purposes. A study from 2011 has found that this begonia species has positive antimicrobial and antibacterial effects on the human body.
Indonesiaās native plants: A medicine cabinet of powerful drugs growing in the rainforest
Indigenous peoples in Indonesia have been using native medicinal plants from their medicine cabinet ā the rainforest for 1000ās of years. These medicines are influenced by Indian Ayurveda since Hinduism spread from India to Asia.
[Pictured]: Dyak/Dayak peoples in Borneo have a rich knowledge of ancient plant medicine that is recognised by western science. Images from PxFuel, creative commons.
Indigenous treatments using plants involve a combination of physical and spiritual aspects to form a holistic approach to healing.
The inclusion of indigenous medicinal plants not found in India enhanced Indigenous Indonesian medication. This was further enriched by the influence of Chinese and Arabian traders to the islands.
Dayak indigenous peoples of Borneo are knowledge-keepers of ancient indigenous medicine and treatment from plants. This knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. Now western medicine is realising just how important it is to keep these plants from going extinct. Research shows that these plants may hold the key to unlocking fatal diseases like dementia and cancer, as well as being useful for treating common illnesses and injuries.
Most of this indigenous knowledge of medicine is not recorded. It is passed down verbally in stories from generation to generation and healer to healer.
Dayak Indigenous Ethnographer Dr Setia Budhi: In His Own Words
āFor Dayak peoples in Borneo, the land is mother, where they plant fruit, vegetables and grains for their families. The soil is mother where trees grow and develop.
āFrom these trees they harvest an abundance of creeping rattan for medicine, food and crafts.
āThe forest has a ritual function, a medicinal function and a family protection function.ā
Historically, Dutch colonialists of Indonesia incorporated elements of indigenous medicine into their treatments, due to lack of availability of western medicine from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Medical texts from this period show that physicians found traditional medicines to be legitimate and effective in treating common illnesses. These publications include:
De medicina Indorum by Bontius in 1642
The Ambonese herbal by Rumphius in 1741
Materia Indica by van der Burg in 1885
De nuttige planten van Nederlansch Indie by Heyne in 1927
Select Indonesian medicinal plants by Steenis Kruseman in 1953
The Medical Journal of the Dutch East-Indies (1894- 1925)
[Pictured] Dutch colonialists overseeing the local workers in a warehouse in Deli Medan North Sumatra, 1897. www.nationaalarchief.nl
Since the 1970ās, the use of lab-based equipment, technology and computational modelling has revealed the remarkable properties of Indonesian rainforest plants, which have anti-viral, anti-malarial, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents within them.
This is what stands to be lost if more rainforests are destroyed for timber and palm oil in SE Asia, Papua, Africa and South America
āI canāt only be a begonia collector/grower anymore. Boycotts work to shift brands to act when governments fail to actā ~ Mel Lumby
Please join me and a growing number of people around the world who love nature, rainforests, animals and plants and who make an effort daily to push back against the corrupt and greedy people funded by the palm oil industry to spread greenwashing misinformation about āsustainableā palm oil.
Borneo is in great danger of being destroyed by deforestation to plant palm oil plantations.
Other places as well: Papua New Guinea, The Amazon, African countries like Guinea. You have seen the news. Our world is in trouble.
There are places with undiscovered endemic plant species with very limited habitats being bulldozed, burned and cut down. Science hasnāt even found these plants! We chop down their only habitat before they get discovered!
Amazing new Begonia species are being discovered all the time in Borneo: Begonia baik,Begonia darthvaderiana, Begonia nothobarimensis. And on and on. Scientists are still finding new and wonderful species there.
Itās super easy to get into a nihilist mindset these days
āIt is a struggle and depressing when one realises how everything in the natural world is set up to be used, abused and destroyed ā simply for profit!
āWe have all been through āsome thingsā these last few years, thatās for sure! I just focus, concentrate and keep going. When it all gets too much, I take a couple of days to chill. Then I begin again with campaigning against tropical deforestation and against palm oil.ā
Begonia rajah is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to Peninsular Malaysia. They typically have striking bronze leaves and contrasting green veins, and are best suited for terrariums. Watercolour painting of Begonia rajah of an original wild-collected plant grown in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore via Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Stinky meat flowers of Borneo: Rafflesia arnoldii & Rafflesia pricei
Borneo is also home to the largest flower in the world, Rafflesia arnoldii. They along with their relatives, are parasites, living their entire lives inside of tropical vines. These amazing plants only ever emerge when it is time to flower and flower they do! Their superficial resemblance to a rotting carcass goes much deeper than looks alone. These flowers give off a fetid odour of rotting flesh that is proportional to their size, but not to their visual beauty. This aroma has earned them the nickname ācarrion flowers.ā
Rafflesia pricei by Rimbawan on Getty Images Rafflesia arnoldsii by Boris 25 on Getty Images
12 new species of begonia were found on Sarawak in 2022
Twelve new species and one new record of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Sarawak, Malaysia, are described. All species belong to Begonia sect. Petermannia. Three species are recorded from Totally Protected Areas, one species occurs both within and outside Totally Protected Areas, and eight species occur only outside Totally Protected Areas.
Different species of Begonia by Botanicus botanicus.org
āPolka-dotted. Striped. Furry. Shiny. Bumpy. Ferny. Maple-shaped. Elm-shaped. Grass-shaped. Black, silver, pink, mossy green and bright apple green leaf colors. Reds and oranges, too. Some will shine in the deep forest, with a beautiful blue sheen. The variety of Begonias is incredible!ā
Mel Lumby
If you can successfully grow a Darth Vader Begonia ā consider yourself a badass
Discovered in 2013 by C.W. Lin, S.W. Chung and C.I. Peng and found in Sarawak, Borneo and found in shaded valleys, streams and slopes.
Not a beginners begonia, this one is challenging to grow. They need a humid terrarium environment. Even then, their leaves are prone to āmeltingā if temperatures, humidity waver too much from what they like.
This beautiful species has a cane-like habit, olive black leaves and red colouring underneath, with a white to lime green edging.
Begonia amphioxus was discovered in 1984 growing on a limestone hill of Batu Punggul in Sabah, Borneo.
Their red polka dots, bizarre and narrow leaves and pointed at both ends give this species an unusual look.
This delicate looking begonia not only has aesthetic appeal but also commercial value and are highly collectable by plant hobbyists.
They love high humidity and require a terrarium to grow. Once happy they will produce tiny white flowers.
Threats in the wild include timber logging, palm oil, mining and quarrying for limestone and marble. Fires, droughts and extreme weather due to climate change along with tourist activities.
Every animal species in Borneo relies on native plants, including humans! So itās about time we look after Borneoās plants ā because they look after us all!
Without direct intervention in Borneoās national parks to protect plants and animals: Everyone from orchids and orangutans, begonias and binturongs will go extinct!
When wildlife photographer and photojournalist Craig Jones visited Sumatra, Indonesia he found protected rainforests being destroyed by multinational palm oil companies ā under the greenwashing guise of āsustainableā RSPO palm oil.
Palm Oil Detectives is completely self-funded by its creator. All hosting and website fees and investigations into brands are self-funded by the creator of this online movement. If you like what I am doing, you and would like me to help meet costs, please send Palm Oil Detectives a thanks on Ko-Fi.
Palm Oil Detectives is completely self-funded by its creator. All hosting and website fees and investigations into brands are self-funded by the creator of this online movement. If you like what I am doing, you and would like me to help meet costs, please send Palm Oil Detectives a thanks on Ko-Fi.
Craig Jones: Eyewitness Wildlife Photographer and Conservationist Bio: Craig Jones One of Britainās finest wildlife photographers, Craig Jones is also one of the most humble and down-to-earth guys ā¦
Energetic and social Western Hoolock Gibbons live in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Known for their close-knit families and melodious singing, they are endangered from palm oil deforestation, timber deforestation, human persecution and illegal poaching. Help them every time you shop by boycotting palm oil in the supermarket. #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Western Hoolock #Gibbons 🤎🐒 are the only ape species in #India 🇮🇳 Once also found in #
Energetic and social Western Hoolock Gibbons live in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Known for their close-knit families and melodious singing, they are endangered from palm oil deforestation, timber deforestation, human persecution and illegal poaching. Help them every time you shop by boycotting palm oil in the supermarket. #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
The Hoolock Gibbons are three species located in South Central Asia. They are the second largest of the gibbons after the Siamang. They have rings around their eyes and mouths giving them a mask-like appearance. Like other gibbon species they call to each other in regionalised accents, have long swinging arms and superior acrobatic skills.
The Western Hoolock Gibbonis a forest-dweller that, depending on its locale, inhabits tropical evergreen rainforests, tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, tropical mixed deciduous forests, and subtropical broadleaf hill forests. It has also been noted in bamboo ābrakesā and hollock (Terminalia myriocarpa) and ajhar (Largerstroemia flosreginae) plantations. One gibbon pair in the Borajan Reserved Forest (north-east India) was observed to habitually descend from the trees to move over scrub and short bamboo especially while trying to reach the isolated food trees inside a village. This pair was found sleeping at heights of 0 m or less in bamboo clumps (Kakati 1997).
Although gibbons may be moving through, or sleeping in, bamboo forest or plantations, they cannot survive in monocultures such as palm oil (W. Brockleman pers. comm.)
IUCN Red List
The Western Hoolock Gibbon remains Endangered, based upon a suspected population reduction of at least 50% over the period of three generations (2001-2015, 2016-2030 and 2031-2045), based on ongoing and significant levels of forest loss in Bangladesh, northeastern India and Myanmar, combined with ongoing and similarly significant levels of subsistence hunting and live capture for the pet trade throughout the speciesā range.
Affecting all northeastern Indian primate populations are harvesting of bamboo for paper mills, oil mining and exploration, and coal mining, which deplete habitat and cause pollution and disturbance (Choudhury 1991). Habitat fragmentation and loss are major threats in India (Kakati 2000).
IUCN Red List
How to easily identify gibbons by Noah RNS Shepherd
How to easily identify gibbons by Noah RNS Shepherd
Brockelman, W, Molur, S. & Geissmann, T. 2019. Hoolock hoolock. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T39876A17968083. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.201ā¦. Downloaded on 06 February 2021.
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Hello, Iām Melody Lumby from the US state of Oregon. Throughout my career and life (over 50 years) I have been a passionate devotee of plants and a horticulturalist. Prior to retiring, I was a horticultural buyer for a retail nursery business and a lab technician in a horticultural laboratory, testing soil amendments and soil media for quality assurance.
I have always loved Begonias. I have loved them since falling for them at age 16 when I joined the American Begonia Society in Portland, Oregon ā I am still a member!
When I first joined, it was me and a bevvy of sweet grannies and together we gathered to discuss and marvel over these plants.
Now after 50 years of living with, working with and loving begonias ā Iām the one with the grey hair!
Iāve seen begonias go in and out of fashion over this time.
āOh, yes. Begonias are a little old lady plant,ā they used to sayā¦.now look at them!
Begonias are no longer citizens of Dorkville. They are coveted and collected by the hip and āplantyā
Begonias are greatly coveted by hobbyists and are shown off on social media by hip and āplantyā enthusiasts.
I used to pay around $3.99 USD for certain begonias. Now? Some folks will pay $399 USD for unusual and desirable species of Begonia. Sometimes it can be even more expensive than that.
Begonias have been with me through the decades, a lovely silent friend to come home to after work, during lifeās trials and joys, a beautiful accompaniment to a happy life.
~ Mel Lumby
Hidden in the jungles of SE Asia, scientists estimate that there are undiscovered begonia species to the tune of three to five hundred new species on Papua New Guinea. They occupy shady forest floors and limestone cliffs, without any name given by human kind. Horticultural commerce hasnāt had a glimpse of them yet.
On Borneo, it is estimated that 400 possibly even more species of Begonia exist ā primarily in the under surveyed Kalimantan district.
Begonias, along with orangutans and many other rainforest inhabitants are in danger now. Will these precious jewels of the jungle be located by scientists, described, eventually named and shared, so that people can love and marvel at their incredible beauty? Or will the bulldozer get there first, destroying where they live, making way to plant oil palm plantations for cheap palm oil?
[Pictured] Begonia Rex, National Gallery of Canada (1868)
Come on an enchanting and curious journey into of the worldās most beautiful, medicinal and endangered plants of the rainforest: #Begonias with retired horticulturalist Mel Lumby @[url=https://mastodon.social/users/Norska11]Norska11[/url] #Boycott4Wildlife #Boycottpalmoil
Will exquisite #begonias become historical relicsā¦no longer found in real life #rainforests? Not if Begonia lover Mel Lumby @[url=https://mastodon.social/users/Norska11]Norska11[/url] has anything to do with it! Help her fight for rare plants #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
Beautiful #begonias are the unsung heroes of #rainforests. Their supreme beauty dazzles us. Their medicine protects us. Yet #corporate greed threatens them. By Horticulturalist Mel Lumby @[url=https://mastodon.social/users/Norska11]Norska11[/url] #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
We buy inexpensive products that contain palm oil now. It is a cheap, useful, oil that manufacturers like to use. Cookies, crackers, frozen pizza, shampoo, face lotion.
We buy these products without realising that we are contributing to rainforest destruction. Those rainforest shady places where beautiful Begonias grow are vulnerable to deforestation for palmoil.
āWe are destroying swathes of rainforest containing beautiful, jewel-like, treasures. I cannot sit by quietly, while our beautiful earth burns. I must act!ā
āI thought that I would quietly retire at the beach, grow a flower garden and happily live out my days with my chickens. I have done this. But I cannot be silent. I am now adding my voice to many others who are trying to save the animals and plants we love from mass extinction. I am only one person, but I can do something.ā
Mel lumby
Mel Lumby on Instagram: More begonias being carefully, lovingly grownMel Lumbyās Begonia moysesii in bloom Mel Lumbyās Instagram: Evey Big Buff and Eloise Little Miss, two of my buddies hanging out in the garden bed. Photos: Mel Lumby on Instagram @spock_like_object
āI am able to help fight against the greed of palm oil. This feels so good!ā
This issue has been on my mind for quite some time now.
It really bothers me that there are beautiful undiscovered begonias that took millions of years to evolve.
We wonāt even get to know about them because of dumb old palm oil!
Nobody even asked for this in our food, etc. The Palm Oil Detectives gal is really a cool person ā it is an honour to try to help her.
Deforestation for agriculture is a clear and present threat to tropical rainforests. Especially in Indonesia and Malaysia, economic growth has come at an enormous cost to its unique plants, wild animals and indigenous peoples.
In Indonesia, 10 million hectares of primary forest was lost over the past two decades. A 2019 study identified palm oil plantations to be responsible for 23% (the single largest proportion) of the deforestation in Indonesia between 2001 and 2016.
Over 3 million hectares of the forest estate in 2019 were allocated to palm oil production, which was in strict violation of national forestry law.
It is gut-wrenching and soul-destroying to see. Now palm oil threatens plants, animals and indigenous peoples in South America, India, Papua and Africa as well.
A diversity that rivals the African continent. This may be the highest number of plants of any region on Earth.
There are 931 Begonia species in Southeast Asia
Currently, there are 216 species and one subspecies of Begonia in Borneo.
In Sarawak alone there are 96 species, with an average of at least 10 species described per year over the past 7 years.
In Borneo, there are also 3,000 species of trees, 1,700 species of orchids and 50 carnivorous pitcher plant species.
The natural habitat of begonias is cool, moist forests and tropical rainforests, but some begonias are adapted to drier climates
[Pictured] Begonia socotrana grows in between the shady cracks in rock formations on the arid island of Socotra, Yemen.
Fast facts about the family Begoniaceae
They grow in the deeply shaded forest understory from the lowlands to mountain tops and on all rock types including granite, limestone, sandstone and ultramafic rocks.
The Begonia was named after a French botanist in the 17th century.
There are over 2,000 known species of family Begoniaceae ā one of the largest genera of flowering plants. New species are being discovered almost on a monthly basis.
They are mostly terrestrial and are either herbs or undershrubs, but occasionally may be grown from air (ephiphytic).
They thrive in moist tropical and subtropical climates of South and Central America, Africa and southern Asia.
Their leaves are often large, vividly marked and are they are assymetrical and unequal-sided, giving each plant unique beauty.
They are popular ornamental plants for conservatories. Currently, begonias are incredibly trendy and are coveted and admired by house plant lovers all over the world.
[Pictured] Begonia Rex, National Gallery of Canada (1868)
The worldās tiniest begonia was recently discovered Begonia elachista.
They exist at the mouth of a limestone cave in central Peru and nowhere else in the world.
Then there is a newly described giant begonia from Tibet, tall enough to tower over a person: Begonia giganticaulis.
The pretty Floristās Reiger Begonia comes in a fantastic array of colours including pinks, peaches, oranges, reds, yellows, white.
We cannot forget the lovely tuberous begonias that we plant in the shady reaches of our yards.
To plant large flowerbeds full of Wax begonias in summertime is a sheer delight.
During drought periods, Begonia socotrana drop their pretty, round, leaves and survive as a tuber.
Many years ago, Begonia socotrana was used as one of the parent plants to eventually create Floristās Reiger Begonia mentioned above.
Mel Lumby
Exceptionally beautiful begonia paintings from history
Those lovely plants are there, for now, surrounded by tropical bird call and orangutan hoots. They often live in very small stretches of area, sometimes only existing on one hillside and nowhere else in the world. Plants canāt run away if that bulldozer comes, they are sessile, fixed in one place.
If a bulldozer razes everything and scrapes that Begonia inhabited hillside bare, thatās it ā that particular begonia will be lost, gone forever from our earth in the wild. Millions of years of evolution, gone. All that beauty, gone.
Mel Lumby
[Pictured] āDiversity of Species in the Rainforest by Oro Verde ā the Rainforest Foundation (2009).
Scientists are constantly discovering new Begonia species in Indonesia
Indonesia has one of the largest concentrations of of begonia species diversity, especially in Southeast Asia with 243 species. In 2022 alone, at least a dozen new species were discovered, here in this article below, seven are mentioned.
Hoya batutikarensis
Hoya buntokensis
Dendrobium dedeksantosoi
Rigiolepis argentii
Begonia robii
Begonia willemii
Etlingera comosa
Read the full story: āIndonesian researchers discover seven new species of ornamental plants,ā Indonesian Window.
Indonesia is an archipelago consisting of approximately 17,508 islands and is covered by tropical rain forest, seasonal forest, mountain vegetation, subalpine shrub vegetation, swamp and coastal vegetation. With its reflective mixture of Asian and Australian native species, Indonesia is said to possess the second largest biodiversity in the world, with around 40,000 endemic plant species including 6,000 medicinal plants
We may be losing plants with medicinal purposes and cures as yet unknown which will help humankind
If we bulldoze Borneo, plow down Papua New Guinea, annihilate the Amazon, we wipe out incredibly beautiful plants that havenāt yet been discovered!
It isnāt just Begonias. Itās orchids and all sorts of fascinating tropical plant species. Nepenthes, the pitcher plant species. Aroids ā the wonderful Philodendron relatives of Begonias that are also popular now.
Begonia medicinalis was discovered only recently in 2019 by scientists. This incredible species of begonia native to Sulawesi has been used as a medicinal plant by Indigenous peoples for 1000ās of years. Now this plant has been shown to have the potential to fight cancer!
Begonia medicinalis is known as benalu batu in Bahasa Indonesia is a herbal plant that is locally used for traditional medicines. The secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, and terpenoids have been reported to be found in these plant extracts. The content of flavonoids can lead to anti-cancer abilities while heat-sensitive flavonoid compounds can be extracted by the Ultrasound-assisted Extraction (UAE) method.
In this study, the anticancer potential of B. medicinalis extracts from the leaves (leaves extract/LE) and stem (stem extract/SE) in three cell lines (Hela, MDA-MB, HT-29) have been performed.
The anticancer potential was obtained from cytotoxic measurements by the MTT method on 3 types of cancer cells incubated with the extract for 24 hours. The value of total flavonoid content (TFC) in the LE was higher than that of SE extracts. Both extracts have the potential as a remedy for the treatment of cancer.
Prihardina & S Fatmawati; (2021); āCytotoxicity of Begonia medicinalis aqueous extract in three cancer cell line,ā: IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 913 012084. iopscience.iop.org/article/10.ā¦
Begonia isoptera is used by indigenous peoples in Borneo and has profoundly important medicinal properties
This Begonia species found in Borneo has been used by indigenous peoples for aeons for medicinal purposes. A study from 2011 has found that this begonia species has positive antimicrobial and antibacterial effects on the human body.
Indonesiaās native plants: A medicine cabinet of powerful drugs growing in the rainforest
Indigenous peoples in Indonesia have been using native medicinal plants from their medicine cabinet ā the rainforest for 1000ās of years. These medicines are influenced by Indian Ayurveda since Hinduism spread from India to Asia.
[Pictured]: Dyak/Dayak peoples in Borneo have a rich knowledge of ancient plant medicine that is recognised by western science. Images from PxFuel, creative commons.
Indigenous treatments using plants involve a combination of physical and spiritual aspects to form a holistic approach to healing.
The inclusion of indigenous medicinal plants not found in India enhanced Indigenous Indonesian medication. This was further enriched by the influence of Chinese and Arabian traders to the islands.
Dayak indigenous peoples of Borneo are knowledge-keepers of ancient indigenous medicine and treatment from plants. This knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. Now western medicine is realising just how important it is to keep these plants from going extinct. Research shows that these plants may hold the key to unlocking fatal diseases like dementia and cancer, as well as being useful for treating common illnesses and injuries.
Most of this indigenous knowledge of medicine is not recorded. It is passed down verbally in stories from generation to generation and healer to healer.
Dayak Indigenous Ethnographer Dr Setia Budhi: In His Own Words
āFor Dayak peoples in Borneo, the land is mother, where they plant fruit, vegetables and grains for their families. The soil is mother where trees grow and develop.
āFrom these trees they harvest an abundance of creeping rattan for medicine, food and crafts.
āThe forest has a ritual function, a medicinal function and a family protection function.ā
Historically, Dutch colonialists of Indonesia incorporated elements of indigenous medicine into their treatments, due to lack of availability of western medicine from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Medical texts from this period show that physicians found traditional medicines to be legitimate and effective in treating common illnesses. These publications include:
De medicina Indorum by Bontius in 1642
The Ambonese herbal by Rumphius in 1741
Materia Indica by van der Burg in 1885
De nuttige planten van Nederlansch Indie by Heyne in 1927
Select Indonesian medicinal plants by Steenis Kruseman in 1953
The Medical Journal of the Dutch East-Indies (1894- 1925)
[Pictured] Dutch colonialists overseeing the local workers in a warehouse in Deli Medan North Sumatra, 1897. www.nationaalarchief.nl
Since the 1970ās, the use of lab-based equipment, technology and computational modelling has revealed the remarkable properties of Indonesian rainforest plants, which have anti-viral, anti-malarial, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents within them.
This is what stands to be lost if more rainforests are destroyed for timber and palm oil in SE Asia, Papua, Africa and South America
āI canāt only be a begonia collector/grower anymore. Boycotts work to shift brands to act when governments fail to actā ~ Mel Lumby
Please join me and a growing number of people around the world who love nature, rainforests, animals and plants and who make an effort daily to push back against the corrupt and greedy people funded by the palm oil industry to spread greenwashing misinformation about āsustainableā palm oil.
Borneo is in great danger of being destroyed by deforestation to plant palm oil plantations.
Other places as well: Papua New Guinea, The Amazon, African countries like Guinea. You have seen the news. Our world is in trouble.
There are places with undiscovered endemic plant species with very limited habitats being bulldozed, burned and cut down. Science hasnāt even found these plants! We chop down their only habitat before they get discovered!
Amazing new Begonia species are being discovered all the time in Borneo: Begonia baik,Begonia darthvaderiana, Begonia nothobarimensis. And on and on. Scientists are still finding new and wonderful species there.
Itās super easy to get into a nihilist mindset these days
āIt is a struggle and depressing when one realises how everything in the natural world is set up to be used, abused and destroyed ā simply for profit!
āWe have all been through āsome thingsā these last few years, thatās for sure! I just focus, concentrate and keep going. When it all gets too much, I take a couple of days to chill. Then I begin again with campaigning against tropical deforestation and against palm oil.ā
Begonia rajah is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to Peninsular Malaysia. They typically have striking bronze leaves and contrasting green veins, and are best suited for terrariums. Watercolour painting of Begonia rajah of an original wild-collected plant grown in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore via Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Stinky meat flowers of Borneo: Rafflesia arnoldii & Rafflesia pricei
Borneo is also home to the largest flower in the world, Rafflesia arnoldii. They along with their relatives, are parasites, living their entire lives inside of tropical vines. These amazing plants only ever emerge when it is time to flower and flower they do! Their superficial resemblance to a rotting carcass goes much deeper than looks alone. These flowers give off a fetid odour of rotting flesh that is proportional to their size, but not to their visual beauty. This aroma has earned them the nickname ācarrion flowers.ā
Rafflesia pricei by Rimbawan on Getty Images Rafflesia arnoldsii by Boris 25 on Getty Images
12 new species of begonia were found on Sarawak in 2022
Twelve new species and one new record of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Sarawak, Malaysia, are described. All species belong to Begonia sect. Petermannia. Three species are recorded from Totally Protected Areas, one species occurs both within and outside Totally Protected Areas, and eight species occur only outside Totally Protected Areas.
Different species of Begonia by Botanicus botanicus.org
āPolka-dotted. Striped. Furry. Shiny. Bumpy. Ferny. Maple-shaped. Elm-shaped. Grass-shaped. Black, silver, pink, mossy green and bright apple green leaf colors. Reds and oranges, too. Some will shine in the deep forest, with a beautiful blue sheen. The variety of Begonias is incredible!ā
Mel Lumby
If you can successfully grow a Darth Vader Begonia ā consider yourself a badass
Discovered in 2013 by C.W. Lin, S.W. Chung and C.I. Peng and found in Sarawak, Borneo and found in shaded valleys, streams and slopes.
Not a beginners begonia, this one is challenging to grow. They need a humid terrarium environment. Even then, their leaves are prone to āmeltingā if temperatures, humidity waver too much from what they like.
This beautiful species has a cane-like habit, olive black leaves and red colouring underneath, with a white to lime green edging.
Begonia amphioxus was discovered in 1984 growing on a limestone hill of Batu Punggul in Sabah, Borneo.
Their red polka dots, bizarre and narrow leaves and pointed at both ends give this species an unusual look.
This delicate looking begonia not only has aesthetic appeal but also commercial value and are highly collectable by plant hobbyists.
They love high humidity and require a terrarium to grow. Once happy they will produce tiny white flowers.
Threats in the wild include timber logging, palm oil, mining and quarrying for limestone and marble. Fires, droughts and extreme weather due to climate change along with tourist activities.
Every animal species in Borneo relies on native plants, including humans! So itās about time we look after Borneoās plants ā because they look after us all!
Without direct intervention in Borneoās national parks to protect plants and animals: Everyone from orchids and orangutans, begonias and binturongs will go extinct!
When wildlife photographer and photojournalist Craig Jones visited Sumatra, Indonesia he found protected rainforests being destroyed by multinational palm oil companies ā under the greenwashing guise of āsustainableā RSPO palm oil.
Palm Oil Detectives is completely self-funded by its creator. All hosting and website fees and investigations into brands are self-funded by the creator of this online movement. If you like what I am doing, you and would like me to help meet costs, please send Palm Oil Detectives a thanks on Ko-Fi.
Palm Oil Detectives is completely self-funded by its creator. All hosting and website fees and investigations into brands are self-funded by the creator of this online movement. If you like what I am doing, you and would like me to help meet costs, please send Palm Oil Detectives a thanks on Ko-Fi.
Craig Jones: Eyewitness Wildlife Photographer and Conservationist Bio: Craig Jones One of Britainās finest wildlife photographers, Craig Jones is also one of the most humble and down-to-earth guys ā¦
Locations: Endemic to the Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia
The Kloss’s gibbonHylobates klossii, also known as the dwarf siamang, Mentawai gibbon or bilou by locals, is a small, agile primate with dark smoky grey fur and an ethereal song that resonates and echoes throughout the forests of the Mentawai Islands. These gibbons are known for their intricate vocalisations, with both males
Locations: Endemic to the Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia
The Klossās gibbonHylobates klossii, also known as the dwarf siamang, Mentawai gibbon or bilou by locals, is a small, agile primate with dark smoky grey fur and an ethereal song that resonates and echoes throughout the forests of the Mentawai Islands. These gibbons are known for their intricate vocalisations, with both males and females producing unique solo songs. Their haunting melodies play an essential role in marking territory and strengthening social bonds.
Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, Klossās gibbons face a relentless barrage of threats, including habitat destruction for logging and palm oil plantations, poaching for the illegal pet trade, and human encroachment. With populations declining by 50% in the past 45 years, immediate action is needed to save this unique species. Fight for their survival with indigenous-led conservation efforts and use your wallet as a weaponāboycott palm oil and support agroecology. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
This species is threatened mainly by hunting and commercial logging (Whittaker 2006). It is also threatened by conversion to oil palm plantations, in addition to forest clearing and product extraction by local people (Whittaker 2006).
IUCN Red List
Appearance and Behaviour
Klossās gibbons are small, agile primates with slender bodies covered in dense smoky grey or black fur, which provides camouflage in the shadows of the tropical forests. They weigh between 4ā7 kg and measure 44ā63 cm in length, making them one of the smallest gibbons. Unlike other gibbon species, they lack facial markings, adding to their striking appearance.
The Klossās Gibbon belongs to the genus Hylobates meaning āForest Walkerā in Greek. They are known to communicate in species-specific song when defining territory or attracting mates. They sing in regional accents to each other, have long swinging arms, inquisitive natures and superior acrobatic skills, they spend most of their lives high up in the tree-tops.
Known for their arboreal lifestyle, Klossās gibbons use their long arms to effortlessly swing between trees, a movement called brachiation. They are diurnal, spending their days foraging for fruit, young leaves, flowers, and occasionally insects. Their territorial vocalisations are among the most complex in the animal kingdom, with males and females performing distinct solo songs featuring trills, rising notes, and intricate phrasing.
Threats
IUCN Status: Endangered
Palm oil and timber deforestation: Habitat loss for commercial logging, palm oil plantations, and agriculture has devastated the Mentawai Islands. Forest clearing not only removes their primary habitat but also fragments populations, isolating groups and increasing vulnerability.
Road building: Logging roads further disrupt habitats, allowing access for poachers and illegal traders.
Hunting and the Illegal Pet Trade: Klossās gibbons are frequently targeted for bushmeat and the pet trade. Poachers often kill adult gibbons to capture their infants, which are sold as exotic pets.
Climate Change: Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns due to climate change threaten the delicate ecosystems of the Mentawai Islands, further endangering the gibbonsā already restricted range.
Population Decline: The population of Klossās gibbons has decreased by 50% over the past 45 years, and fewer than 25,000 individuals remain. Without urgent conservation efforts, their numbers will continue to plummet.
Geographic Range
Klossās gibbons are endemic to the Mentawai Islands, including Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai, and South Pagai, off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. They inhabit lowland and montane rainforests, preferring dense canopy cover to protect against predators and provide ample food sources. However, logging and agricultural expansion for palm oil have severely reduced and fragmented their habitat, confining them to smaller, isolated patches.
Diet
These gibbons are primarily frugivorous, with fruits making up the majority of their diet. They also consume young leaves, flowers, and insects to supplement their nutritional needs. Their foraging behaviour plays a critical ecological role, as they disperse seeds throughout the forest, aiding in regeneration and maintaining biodiversity.
Reproduction and Mating
Klossās gibbons are monogamous, forming long-term pair bonds that last for life. Breeding pairs raise a single offspring every 2ā3 years, with a gestation period of approximately seven months. The infant remains dependent on the mother for up to two years before becoming more independent. The low reproductive rate makes population recovery challenging, particularly in the face of ongoing threats.
Take Action!
Protecting Klossās gibbons requires urgent action. Support indigenous sovereignty and agroecology initiatives that safeguard their habitats. Boycott palm oil and advocate for stricter anti-poaching laws. Together, we can secure a future for these remarkable primates. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
FAQ
How many Klossās gibbons are left in the world?
The population of Klossās gibbons has declined by more than 50% over the past 45 years, with fewer than 25,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Their numbers continue to dwindle due to habitat destruction, hunting, and the illegal pet trade.
What is unique about the Klossās gibbon?
Klossās gibbons are celebrated for their ethereal, complex vocalisations. Males and females perform distinct solo songs featuring trills and rising notes, often described as hauntingly beautiful. These songs serve as territorial markers and help strengthen social bonds.
Where would you find Klossās gibbons?
Klossās gibbons are found exclusively on the Mentawai Islands, including Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai, and South Pagai. They inhabit dense lowland and montane rainforests, where they forage in the canopy and use their long arms for brachiation.
What are the main threats to Klossās gibbons?
The main threats include habitat loss from logging and palm oil plantations, hunting for bushmeat, and capture for the illegal pet trade. Climate change also poses a significant risk to their already fragile ecosystems.
The Klossās Gibbon is Endangered due to a past and continued population reduction, estimated at more than 50% over a period of 45 years, including two past generations (1986-2015) and the current generation (2016-2030). The population reduction is due to widespread local hunting for cultural reasons and loss of habitat, particularly in North Pagai, South Pagai and Sipora Islands.
A recent study shows that habitat loss in the Mentawai islands was mainly due to forest conversion for agriculture expansion by local communities. A total of 73,500 ha of forest in Siberut, North Pagai, South Pagai and Sipora Islands have been allocated for oil palm plantation by the local government and about 34,000 ha (46%) was granted to only two companies (FFI, unpublished report)
Further Information
Liswanto, D., Whittaker, D., Geissmann, T. & Whitten, T. 2020. Hylobates klossii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T10547A17967475. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.202ā¦. Downloaded on 06 February 2021.
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Klossās gibbon, or Mentawai gibbon, the dwarf siamang or the bilou, is native to the four Mentawai Islands of Siberut, Sipora, North and South Pagai.
The Pileated Gibbon is listed as Endangered as they are suspected to have experienced a reduction of more than 50% over a time frame of three generations (45 years) in the past. Most populations are not yet secured in protected areas, and the main threats are habitat loss due to logging, agricultural conversion, hydroelectric development and new human settlements (W. Brockelman pers. Comm.)
[strong]The Pileated Gibbon[/strong] belongs to the genus Hylobates. The word Hylobates means āForest Walkerā in Greek. The gibbons in this genus are known for the white circle of fur around their faces. They are known to communicate in species-specific song when defining territory or attracting mates. They sing in regional accents to each other, have long swinging arms, inquisitive natures and superior acrobatic skills, they spend most of their lives high up in the tree-tops. Researchers find the species somewhat shyer and more elusive than the Lar Gibbon (W. Brockelman pers. Comm.)
Mating and Reproduction
The Pileated Gibbons form strong monogomous bonds with their partners and children.
Habitat and Geographic Range
They live in moist, seasonal evergreen and mixed deciduous-evergreen forests and have been recorded living to about 1,500 m in Cambodia and to around 1,200 m in Thailand.
Diet
The Pileated Gibbon is similar to the Lar Gibbon in diet and general ecology and they eat mostly fruits, shoots, and some immature leaves, as well as insects (Srikosamatara 1980, 1984).
Threats
Hunting and habitat loss: This species is threatened by both hunting, primarily for subsistence, and severe habitat fragmentation and degradation (Duckworth et al. 1999, Traeholt et al. 2005).
In Thailand, all populations are now within protected conservation areas and the era of logging and slash-and-burn agriculture (Brockelman 1983) is now mostly over.
Deforestation even in āprotectedā forests is a threat: Nevertheless, severe encroachment has occurred in eastern Khao Yai Park and other major protected areas, and subsistence hunting by minor forest product collectors is still uncontrolled (Phoonjampa and Brockelman 2008). In Cambodia, however, habitat destruction is a more immediate threat than poaching, especially in remote areas.
Most populations are not yet secured in protected areas, and the main threats are habitat loss due to logging, agricultural conversion, hydroelectric development and new human settlements (W. Brockelman pers. Comm.) How to easily identify gibbons by Noah RNS Shepherd
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.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youāre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Locations: Endemic to the Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia
The Klossās gibbonHylobates klossii, also known as the dwarf siamang, Mentawai gibbon or bilou by locals, is a small, agile primate with dark smoky grey fur and an ethereal song that resonates and echoes throughout the forests of the Mentawai Islands. These gibbons are known for their intricate vocalisations, with both males and females producing unique solo songs. Their haunting melodies play an essential role in marking territory and strengthening social bonds.
Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, Klossās gibbons face a relentless barrage of threats, including habitat destruction for logging and palm oil plantations, poaching for the illegal pet trade, and human encroachment. With populations declining by 50% in the past 45 years, immediate action is needed to save this unique species. Fight for their survival with indigenous-led conservation efforts and use your wallet as a weaponāboycott palm oil and support agroecology. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
This species is threatened mainly by hunting and commercial logging (Whittaker 2006). It is also threatened by conversion to oil palm plantations, in addition to forest clearing and product extraction by local people (Whittaker 2006).
IUCN Red List
Appearance and Behaviour
Klossās gibbons are small, agile primates with slender bodies covered in dense smoky grey or black fur, which provides camouflage in the shadows of the tropical forests. They weigh between 4ā7 kg and measure 44ā63 cm in length, making them one of the smallest gibbons. Unlike other gibbon species, they lack facial markings, adding to their striking appearance.
The Klossās Gibbon belongs to the genus Hylobates meaning āForest Walkerā in Greek. They are known to communicate in species-specific song when defining territory or attracting mates. They sing in regional accents to each other, have long swinging arms, inquisitive natures and superior acrobatic skills, they spend most of their lives high up in the tree-tops.
Known for their arboreal lifestyle, Klossās gibbons use their long arms to effortlessly swing between trees, a movement called brachiation. They are diurnal, spending their days foraging for fruit, young leaves, flowers, and occasionally insects. Their territorial vocalisations are among the most complex in the animal kingdom, with males and females performing distinct solo songs featuring trills, rising notes, and intricate phrasing.
Threats
IUCN Status: Endangered
Palm oil and timber deforestation: Habitat loss for commercial logging, palm oil plantations, and agriculture has devastated the Mentawai Islands. Forest clearing not only removes their primary habitat but also fragments populations, isolating groups and increasing vulnerability.
Road building: Logging roads further disrupt habitats, allowing access for poachers and illegal traders.
Hunting and the Illegal Pet Trade: Klossās gibbons are frequently targeted for bushmeat and the pet trade. Poachers often kill adult gibbons to capture their infants, which are sold as exotic pets.
Climate Change: Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns due to climate change threaten the delicate ecosystems of the Mentawai Islands, further endangering the gibbonsā already restricted range.
Population Decline: The population of Klossās gibbons has decreased by 50% over the past 45 years, and fewer than 25,000 individuals remain. Without urgent conservation efforts, their numbers will continue to plummet.
Geographic Range
Klossās gibbons are endemic to the Mentawai Islands, including Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai, and South Pagai, off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. They inhabit lowland and montane rainforests, preferring dense canopy cover to protect against predators and provide ample food sources. However, logging and agricultural expansion for palm oil have severely reduced and fragmented their habitat, confining them to smaller, isolated patches.
Diet
These gibbons are primarily frugivorous, with fruits making up the majority of their diet. They also consume young leaves, flowers, and insects to supplement their nutritional needs. Their foraging behaviour plays a critical ecological role, as they disperse seeds throughout the forest, aiding in regeneration and maintaining biodiversity.
Reproduction and Mating
Klossās gibbons are monogamous, forming long-term pair bonds that last for life. Breeding pairs raise a single offspring every 2ā3 years, with a gestation period of approximately seven months. The infant remains dependent on the mother for up to two years before becoming more independent. The low reproductive rate makes population recovery challenging, particularly in the face of ongoing threats.
Take Action!
Protecting Klossās gibbons requires urgent action. Support indigenous sovereignty and agroecology initiatives that safeguard their habitats. Boycott palm oil and advocate for stricter anti-poaching laws. Together, we can secure a future for these remarkable primates. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
FAQ
How many Klossās gibbons are left in the world?
The population of Klossās gibbons has declined by more than 50% over the past 45 years, with fewer than 25,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Their numbers continue to dwindle due to habitat destruction, hunting, and the illegal pet trade.
What is unique about the Klossās gibbon?
Klossās gibbons are celebrated for their ethereal, complex vocalisations. Males and females perform distinct solo songs featuring trills and rising notes, often described as hauntingly beautiful. These songs serve as territorial markers and help strengthen social bonds.
Where would you find Klossās gibbons?
Klossās gibbons are found exclusively on the Mentawai Islands, including Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai, and South Pagai. They inhabit dense lowland and montane rainforests, where they forage in the canopy and use their long arms for brachiation.
What are the main threats to Klossās gibbons?
The main threats include habitat loss from logging and palm oil plantations, hunting for bushmeat, and capture for the illegal pet trade. Climate change also poses a significant risk to their already fragile ecosystems.
The Klossās Gibbon is Endangered due to a past and continued population reduction, estimated at more than 50% over a period of 45 years, including two past generations (1986-2015) and the current generation (2016-2030). The population reduction is due to widespread local hunting for cultural reasons and loss of habitat, particularly in North Pagai, South Pagai and Sipora Islands.
A recent study shows that habitat loss in the Mentawai islands was mainly due to forest conversion for agriculture expansion by local communities. A total of 73,500 ha of forest in Siberut, North Pagai, South Pagai and Sipora Islands have been allocated for oil palm plantation by the local government and about 34,000 ha (46%) was granted to only two companies (FFI, unpublished report)
Further Information
Liswanto, D., Whittaker, D., Geissmann, T. & Whitten, T. 2020. Hylobates klossii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T10547A17967475. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.202ā¦. Downloaded on 06 February 2021.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time youāre in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Pileated Gibbon Hylobates pileatus
Pileated Gibbon Hylobates pileatus
How to easily identify gibbons by Noah RNS Shepherd
[Pictured] Begonia Rex, National Gallery of Canada (1868)
Come on an enchanting and curious journey into of the worldās most beautiful, medicinal and endangered plants of the rainforest: #Begonias with retired horticulturalist Mel Lumby @[url=https://mastodon.social/users/Norska11]Norska11[/url] #Boycott4Wildlife #BoycottpalmoilMel Lumby on Instagram: More begonias being carefully, lovingly grown
Mel Lumbyās Begonia moysesii in bloom
Mel Lumbyās Instagram: Evey Big Buff and Eloise Little Miss, two of my buddies hanging out in the garden bed.
Palm Oil and Pollution by Jo Frederiks
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This Begonia species found in Borneo has been used by indigenous peoples for aeons for medicinal purposes. A study from 2011 has found that this begonia species has positive antimicrobial and antibacterial effects on the human body.Dayak Indigenous Ethnographer Dr Setia Budhi: In His Own Words
āFor Dayak peoples in Borneo, the land is mother, where they plant fruit, vegetables and grains for their families. The soil is mother where trees grow and develop.Watercolour painting of Begonia rajah of an original wild-collected plant grown in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore via Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Begonia coriacea ā Hooker ā Curtis Botanical Magazine Bot. Mag. 78 t. 4676 (1852)
Rafflesia pricei by Rimbawan on Getty Images
Rafflesia arnoldsii by Boris 25 on Getty Images
Different species of Begonia by Botanicus botanicus.org
āPolka-dotted. Striped. Furry. Shiny. Bumpy. Ferny. Maple-shaped. Elm-shaped. Grass-shaped. Black, silver, pink, mossy green and bright apple green leaf colors. Reds and oranges, too. Some will shine in the deep forest, with a beautiful blue sheen. The variety of Begonias is incredible!āhttps://www.lyasolisblog.ie/home/flora/begonia-darthvaderiana-care" title="Begonia Darthvaderiana By Lya Solis Blog https://www.lyasolisblog.ie/home/flora/begonia-darthvaderiana-care" class="has-alt-description">
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Dorias Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus dorianus
Giant Ground Pangolin Manis gigantea
Borneo Pygmy Elephant Elephas maximus borneensis
Bornean Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron schleiermacheri
