The flora and fauna of Sumatra

Sumatra is famous for its animals. It's wildlife is more varied than any other island in Indonesia. Sumatra contains 176 different mammals, 194 reptiles, 62 amphibians and 150 different birds. Orangutan, rhinos and wild pigs are found only in the north of the island. The tapir and certain species of monkey are found only in the south of the island. North and south, wildlife survives because the Sumatran forests provide protection. Sumatran forests cover about 60% of the island. The people of Sumatra like animals. You can see tigers, birds and strange animals painted on becaks and signs all over the island.

The Sumatran jungles support a great range of plan life. There are trees such as the ketapang, which are over 60 metres in height. Vines called 'wait a minute' have thorns that can catch people as they walk in the forest. The corpse plant is over two metres high and smells of rotting meat. The amazing rafflesia grows on the west coast of Sumatra. Its flower grows to one metre in width and is the largest flower in the world.

In recent years, forest fires have destroyed a lot of Sumatras' forests. The government are trying to stop the destruction of our forests. Let us hope they succeed. Sumatra without its forests would not be a nice place.