Page 39 - World of Animals - Issue #28 Magazine

The importance
Red river hog Gaboon viper
This wild pig has bright red, coarse fur, with a
contrasting black and white face. The tough
tusks are used to dig around in the dirt for food.
These hogs aren’t fussy and will eat anything
they can find, from shoots and leaves to sheep
and reptiles! lying in wait for unsuspecting prey to pass by. expertly along branches on all fours.
The tropical of ecotourism
equatorial rainforest
receives around 160- Justin Wateridge is managing director of Steppes
200 centimetres (63- Travel, a luxury travel provider that can take you
79 inches) of rainfall to explore the Congo in all its glory without leaving
per year, much of a bad mark on the ecosystem. He talks to us about how being an
which falls during the ecotourist can make all the difference.
rainy season.
What is ecotourism?
Ecotourism is simply described as sustainable travel to natural areas
that works to conserve the environment, sustain the wellbeing of the
local people living and working there and involves emphasis upon
interpretation and education for the travellers and visitors.
How does this benefit the rainforest ecosystem?
The rainforest benefits because the practice of ecotourism places
a high value on the forest as opposed to logging and other such
extractive (and very destructive) industries. Another benefit is that
the encouragement of conscientious travellers can bring revenue
and employment to local and indigenous peoples. Ecotourism can
also bring much-needed revenue to conservation agencies and
researchers who do essential work in managing and preserving the
forest ecosystem.
What kind of things can ecotourists do when visiting?
When you take a trip to the rainforest of the Congo River Basin
(and beyond), as an ecotourist you can see the wildlife in its natural
habitat and visit some of the incredible local communities that live in
the rainforest. In a forest such as in the Congo, the amazing wildlife
that lives there would include forest elephants, lowland gorillas
and sitatunga (a swamp-dwelling antelope) – fantastic creatures to
witness in the wild.
Is there an ecotourism code of conduct?
There is no one particular code. However, there are various bodies
that advocate best practice for tour operators and tourists alike,
such as respecting local communities and customs, not interfering
with wildlife, keeping to paths to protect the environment, eating and
ABOVE drinking locally and protecting local resources.
The armoured long-
tailed pangolin is a
critically endangered What can World Of Animals readers do to get involved?
rainforest mammal. When Anyone can get involved by joining a tour. Travelling to the region and
threatened, it rolls into a
ball to expose sharp scales exploring it makes a difference and monies go to local communities.
Colobus monkey
Known as the heaviest venomous snake in Africa, These black and white monkeys have a surprising
the gaboon viper lives in the rainforest and adaptation: they lack thumbs. The word ‘colobus’ © Corbis; Sol90; Thinkstock; Dreamstime
savannah areas of the region. With a triangular is derived from the Greek word for ‘mutilated’, as
head and thick body, the viper uses its excellent these monkeys have evolved to have stubs where
camouflage to hunt with an ambush technique, thumbs ought to be. This allows them to run
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