Animals in Cool Earth’s Lubutu Partnership
Rainforest species are incredibly varied, and nowhere more so than the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Cool Earth’s Lubutu partnership is based. The community have recently carried out biodiversity monitoring to see what animals live in their forest. We are really pleased to see such diversity, and the presence of many threatened species. It’s a sign that the forest is healthy.
Tree hyrax
Tree Hyraxes measure between 40 and 70 centimeters and use loud, piercing calls to communicate with each other.
Mountain Gorilla
Our latest biodiversity monitoring has discovered four gorilla families in the South and three families in the North of our partnership area.
River Pig
Male red river pigs fight by butting heads and whipping each other with their tails. These pigs also fluff out their face hair when threatened.
Leopard
Like our domestic cats, leopards will purr when they’re content. As well as being extraordinarily fast, they are pound for pound the strongest of the big cats.
Guenon Monkey
Four different species of these beautiful monkeys have been spotted in Lubutu. Many species are endangered due to habitat loss, so it’s really good news.
Giant Pangolin
When the pangolin’s tongue is fully extended, it can be up to 16 inches (over 40 centimeters), longer than its entire body length.
Buffalo
Congo Baffalo have excellent hearing which alerts them about any potential dangers. Despite their stocky build, they can run up 25 miles an hour.
Duiker
The most common forest antelope, three species of Duiker can be found in the area around our partnership. They are hunted in some areas for their horns, as charms against evil spirits.
Mongoose
Mongooses are fast and agile, and able to get into the nests of many other animals. Sometimes they throw eggs at a hard surface in order to break them.
Chimpanzee
Found in 21 African countries, chimps prefer dense tropical rainforests but can also be found in secondary-growth forests, woodlands, bamboo forests, and swamps.
Aardvark
The Aardvarks’s tough thick skin protects them from bites whilst their wormlike tongue can be up to 30.5 cm long and is sticky to trap up to 50,000 termites and ants in one night.
Nile monitor
The Nile monitor lizard is the largest lizard in Africa, growing up to 2.1 meters (7 feet) long. The can stay underwater for more than an hour and can easily outrun a person.
Comments