THE FLOODED FOREST
Known as the ‘lungs’ of the earth because almost 20% of the world’s oxygen is produced by it, the Amazon Rainforest covers such a vast area, it accounts for over half the planet’s remaining rainforests. During the wet season (around December to May), the Amazon River swells dramatically – reaching up to 15 metres in places. With nowhere else to go, the water in the river spills over its banks and into the forest, creating the fascinating phenomena that is the Amazon Sunken Forest!
LIFE UNDERWATER: THE EXPERIENCE
A mysterious sight greets you as you walk past The Amazon Sunken Forest @ River Safari. Tree trunks and branches form an intriguing underwater “forest” – a recreation of what the real rainforest is like when monsoon season arrives in the Amazon region. Watch as the Arapaima and Manatee navigate the complex system of branches! |
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Featured Residents
Arapaima
Growing to almost 3 metres long and weighing up to 200 kilograms, the Arapaima can certainly be classified as a large megafish! This air-breathing fish is also one of the world’s largest freshwater fish and is a source of food for the indigenous people of the Amazon region. Able to stay underwater for up to 20 minutes, the Arapaima prefers to hunt near the water surface, preying on fish and occasionally, grabbing birds which venture too near the water surface. During the dry season, Arapaimas construct nests and lay eggs. When the wet season arrives, the young hatch in the rising waters, which bring plenty of food for the Arapaima fry.
Manatee
They may look heavy and cumbersome but these Manatees are agile, friendly and intelligent creatures. Their closest relatives, however, are actually Elephants. During the rainy season, the Manatee has plenty of vegetation to feed on. Unlike other Manatees, the Amazonian Manatees do not graze on the river bed. They much prefer the aquatic grasses, surface plants and overhanging vegetation that are perched near the surface of the floodwaters. Unfortunately, the Manatee is under threat today, no thanks to deforestation, boats and fishing.
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