São Tomé Oriole - São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe are situated in the Gulf of Guinea. The islands were created by the Cameroon Line, a chain of volcanoes stretching 1,600 kilometers across Africa. The long separation from the African mainland has transformed São Tomé and Príncipe into a special site featuring rare plant and animal species.

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Oriolus crassirostris - The São Tomé oriole is a member of the Oriolidae family and includes Old World orioles and figbirds. The São Tomé oriole is endemic to São Tomé and is considered extremely vulnerable to falling into extinction because of its limited habitat and low population. The number of individuals in existence may number less than 1,000 birds. The Obo Natural Park, over 300 square kilometers of rainforest, was created in 1993 to help sustain and hopefully rebuild the populations of the São Tomé oriole.

Príncipe Seedeater - São Tomé and Príncipe

Serinus rufobrunneus - The Príncipe seedeater is found only on the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe. Typically when a species’ habitat is limited, it becomes endangered; this is not the case with the seedeater. There are three recognized subspecies, also limited to São Tomé and Príncipe. As the name implies, the seedeater’s diet consists primarily of seeds, but does include fruit, leaves, and some insects. It is commonly found in woodlands along rivers or coastal areas.

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The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were uninhabited until the Portuguese established a plantation on São Tomé in 1493. A similar plantation was built on Príncipe in 1500. Both settlements had been awarded as land grants by King João II. The fertile volcanic soil turned the islands into an important source of sugar cane for European markets. By 1573, both islands came under the direct administration of the Portuguese crown. São Tomé and Príncipe became independent from Portugal in 1975.