Such as the Okapi, the strips on their legs help them follow their mother through the opaque forest as well as camouflages them from predators. Ensuring protection of the Congo Basin requires a massive effort that reaches beyond political borders, especially when six countries have a direct stake. The gorillas reside in some of the densest and most remote forests of the Congo Basin and adjacent areas. Ebola outbreaks have killed tens of thousands of these animals while illegal wildlife trade has decimated the population over many years. The people of Congo love to eat hippopotamus meat. Bonobos are also hunted by locals for bushmeat, captured to be kept as exotic pets abroad, and also killed for traditional medicine preparations. With a population of only about 200 to 300, the cross river gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli) are on the verge of extinction. The rainforest in the Congo Basin is the largest rainforest in Africa and second only to the Amazon Basin in size, with 300 million hectare compared to the 800 million hectares in the Amazon. Regardless of where you go, it's highly recommended that you avoid any political demonstrations, always carry a copy of your passport (and visa, if applicable) and use extreme caution when driving or walking at night. Freshwater fish include perch, catfish, sunfish, and mudskippers. The mountain gorillas live at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet. Crocodiles also live throughout the Congo River as do many types of fish; perch, catfish. MEDICINAL PLANTS EXTRA++ Medicinal plants are harvested from the rainforest, biochemicals are extracted and are used to synthesis of drugs. Some of its most famous residents include forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, okapi, leopards, hippos, and lions. As you can see, each animal depends on one another. Many animals in the Congo rain forest have adapted to blend in with their surroundings. Poaching for ivory and bushmeat kills these elephants in great numbers. Wild bonobos are endemic to the forests south of the Congo River in DRC. We currently track 139 animals in Democratic Republic of Congo and are adding more every day! Due to human encroachment on their land, the gorillas have been pushed further and further up the mountains, and that has rendered them highly susceptible to dangerous climatic conditions and other threats. Many animals inhabit the Congo Rainforest, such as the Giant Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) an endangered species. The ecoregion is home to the endangered western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), the endangered eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla berengei graueri), African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), and okapi (Okapia johnstoni). The pygmy chimpanzee, for example, lives only in the Congo rainforests. Chimpanzees can be found in the Congo Rainforest. These animals are our closest relatives, sharing about 98% of our DNA. The sloth also has allege growing on … The Congo Basin also has been inhabited by humans for more than 50,000 years and currently sustains over 75 million people including people of about 150 ethnic groups. African elephants also live in the rainforest. Classified as critically endangered, the eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) is another iconic species of the Congo Basin. These animals share 98.7% of their DNA with humans. Adult gorillas are killed off to steal babies for the illegal pet trade market while the animals are also poached for bushmeat. Governments of the countries where these elephants live lack sufficient resources and financial means needed to ensure the survival of these animals. Secretes up to 4g of musk every week! The small population of the cross river gorilla is also susceptible to inbreeding and a consequent loss of genetic diversity. Rainforest of the Congo Basin share many characteristics with the Amazon rainforest and other tropical forests worldwide: high diversity, dense vegetation, and multiple layers of forest structure. Elephants also live in the rainforest, but only the smaller African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). African Bush Elephant. Poaching and disease have led to a more than 60% decline in the population of western lowland gorilla in the past 20 to 25 years. The Congo Rainforest is crossed by the Congo River, a second longest river in Africa after the Nile, with an overall length of 4,700 km (2,922 miles). The illegal charcoal industry operating in the Virunga National Park has also caused a great loss of precious mountain gorilla habitat. The bonobo communities are more peaceful than that of chimpanzees and are led by females. Unfortunately, these cross river gorillas reside in a region that is highly susceptible to deforestation and poaching. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2021 worldatlas.com, Ethnic Groups In The Democratic Republic Of The Congo (Congo-Kinshasa), Religious Beliefs In The Democratic Republic Of The Congo (Congo-Kinshasa), Native Plants Of The Democratic Republic Of The Congo (Congo-Kinshasa). As you're planning your trip, check in with the State Department and review updated travel advisories and tips. Bonobos are a primate species that share a close relationship with chimpanzees but are only shorter, darker, and leaner than the latter. Ashley Judd revealed on social media Friday that she was involved in a “catastrophic accident” in the Congo rainforest where she nearly lost her … As part of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership, we collaborate with local governments and communities to sustainably manage the forests and protect wildlife. The numerous snakes include such poisonous varieties as cobra, green mamba, and puff adder, as well as species of python. This gorilla subspecies has subtle differences from the western lowland gorilla in the skull and teeth structures. In congo, there over a million tons of bushmeat consumed each year. With its brilliant, iridescent blue wings, the blue morpho butterfly flutters through the rainforest canopy. Classified as endangered, only about 10,000 to 50,000 bonobos (Pan paniscus) remain in the wild today. Another interesting animal in the Congo rainforest is the okapi. For example, researchers have found that Central African forests generally have taller trees but lower density of small trees than forests in the Amazon or Borneo. Democratic Republic of the Congo - Democratic Republic of the Congo - Plant and animal life: Plant life is lush and varies between climate zones. There are many species of animals that are only found in this area. Certain other anatomical differences also exist between these two subspecies of the African elephant. Some other rainforest inhabitants are chimpanzees, elephants, pygmy hippopotami, antelopes, wild boars, buffaloes and white rhinos. Also known as the Grauer’s gorilla, it is the largest known subspecies of gorilla. The critically endangered subspecies number only around 880 and are thus on the verge of extinction. A critically endangered eastern gorilla subspecies, the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is found in two small populations. The largest of the great apes, gorillas are stocky animals with broad chests and shoulders, large, human-like hands, and small eyes set into hairless faces. These primates spend most of their time on trees and when on ground, they usually travel on fours and occasionally only on their legs. Also an endangered species, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have a surviving wild population of only about 172,700 to 299,700. There are also many species of fish, birds and reptiles. Territories of six countries, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo lies within the Congo Basin region. Some of the hippopotamuses are killed for the food, even though it is illegal (not allowed by law). Many of these animals are endangered, and conservation efforts have steadily gained momentum over the years. Unfortunately, the eastern lowland gorilla has been subjected to adversities arising due to years of civil war and unrest in the DRC. The gorillas of the Congo rainforest are called "lowland gorillas". Her essays, profiles, and destination guides have appeared in Fodor's, Forbes Travel Guide, Backpacker, Scandinavian Traveler, Frommer's, The Austin-American Statesman, Austin Monthly, Misadventures Magazine, and many others. If we do, there will be disturbed weather patterns and hardly any rain. Considering the major threats to the Congo rainforest – including deforestation, poaching and commercial hunting – environmentally conscious travel is of the utmost importance. Here they are listed. There trees reach heights of 130 to 160 feet (40 to 50 metres), and numerous varieties and species of plants proliferate. The leading cause of wildlife loss in the Congo is the bushmeat trade, driven by an ever increasing market. From voyaging on the Congo River, to gorilla tours, the Congo Rainforest, & spectacular and original Congo Safaris. There are quite a few endangered species of the Congo. One of the wildest places in the world, the savannahs, swamps, rivers, and forests of the Congo Basin house some of the rare and elusive creatures known to us. An elusive subspecies of the African elephant, the forest elephants are found in the densely wooded forests of the Congo Basin and some other parts of Central and West Africa. Yellow-casqued Hornbill. Years of civil war, political unrest, illegal mining, logging, poaching, and pet trade industry are highly active in this region. Some of the species found in the Congo rainforest include the pygmy chimpanzee, the forest elephant, gorillas, the Congo peacock, the white rhino, the … Crocodiles inhabit the Congo River. © 2020 USATODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images ), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Health Information for Travelers to Republic of the Congo, Odzala-Kokoua National Park: Visit the Park, U.S. Department of State: Democratic Republic of the Congo Travel Advisory, World Wildlife Fund: Western Congo Moist Forests, Dzanga Sangha: The Sangha River Tri-national Protected Area, Immunizations Required for Travel to Africa, Rainforest & Birdwatching Tours in Costa Rica, Privacy Notice/Your California Privacy Rights.
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