Fauna (Animals)
The Congo rainforests look peaceful from the outside, but on the inside, they are (hives ???) of activity. Over 400 different species of mammals populate the Congo River Basin area, with the vast majority of these species being primates, such as gorillas and the bonobo.
Some of the animal species found in the Democratic Republic of Congo's rainforests are shown below.
Bonobo
The bonobo, unique to Congo's rainforests, is very similar to the chimpanzee, with the only difference being that the bonobo is slightly smaller, with longer legs and shorter arms. The bonobo's numbers have dwindled rapidly over the past 30 years, mainly as a result of hunting and loss of habitat. However, steps are being taken, with around 36,000 square kilometres of bonobo-heavy land now being under the protection of Salonga National Park.
Okapi
The Okapi resembles a horse, and is recognised by its long black tongue which is often used for picking buds and leaves from trees. It can grow up to 2.5m tall, and can be found only in forests located at very high altitudes (over 1,000m). Okapis are normally solitary animals, with the average density being 0.6 per square kilometre, but can occasionally be found gathered together feeding.
(Statistics found here)
