Tag: wildlife

The Amazon Rainforest

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The Amazon Forest is the biggest rainforest in the world with the highest density of plant and animal species anywhere, covering nine countries with 5,500,000 km2 of forest cover. Moreover, it is bigger than all the other rainforests combined. It is home to more than thousands of species of animals, plants, and trees, making it the most bio-diverse rainforest on the planet. One in ten of the world’s known species live in the Amazon. It is also known as The Amazon Jungle and is located in the South American continent and has the Amazon basin acting as the source of the magnificent Amazon River.

Ecosystem

Amazon rainforest has the biggest ecosystem in the world. This ecosystem is driven by the great Amazon River, which covers thousands of miles and is the main foundation of the ecosystem. The river basin, with an average temperature of 26o C and heavy humid and rainfall levels, has a direct impact on the ecosystem.

The presence of this hot and humid climate has influenced the presence of different species of both plants and animals, making the rainforest have the largest number of species for the kingdoms Animalia and Plantae, including many endangered species. Further, it is home not only to wildlife but also to indigenous people who have been living in the forest. The ecosystem of the rainforest is so big that it helps to control the entire planet’s atmospheric carbon levels. This is attributed to the Amazon basin, which is home to over ten times the annual carbon emissions from fuel consumption.

Plants & Animals

The Amazon biome is home to as many as 80,000 plant species in the Amazon. The tropical climate of the Amazon is the biggest contributing factor for the vast types of plants. The varying climate ensures that all types of plants can grow during the different seasons. The Amazon is home to over 2,000 different animal species. There are over 427 mammal species, 1,300 bird species, 427 amphibian species, 3,000 fish species, and 378 reptile species. In addition to this, there are over 2 million insect species in the Amazon rainforest. One in five of the bird species lives only in this rainforest.

Deforestation

There has been a massive reduction of the Amazon forest area by residents in the nine regions. According to National Geographic, about 17 percent of the Amazonian rainforest has been destroyed over the past 50 years. The major reasons for this are human settlement and search for agricultural land. The land surrounding any river basin is always suitable for farming, given that it harbors suitable nutrient content and, thus, soil fertility. Similarly, the presence of forest cover translates into better soil quality in terms of humus and water retention leaving no chance of soil erosion. Although the soil in the forest is fertile, there is a deterring factor. The fertility of the soils in the Amazon is easily depleted over a short time rendering farming on a single piece of land quite difficult. This is because the sandy soils are thin, thus not suitable for farming.

Wildfire in Amazon

Fires breaking every year in the Amazon rainforest are often caused by accidents during the dry months. Every year, the dry season causes wild fires that destroy wildlife. However, many satellite photographs also show that the fires in the Brazil region of the Amazon were set deliberately to clear many acres of land.

Climate Change of the Amazon Rainforest

Over time, global climate change and more deforestation will likely lead to increased temperatures and changing rain patterns in the Amazon, which will undoubtedly affect the region’s forests, water availability, biodiversity, agriculture, and human health. Industrial farming, urban expansion, mining, petroleum extraction, dams and irresponsible timber production have also led to massive forest loss. As deforestation continues and the effects of climate change intensify, we run the risk of losing this spectacular ecosystem for future generations.

Wonders of Western Ghats

Western Ghats, mountain range which is older than the Himalayas, is present parallel to the western coast of Indian peninsula covering 160,000 square km area in a stretch of 1600km. Western Ghats travel through the states of Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. UNESCO identifies it as a World Heritage site and it is one of the hotspots of biological diversity in the world. The mountain influences the country’s monsoon. Western Ghats has a rich biodiversity. There are so many species of flora and fauna endemic to the place and make it rich.

Western Ghats has over 7,402 flowering plants species, 1,814 non-flowering plant species, 139 species of mammals, 179 amphibian species, 6,000 insect species and 290 freshwater fish species. There are at least 325 globally threatened species present.

SOME OF THE WONDER SPECIES OF WESTERN GHATS
  1. BENGAL TIGERS: Bengal tigers are known for their beauty and power. they are native to Indian subcontinent. These predators are present in western Ghats also. Western Ghats are home to 10% of the tiger population. they live in the tiger reserve. Ranthambor national park has 585 tigers.
  2. KING COBRA: This is the worlds largest venomous snake. This lives in rainforests and scrubs and grasslands of western Ghats. Adult king cobras are 3.18-4m long and weigh between 11 and 20lbs. Male snakes are little longer than females. They are snake eaters and also eat lizards rats etc. This is the only snake that builds nest for its eggs. Their behavior include aggressiveness and shy nature. It has enough venom to kill an elephant.
  3. INDIAN WILD DOG: It is one of the most dangerous wild animal of Western Ghats. They are classified as endangered and the main reason is habitat destruction. They are also called as Dhole. They can be seen in jungle roads, river beds etc. It has large round ears and hooded eyes. It is a highly social and co-operative animal.
  4. LION TAILED MACAQUE: This animal is endemic to Western Ghats and it is one of the endangered species. their population is below 4000. They are an old world monkey. This magnificent animal is the proof for the wonderful biodiversity of the western Ghats. These are omnivores but fruits are the major part of their diet. These get a part of their required moisture by licking the leaves.
  5. INDIAN GIANT SQUIRRAL: They are also called Malabar giant squirrel. Bhima Shankar wildlife sanctuary has a noticeable population. They mostly live on trees. They build their spherical nest with leaves and twigs. they have a long bushy tail. They are mostly seen solitary or sometimes in pair. They feed on nuts, fruits and bird eggs.
  6. PURPLE FROG: It is also an endangered species because of habitat loss. this species is formally described recently in 2003. They have a bloated body, short hind legs and sucker like mouthparts. Local people consume tadpoles of this frog. These frogs are found in damp soil which is well aerated and loose. Only 135 individuals are identified in which only 3 are females.
  7. MALBAR GREY HORNBILL: This is also endemic to Western Ghats. They have large beak. They are found in dense forest and are mostly fungivores. They are mostly 45cm in length and weigh 240-340g.