Answers for
Audioconference 2
(July 30)
1. Glen Bulpin, Birkenhead Primary School
Which is the most endangered species in the
rainforest?
That’s hard to say, because in most cases we
don’t know how many of which animals are left. In
some cases there are animals which haven’t yet been
discovered – and it is likely that some animals have
become extinct (through destruction of their habitat)
before we even knew they existed.
But some of the rarest animals we know about are
monkeys, like the pied tamarin. This monkey was only
found around Manaus – but the area has been
developed and most of the pied tamarin’s habitat has
been destroyed. To save this monkey, a reserve called
Mindu park was created near the city. But there are very
few of these monkeys left.
New Zealand has very rare animals in our forests, too
– like the Tuatara,
the Black Robin, and the Kakapo.
2. Ursula McKinnon, Claremont School
What are the more common animals in the rainforest
and are they easy to find?
When walking through the rainforest, the most common
animal you see are insects – especially ants.
Sometimes you can see lines of leaf-cutter ants carrying
big chunks of green leaves on their backs like sails.
Sometimes you can also see the nest of other ants (like
tocarinda) around the bases of trees. When the forest is
flooded so that you can’t walk through it, the most
noticeable animals are termites because you can see their
huge nests in the trees. There are lots of birds of
various sorts.
3. Sara March, Foxton Beach School
What is your impression of the flora and fauna?
Its quite diverse. There are many different types of
trees. But I see few animals in the forest because most
of them are good at hiding. This is a surprise because
when I first read about the rainforest I expected that I
would see lots of animals – just like in the nature
programmes on TV.
4. Stacey Monk, Lagmhor School
Have you seen or will you see a Manatee? If
you have, could you describe it?
There are very few of them left in the wild near
Manaus because most of them have been hunted. Because
they spend most of their time living in the water, they
would be very difficult for me to see because I
don’t know how to look for them.
But, I did visit INPA, a research institute where they
are trying to save the manatee from extinction. I saw
some I their huge tanks – but the water wasn’t
very clear and I just saw two grey blobs through the
murky green water. From photos I know they look a little
like a walrus with a kinder face, and whiskers.
5. Mark Cordiner, Room 3, Puketiro School
What effects are logging and modernisation having
on wildlife?
Logging destroys animals habitats. If they have
nowhere to live and breed then the animals will die out.
That’s why some of the environment has to
be protected. Some factories also cause pollution which
poisons the animals.
Increasing, wildlife is becoming fragmented in small
reserve areas instead of being spread out all across
Amaz⌠nia like they used to be.
6. Jamie Howden, Birkenhead Primary School
Which is the largest fish that lives in the Amazon
River? Can you describe it for us?
The biggest fish is the Piraruc· which is
about two metres long. It is commonly fished and used to
make a variety of products. Its meat has a similar
texture to chicken and is a common food, and its tongue
is dried to be used as sandpaper. The scales are about
5cm across and are often dried and tied together in
ornaments.
The fish has a long body with a stumpy tail, and a
very small head. The fish has very primitive gills and
sometimes needs to suck in air from the water’s
surface.
7. Alana Woods, Claremont School
We hear there are millions of frogs in the
Amazon, which species is the most vicious or poisonous?
Frogs aren’t vicious. They don’t kill people
by biting them. The most poisonous frogs are called Arrow
Poison Frogs. These frogs are very colourful and
beautiful – so that all the other animals can see
them and know to avoid them (eg. Don’t try eating
them because they’re poisonous).
Unfortunately for the frogs, the Indians know that
they’re very poisonous so capture and kill them to
make arrow poison. They slowly roast the frog over a
small fire. The liquid that collects on its skin is
drained into a small bowl, and is then used to coat the
tips of their arrows. One small frog, about 4cm long, can
produce enough poison for 50 arrows – which can kill
50 people.
8. Katrina Ellison, Foxton Beach School
Are the local Governments in any way trying to help
the wildlife?
The governments have made it illegal for people to
kill, capture, or hurt endangered animals. In some cases
they provide special rangers to enforce these laws –
but there almost always isn’t enough resources to do
it properly.
Some areas have been set aside as reserves to protect
endangered animals.
9. Stuart Banks, Lagmhor School
How wide and deep is the Amazon?
The river is over 6,000 km long and varies at
different places. The river begins as lots of smaller
rivers and streams which aren’t very big at all
– they just merge together to make a big river. But,
by Manaus where is regarded as the proper Amazon river,
the river is 12 km wide and more than 100 feet deep.
10. Amber Duncan, Room 2, Puketiro School
What attitudes do most Brazilians have towards
protecting wildlife and plantlife?
Like us, most Brazilians think that it is important to
protect wildlife. They are sad that animals have become
endangered. But, for many people that choice becomes more
difficult when the jobs (and the welfare of themselves
and their families) depends on industries like logging or
clearing land for farming. They think that earning a
living and feeding their families are more important and
that the little bit of rainforest they clear won’t
affect the overall scheme of things. Unfortunately, a lot
of people think this – so a lot of rainforest is
being cleared or wildlife is being poached. Some people
say that New Zealand has similar problem with the logging
companies clearing our little remaining rainforest.
We need people to be able to earn a living without
destroying the rainforests. That’s why people think
eco-tourism is better. It isn’t perfect, but it aims
to preserve the environment not destroy it.
11. Jacqui Hoskin, Birkenhead Primary School
Could you describe the construction of Ariau Towers,
and how it caters to the tourist?
The buildings are big round towers mounted on stilts
so that they remain above the water when it flood. There
are three or four levels to each tower. Each level has
about six rooms set around the outside of the tower - so
they are big buildings. The towers are set among the
trees and are made of wood so that they have the feel of
big tree huts. There are a series of walkways high up
among the trees which connect the towers an enable you to
look down into the rainforest.
The rooms are kind of like hotel rooms – which
gives tourists a comfortable place to stay. The hotel
organises many activities for tourists, like visits to
villages, night-time jacarΘ hunts, and piranha fishing.
There are also lots of animals around, which makes things
more fun for tourists. The hotel has minimal impact on
the area – and the goal is to preserve and help the
rainforest so that people can come to see and learn about
it.
12. Kate Earl, Claremont School?
Is there a particular bird that you want to see?
I want to see a toucan.
It is a bird with a big colourful bill which makes them
very beautiful. Unfortunately there are very few of them
left in this part of Amaz⌠nia – but I may get to
see some in the rainforests of Peru.
13. Scott McGhie, Foxton Beach School
How are the local people being educated to
conserve?
There are few agencies (INPA and POEMA) which operate
on a local level to teach the people how best to manage
their land – hopefully showing people ways to keep
their land productive instead of abandoning it and
chopping down more rainforest. They are teaching skills
to the people so that they can earn a living without
having to hunt endangered animals. They are trying to
show that there is enough here for people to prosper, yet
still coexist with nature. This work is very difficult
because there are still many problems that need to be
solved.
14. James Scarf, Lagmhor School
Is it true that there may be tribes of Indians in the
Amazon that have not yet been discovered?
There may be a few. Amaz⌠nia is a big place and not
all of it has been thoroughly explored. A new sub-tribe
of the Guajß were first contacted in 1990. And last
year, according to Time magazine, two Indian women
walked into a village speaking an Indian language that no
one else has ever heard of – so people aren’t
sure what tribe they came from.
But as more of Amaz⌠nia gets explored, there are less
new tribes to find.
15. Ashleigh Scholar, Room 2, Puketiro School
Do the people who live near the wildlife kill any
animals just for fur, money, souvenirs, etc? If so, which
animals?
Yes, some people do kill animals. Often these people
are very poor so kill the animals just to earn a little
extra money to feed their family. The hides are brought
by tourists (even though it is illegal to import them
into most countries) and by souvenir-makers. Some animals
such as the manatee
and turtles are
killed primarily for their meat which is a delicacy.
Popular animals for skins include jaguars, ocelots, and jacarΘ.
16. Katherine Wells, Birkenhead Primary School
Could you please describe the behaviour of the
animals in the Rainforest? How do they react to humans?
Are they noisier that the creatures in our forests?
Most animals in the rainforests are quiet and remain
well hidden. This is their protection because it makes if
more difficult for predators (including human hunters) to
find them. Usually the only sounds are birds, insects,
and your own footsteps.
Some animals, like howler monkeys, make a very loud
noise which can be heard for miles – but there are
none around Manaus or Aria· so I haven’t heard
them. I might hear some in the Peruvian rainforest in few
weeks time though.
17. Thomas Cocks, Claremont School
What is the most dangerous animal in the Amazon
rainforest?
Jaguars are
supposed to be dangerous – but they rarely attack
people. In fact, I’ve heard stories that they
sometimes walk in the bushes behind solitary travellers
in the rainforest. Not attacking, but merely escorting
the trespasser off their territory. There are even
stories of jaguars wandering into Indian villages and
playing with the children before disappearing back into
the forest.
So, what I think is the most dangerous animal is the fer-de-lance snake. It
is small and difficult to see in the rainforest.
Sometimes people walking along remote trails accidentally
step on them so they bite. If not treated immediately
people usually die within hours.
18. Nathan Mitchell, Foxton Beach School
What methods are the poachers using to catch the
animals?
Manatees are
often caught by catching the more helpless baby manatee
– then using its yells to attract the mother. The
mother is then killed and the baby is abandoned. This
tragic because the babies can’t survive on their
own. Because manatee reproduce only once every four years
the loss of a baby and a parent is terrible.
Jaguars are
poached at night. The poachers work in pairs. One is in a
boat close to the water playing an instrument which
sounds like another jaguar panting. When a real jaguar
comes to investigate the noise it is lit up with a
spotlight then shot.
JacarΘ are also
shot at night, using spotlights to find them by the
reflection in their eyes.
19. James Tait, Lagmhor School
Do you have to be aware of life threatening animals
like Crocodiles,
Jaguars,
Piranha
etc?
Yes, its good to be aware of them. But I don’t
really know the risks so follow the advice of other more
experienced people about where not to go.
20. Kimberly Ho, Room 3, Puketiro School
How long would it take for a piranha to
eat a person?
Piranhas are small fish, so it would be impossible for
one to eat an entire human by itself (even if it was very
hungry). But often they attack in groups, attracted by
the blood and commotion caused by other piranha.
A group of piranha has been known to eat an entire
capybara (the size of a Labrador dog) in 90 seconds so
that only the bones were left. Therefore, it might be
possible for piranha to eat an entire human being
(leaving only the bones behind) in 3 to 5 minutes.
 
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