Jared Leto has a link up to a video against oil drilling in the rainforest of Yasuni.  You might recall the Huaroani tribe was featured in the book Savages by Joe Kane.  He chronicled the indigenous tribes’ slowly being overtaken by the oil companies–their health, their land, and their culture.

• Yasuni is home to over 130 globally threatened species including the giant otter, white-bellied spider monkey, golden-mantled tamarin, giant armadillo and jaguar. Extinction risks are high for all threatened species.

• 655 different tree species have been identified within 1 hectare of land.

• For reptile biodiversity, it is the 2nd richest area in the world.

• More insect species are found in Yasuni than any other forest.

• There are more frog and toad species within Yasuni than all of North America combined.

• Ecuador has the 9th highest mammal biodiversity, and over half reside in Yasuni.

• Many species are endemic to Yasuni.

• It is home to the 5th largest bat reserve.

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The petition to sign here.  Please don’t think because it’s *there* that it doesn’t affect us in America.  It does.  Everything is connected and when a species (plant or animal) dies, it affects other species….a domino effect, if you will.

Given that bats are dying of a disease of unknown origin, (yeah, it’s probably caused by chemical toxins), we should sit up and take notice that this area contains the 5th largest bat reserve.

Here are some of the unique species to Yasuni.