WILDLIFE IN THE AFRICAN RAINFORESTS

1. .............. The African rainforest is huge. It stretches from the west coast of Africa to the mountains in Kenya and Tanzania in the east. On a map, you’ll see that most of the rainforest is in Congo. Below you will read about a few large mammals living in this area and a small animal from Madagascar. Madagascar, the world’s fourth largest island, is off the southeast coast of Africa. Some animals living there can only live in this part of the world.

2. .............. Madagascar is home to 25 species of lemur. All of them are endangered. The lemur looks like a monkey. It has large, round eyes, a pointed nose, a long tail and soft, woolly fur. All lemurs are vegetarians. They like wild figs, bananas and other forest fruits.

3. .............. The mountain gorilla, the biggest of the great apes, lives in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. They live in small groups. They cannot climb trees because they are too big and heavy. They wander slowly through the forest eating fruits, leaves and berries. Scientists say they are gentle, intelligent and very friendly.

4. .............. The forest elephant lives in Congo. This ‘small’ elephant can be up to 2.5 metres tall. Its tusks are thinner, short and a bit yellowish.

5. .............. Many kinds of chimpanzees and baboons live in the African rainforest. Some chimpanzees can open nuts with branches or stones. Usually, chimpanzees travel together in groups of around twenty looking for fruit and leaves to eat. At night, they sleep in the branches of tall trees.