Environmental Of Jungle Life

Life of the Jungle

environmentalism is a war. A war for survival. Unknown to the Rio delegates, 12 small hamlets in eastern Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district have organised themselves and proclaimed a charter of rules to save their environment. Without fanfare. Or, expectation of any.

No more denudation, they swear, of the dusty, grey-brown scrubland that has sustained their families and livestock for centuries. "Jungal Mata," reason her emotionally-charged Rajasthani sons, cannot give when she's being stripped naked of all her wealth so mindlessly.

This sentiment has united the 7,000-odd residents of Lakrukhi, Pitpura, Dhorera, Bandapura, Keshopura, Bargama, Kailagaon, Loharra, Dhorei, Daulatia, Dudipura and Kailadevi. Tormented by the increasing barrenness of their desert Dhok-tree forest, they have formed a 41-member Jungal Raksha Samiti to turn back the hands of time. And the arms of human predators.

The charter imposes penalties like a fine of Rs 551 for anyone who dares to chop a tree—this in hamlets where annual incomes range between a measly Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500. And, social boycott for those who refuse to pay up. Axes have been banned in all the hamlets. Only deadwood is allowed to be collected as firewood—provided it's lying on the ground. No camel carts or hired vehicles can be used to load wood so that the forests are protected from being pillaged for commercial reasons. Also, all villagers are sworn to a moral obligation to keep a strict vigil and report incidents of forest crimes to the Samiti.

Birds are one of the Yucatán’s crowning glories, it boasts more species than the United States and Canada combined and many birds from colder northern climates winter here after making the long and dangerous journey across the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, the Yucatan Peninsula is considered one of the most important stops on bird migratory routes in the Americas. Some of the winged treasures you may be lucky enough to spot in the Yucatán are parrots, toucans and ocellated turkeys in the forests and 16 species of herons and egrets, kingfishers, pelicans, frigate birds and flamingos in the coastal wetlands.

It was a profound and intimate knowledge of this delicate environment's natural cycles, and a keen understanding of its plants and animals, that allowed the Maya civilization to flourish for over 1,000 years. Then, as now, our very survival depends upon an understanding of nature's rhythms, and upon our ability to adapt to them.

Take eight celebrities and drop them into the Australian rainforest, and what have you got? At first sight they look like a family of chimps and at any moment you expect to see chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall in the undergrowth, notebook in hand, binoculars at the ready. A second glance, however, reveals that these are not wild creatures but tame ones which have been returned to the wild, into the kind of habitat that is natural for their species, but which they have long-since forgotten.

There is (for real) an island in Africa where chimps that have been rescued from circuses, pet-shops, zoos and other unsuitable homes have been returned to the wild. They have all endured a stressful past and animal experts have decided to give them back their jungle freedom. In theory, their rainforest homecoming should be greeted with great pleasure, but it is not that simple. They carry with them all the mental baggage of their past lives, and having been thrown together as strangers, their relationships have not developed slowly, over the years. The result is a great deal of chaos and confusion.

One of only two places in the world where orangutans still roam free in the jungle. Come see these beautiful animals up close and personal in their natural environment, and while here enjoy a trek in the jungle, raft or tube in the clear river water, explore the village, sing and play guitar with the guides, or just relax in a hammock overlooking the river.

Bukit Lawang is located 96 kms northwest of Medan, Sumatra. It is on the eastern edge of Gunung Leuser National Park. The national park is thought to hold about 5000 wild orangutans. Bukit Lawang is a very special place to visit orangutans because for about 30 years there was an Orangutan Conservation and Rehabilitation program operating in the area, and there is still a daily feeding program to assist over 200 released orangutans as they continue to readapt to their wild environment. The orangutans are fed twice daily by park rangers at a special feeding platrom - an amazing opportunity to see the animals up close. The platform is typically used by pregnant or nursing females with their young.

Orangutans are extremely intelligent animals - many researchers now claim that they are the world's most intelligent animal. Sadly, they are also highly endangered as a result of habitat loss and poaching. They used to live across Asia, but now can only be found on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Orangutans are mostly vegetarian, and they cover a large terrain to find the food they need. They are the largest arboreal animal - males can weight up to 90 kgs. They are solitary creatures, and they have a long life span - living up to 30 or 40 years.

Researchers fear that the few remaining orangutans will not survive due to continued habitat loss from logging and agriculture. Dollars generated by responsible tourism is one way to help people understand the value of protecting these important animals. Responsible tourists trek with local licensed guides, they do not touch or feed the orangutans, and they carry out their waste.