Asian Rainforests
Tropical rainforests can be found in three main regions: South and Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. All of these rainforests have many things in common like tropical climate, diverse plant and animal life, and deforestation threats. Here is some information about one rainforest region: Southeast Asia.
- Asian rainforests can be found on Borneo, Sumatra, the Malaysian Peninsula, and surrounding islands. Like other tropical rainforests, most are found in an area of 3,000 miles called the "tropics" between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5˚N latitude) and Tropic of Capricorn (23.5˚ S latitude).
- Over 10% of the world's rainforest area is in Indonesia. Other rainforests are located in Malaysia. Vietnam, Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. Also, India, Bangladesh, and Sir Lanka have small rainforest regions.
- A few well-known Asian rainforests are Cameron Highlands (Malaysia), Borneo Rainforest (Malaysia), Khao Sook National Park (Thailand), and Burkit Barisan Selatan National Park (Sumatra).
- According to many scientists, Malaysian rainforests are over 100 million years old!
- Tigers and pythons are two of the large predators of these rainforests.
- Tualangs, trees that can grow up to 280 feet, are one of the tallest types of trees you can find on Earth! These trees grow high above the canopy of the forest. Bees love these trees and make huge honey combs on its branches. Because honey is worth more than the timber, tualangs are often not cut down for logging.
- There are many unique types of wildlife in Asian rainforests like elephants, Sumatran rhinoceros, tigers, woodpeckers, and hornbills.
- Threats to Asian rainforests include deforestation for human needs, like farming and logging. Also, the 2004 tsunami caused much damage to areas that were already deforested.
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