The Talaud bear cuscus is a secretive species believed to inhabit only four islands in Indonesia.
Listed as critically endangered, the animal has been driven to the brink of extinction by overhunting and habitat loss.
Conservationists are working with local youths, traditional and religious leaders, and community members on Salibabu Island to change the perception of the species.
In northern Indonesia dwells a shy and overlooked species: the Talaud bear cuscus. Critically endangered and found on only a few small islands, the marsupial faces a decline due to hunting and habitat loss. Conservation group Progres Sulawesi is spearheading a community-based program to protect this little-known species across the island of Salibabu, which it hopes can serve as a stronghold for the tree-dwelling animal.
