Transcript www.willowbrook.devon.sch.uk

The Amazon Rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the
world, it covers over five and a half million square kilometres
which is equal to 1.4 billion acres, which is alot!
It is home to around 2 and a half million different insect
species as well as over 40,000 plant species, but people
are cutting down the trees and the animals are slowly
dying.
Plants and Trees
More than two thirds of the world's plant species
are found in the tropical rainforests. Plants provide
shelter and food for rainforest animals, as well as
taking part in providing the world with oxygen.
This is an Orchid.
This is a lipstick tree.
Amazon Trees
There are 400 billion trees in the Amazon rainforest. The most
popular species include the rubber tree, the walking palm and the
ungurahui tree, whose oil can be extracted to make juices and ice
cream.
In the wild, the rubber tree will grow to heights of 100 to
130 feet, and can live up to 100 years. Its most famous
feature is the milky white sap, known as latex, which flows
freely from the tree when a piece of bark is removed.
Latex is a liquid that can be made into rubber and other
things like tyres, gloves, elastic bands and rubbers like the
ones we use in school.
Deforestation
There are many reasons why deforestation is taking place. People who take
part in cattle ranching, logging, mining, farming and road construction all
add to the destruction of the rainforest. When the rainforest is cut-down at
the frightening rate it has been, the earth loses 137 species of plants and
animals each day. I would like to see the people re-planting new trees to
keep us and the rainforest alive.
Animals of the Rainforest
Gorillas
Sloths
Gorillas are the largest of all great
apes. They are vegetarian, they eat
fruit and leaves. Gorillas cannot swim.
Female gorillas give birth every 4
years like a leap year. A gorilla will
beat his chest to warn off any danger,
but Gorillas are shy and not
aggressive unless they are disturbed.
Sloths are extremely slow-moving
mammals found in the rainforest
canopies of Central and South
America. There are two species of
sloths, they are called two-toed
and three-toed. Most sloths are
about the size of a small dog and
they have short, flat heads.
Spider Monkeys
Spider monkeys live in the tropical
rain forests of Central and South
America. They have long, skinny
arms and tails that can hold onto
branches. These monkeys spend
most of their time in the trees and
have a powerful grip on the
branches even though they have no
thumbs.
Here are some more animals that live in the rainforest.
Toucan
Parrot
Jaguar
Rainforest Crocodile
Tree Frog
Blue Morpho Butterfly
People of the Rainforest
Tropical rainforests are home to tribal peoples who rely on their surroundings for food, shelter, and medicines.
Today very few forest people live in simple ways. Most have been moved on by outside settlers or have been
forced to give up their life styles by governments. The people who still live in the Amazon Rainforest are called
indigenous peoples. This means if you were born in the Rainforest, you belong there.
People’s Clothes
Their clothing is simple and comfortable. The men and boys wear loin cloths, and the women and
girls wear wraparound skirts. One of the great things about what they wear is that they never have
to worry about their clothes going out of style! Not all people from the rainforest wear what they do,
though many of them also wear clothes like we wear, like shorts and t-shirts. They might not look
any different to you, especially if they are in a city or have traded with people from outside their
village. Trading means swapping for items because the Amazon people don’t have any money!
Tribal Face Painting
Tribal Face Painting has been used for many reasons. For hunting, religious reasons,
camouflaging or to scare the enemy. Several tribal fighting techniques including
dancing, were used to strike terror. Decorating their faces with various patterns and
shapes has been a part of their families history. Face painting is a common theme
across the Rainforest people. Other tribes in America and Africa use different
patterns and shapes.
Tribal Food
The people live off the land by hunting, fishing,
and growing fruits and vegetables to survive on.
Manioc is one of their main crops. They use the
roots of the manioc plant to make flour for
bread. But before they do that, the people need
to be careful because they need squeeze all of
the poison out of the manioc first. Some people
even put the poison on the end of their spears
to use when they go hunting! To cook the food,
they use a stove that you might have seen in
camping. We don’t use stoves to cook our food,
we use normal cookers. The women do most of
the cooking while the men are hunting for food.
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