There are only an estimated 1,500 Borneo pygmy elephants left in the world. Unless we do something now to stop the deforestation that has robbed them of their native habitat, they will be gone within decades.
Borneo pygmy elephants are smaller and rounder than the other Asian elephants. They have big ears and tails that are so long they sometimes drag on the ground. They are also a lot less aggressive than other elephants, prefering to roam the dense tropical forests of Malaysian Borneo than have anything to do with humans.
But in the last 40 years, half of the forest where the elephants live has been cut down for palm oil plantations. As a result, the friendly little pygmy elephants have come into greater contact with humans. And it hasn't gone well. They've been accidentally caught in snares laid by plantation workers for small game, but also purposefully hurt by palm oil plantation owners who consider them pests.
In 2013, 14 pygmy elephants were poisoned by plantation owners. The only survivor of the herd was a three-month-old baby named Kejora who now lives in a wildlife sanctuary.
PepsiCo uses a staggering 457,200 metric tons of palm oil every year for products such as Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, Lay's potato chips, and Cheetos. As one of the largest snack food companies in the world, they have the power to significantly reduce the demand for palm oil and help save the Borneo pygmy elephants from extinction. All they have to do is follow the lead of companies like Kellogg's and Mars, and stop using conflict palm oil.
While PepsiCo has said that it is commited to using sustainable palm oil, they haven't actually done anything to back up their commitment. But if we want to save the Borneo pygmy elephants, we need them to follow through on their promises.
Sign this petition to demand that PepsiCo stop buying palm oil from companies that clear cut rainforests and endanger the elephants. 