African rainforests
are the second
largest rainforests in the world.
There
are
some dense jungles
in central Africa, known for the rare mountain and lowland gorillas and
chimpanzees.
Western African Rainforest
The rainforests of Sierra
Leone contain wildlife like leopards, forest buffaloes,
forest elephants, duiker antelopes, colobus monkeys, white-breated
guineafowls and rufous fishing owls. And of course, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).
These intelligent
primates have98.4% of their DNA common
with humans.
They use tools, treat injuries and illnesses with medical plants,
communicate with noise, body language and facial expressions, and hold
hands and share kisses and pats.
Liberian
rainforests contain over 260 tree species such as mahogany, walnut and
teak; and wildlife like leopards, mongooses, groundhogs, antelopes,
buffalos, elephants, pygmy hippopotamuses, monkeys and chimpanzees.
Reptiles
include crocodiles,
tortoises, and snakes like
boa constrictors, vipers and cobras. And birds include parrots,
flamingos, weaver birds, bulbuls, pepper birds, woodpeckers, hornbills,
hawks and eagles.
The
coastal
areas of Ghana, Nigeria,
and Equatorial
Guinea
also have rainforests. These forests are home to buffaloes, crocodiles,
elephants, mandrilles,
patas monkeys (the
world's largest monkeys), and populations
of
lowland gorillas.
Central
African Rainforest
Central
African rainforest
covers large parts of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial
Guinea, Cabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.
The Congo
rainforest for
example contains 11,000 plant species, including sapele, mahogany and
iroco. Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) contains the second largest rainforest in the
world (after the Amazon)
with 11,000 plant, 450 mammal, 1150 bird, 300 reptile and 200 amphibian
species including large forest elephants, okapi (the only living
relative of giraffe), shy monkeys like bonobos, and gorillas - calm,
reserved and intelligent animals. 82% of the original rainforest
remains in DRC,
and the central parts are so dense and inaccessible that they are
relatively untouched. Mbuti pygmies,
the smallest people in the world,
have been hunting-gathering in these thick jungles for centuries.
Uganda
rainforests, such as Kibale Rainforest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and
Queen Elisabeth National Park contain elephants, hippos, antilopes,
buffaloes, tree-climbing
lions, mountain
gorillas,
chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, pythons and crocodiles.
East and South African Rainforest
East and South African rainforests
are not as dense as the central
African jungles, but there are rainforests in Ethiopia, Kenya,
Tanzania, Mosambique and Zimbabwe. These forests contain chimpanzees,
colobus monkeys, elephants, deer, antelopes, chameleons, olive baboons
and mongooses. Kenya's
Kakamega Forest National Reserve for example has some 380 plant and 350
bird species, as well as mammals like porcupines, pangolins, otters,
civets, antelopes, bushpigs, scaly-tailed squirrels, bushbabies, olive
baboons, and blue, red-tailed and colobus monkeys.
Madagascar Madagascar
Island,
isolated from the rest of the world since Gondwana
breakup, has unique
flora and fauna, just like Australia. There are 12,000 plant and 7,000
tree species with about 80% being endemic. Like Australia, it
has got
eucalypt trees, baobabs, and also about 170 endemic species of palms,
900 species of orchids, and carnivorous pitcher plants. 80% of fauna is
also endemic. There are no elephants, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, lions,
leopards or antelopes like in Africa. And there are fewer cobras,
adders, vipers, mambas or pythons. Most snakes include boas, tree
snakes and sea snakes. Animals include the famous lemurs,
but also
giant centipedes, mongooses, tenrecs, crocodiles, iguanas, geckos,
aye-ayes, and hundreds of species of frogs. There are also 200 bird
species including 70 singing bird and parrot species; kingfishers,
eagles, roller birds, owls and falcons. And then of course, the 150
species of chameleons including the bright green Jackson's chameleon
and the pygmy stump-tailed chameleon.
Note:
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This website is about interesting facts about rainforests.
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