Amazing Congo Rainforest

Located in central Africa, the world’s second-largest rainforest widely known as The Congo Basin Rainforest covers about 1.5 million square miles. Although a major portion of the Congo Rainforest is in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), substantial areas fall in Gabon, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and the Central African Republic.

Common Facts of Congo Rainforest

1. The Congo rainforest is considered as one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world.
2. The second largest river of the world, The Congo River, runs through the rainforest.
3. Though the climate is warm and wet with an average temperature of 25°C, the average rainfall is over 58 inches annually.
4. Five of the national parks in the Congo Rainforest are declared as UN World Heritage Sites.
5. Pygmies are the group of tribal ethnicities mostly found in Congo Basin. The short stature people with an average height of 4- 4.5 feet survive by foraging and hunting.

Amazing Fauna Facts

1. The Congo rainforest is home to approximately 450 species of mammals, 200 types of amphibians, 300 species of reptiles, and over 1,000 species of birds.
2. It is the only place on earth where all types of gorillas can be seen. The types include all three subspecies the lowland gorilla, the mountain gorilla, and the eastern lowland gorilla. Bonobos, an endangered great ape, which is considered to be the closest relatives to human beings are found here only.

3. The Congo rainforest is also a habitat for the African forest elephant. The distinguishable characteristics of the African forest elephant are its smaller frame and downward-projecting tusks.

4. Okapi is an African mammal that appears like a crossbreed of a giraffe and a horse. Therefore, it is often called zebra giraffe or forest giraffe. Its brown color body with white striped legs provides the mammal a totally mesmerizing appearance. The animal is found only in the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

5. The black colobus or satanic black colobus is a species of Old World monkey of the genus colobus. These are large in size and covered with black fur with no thumb as in all other colobus monkeys. Owing to hunting and habitat destruction, the black colobus species has encountered large declines in population and was consequently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 1994. These endangered species are found in high canopies of the Congo rainforest.

Congo Rainforest Plant Facts

1. The Congo rainforests is also a habitat to over 11,000 species of flora. The vegetation here is so dense that in most of the parts only 1% of the sunlight reaches the ground.
2. Many cancer Institutes have identified about 1,400 plants in the rainforest could potentially be used to fight cancer.
3. Lianas, which appear like more of vines, are common in the Congo rainforest and can grow up to three thousand feet or 914 meters long.

4. Another common flora found in these rainforests is the teak trees that grow up to 50 meters or 154 feet high. Since teak trees are always in high demand for its wood, it has become the primary reasons for the alarming rate of deforestation in the forest.

These amazing facts help understand why this rainforest is one of the most incredible African landforms.