SURVIVAL SKILLS HANDBOOK

AINFOREST
TIPS AND TRICKS TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD
 *? Bear
Grylls
SURWIVAL SKILLS HANDBOOK

RAINFOREST
7 Bear
Grylls

This survival skills handbook has been specially

put together to help young adventurers just like
you to stay safe in the wild. A massive part of our
planet is covered with rainforest — and they’rea
wild, weird, and wonderful place to explore, filled
with more different birds, plants, and animals than
anywhere else on Earth. In this book, you will learn
how to find food and water, make shelter,
and stay safe in these amazing iB
habitats. Enjoy the adventure! f wl /

iG
 A Bear
Grylls

CONTENTS
What is a rainforest? 4 Rainforest foods
you might recognise 28
Rainfall explained 5
Fishing 29
Tropical rainforest 7
Water 30
Temperate rainforest 8
Lost? 31
Rainforest layers 9
Bugs 32
Equipment 14
Protecting rainforests 34
Clothing 16
Rainforest people 36
Staying dry 17
Dangers in the
Shelter 18 rainforest 38

Animals 20 Survival stories 40

Plants 22

Food storage
WHAT IS A RAINFOREST?
A rainforest is a very tall jungle that gets a high amount of rainfall.
It is very hot and humid, so animals and plants that exist there
have learnt to adapt to these conditions. Water is abundant ina
rainforest, so if you want to survive then you will need to put careful
thought and planning into staying dry. The largest rainforest in the
world is the Amazon rainforest in South America.

Life in a rainforest
Rainforests contain around half of
all the plant and animal species
on Earth. In fact, it is thought that
there are millions of living things
in rainforests that are yet to be
discovered, so they are hugely
interesting places to visit.

Why do we need rainforests?

Despite only covering around six percent of the
Earth’s surface, rainforests produce a third of
KEY
the oxygen that we breathe through a process =e
called photosynthesis. Without rainforests, the a Rainforest
world would struggle to maintain the oxygen
levels we need in order to survive.

Photosyntheis

\/
Sex.
“TS.
plants absorb plants release
light from | _ oxygen into
thesun \ WY the air

plants absorb
water from
the soil
 A Bear
Grylls

RAINFALL EXPLAINED
The main difference between rainforests and ordinary jungle is
the amount of rainfall. In a rainforest it rains almost every day. In
a tropical rainforest, the rainfall can be over 2,000 mm per year —
twice the annual rainfall of more temperate areas like Europe.

Why does it rain in a rainforest?

Most rainforests are near the Equator, and
: ; {i d desert
have a very hot climate, meaning water
evaporates (turns to gas) very quickly. Air M®) grassland
can only hold a certain amount of water, or {)) rainforest
humidity, so some of the water is pushed fi taiga
back out of the air as rain. al temperate
» forest
{| tundra
mm of rainfall
water vapour forms ae
clouds in the air eed

— me an a

ee ee
\ Lees ~ 4
water “p74,
becomes too Tee,
heavy and
falls as rain
heat causes water to
evaporate from seas,
rivers, and lakes, into
the air

Rainforest water cycle

Due to the thick trees, a lot of the rain that falls in the rainforest never
reaches the ground. As the rainforest heats up, water evaporates directly
back to the atmosphere from the trees, forming clouds which will then fall
again as rain the following day. This process is called convectional rainfall.
 How to measure rainfall
Meteorologists use a rain gauge to measure
rainfall. The instrument is left outside for a set
rain gauge amount of time — this could be a day, a week, or
a year. During this time, the gauge will catch rain
as it falls. You can then work out how much rain
has fallen by reading off the scale.

Rainfall nutrient cycle

The forest floor is hot and fairly damp. Dead plants and bugs rot very quickly in
these conditions, and create nutrients close to the surface of the soil. These are
then taken up by fast-growing plants. If the rainforest plants are taken away, the
soil will not be able to absorb so many nutrients, making it harder to grow crops.

leaves and fruit

fall from trees to
the ground trees use
nutrients to grow

dead plants rot and shallow tree

become nutrients roots pick up
nutrients

What makes a rainforest?

e All rainforests have over 2,000 mm of rainfall per year.
e All rainforests have a canopy layer where most of the plants and animals
are found.
@ All rainforests contain a huge variety of living things (this is called biodiversity).
e All rainforests have different species working together to help each other (this
is called symbiosis).
 A Bear
Grylls

TROPICAL RAINFOREST
When you think of rainforests, what usually first comes to mind is
a tropical rainforest. They are usually found close to the Equator,
and they have a hot, wet climate.

Rainfall
The average rainfall in a tropical
rainforest is very high, and the
average temperature rarely
drops below 18 C.

Monsoon trough
|_| Tropical rainforests This is a place where the wind patterns of the
northern and southern hemispheres meet. This
weather pattern can cause heavy rain, weather
depressions, and tropical cyclones. The monsoon
trough is part of the reason why rainforests exist at
such specific locations.

BEAR SAYS
Tropical rainforests do not
have a rainy period (a period
of time in the year when most
rain falls), as it rains most days
throughout the year.
TEMPERATE RAINFOREST
A temperate zone is a place where the temperature is neither
extremely hot or cold, and there isn’t a big difference between
summer and winter. There are two temperate zones on Earth: one in
the northern hemisphere and one in the southern hemisphere.

World climate zones

~ Polar

= Temperate
Arid
Z Tropical

What is a temperate rainforest?

A temperate rainforest is a forest in
one of Earth’s temperate zones that
receives heavy rainfall. There are many
temperate rainforests around the world,
though different continents have slightly
differing definitions of what makes a
temperate rainforest.
 A Bear
Grylls

RAINFOREST LAYERS
Rainforests are organised in distinct layers. Each layer contains
animals and plants that are adapted to live in the particular
conditions found at that level. All the layers except the emergent
layer are found in both tropical and temperate rainforests — the
emergent layer is unique to tropical rainforests.

Emergent layer

Canopy layer

Understory

Forest floor F

Buttress roots
Rainforest soil is often not very rich in nutrients, so
the trees make roots that stay above the ground,
which helps to gather as many nutrients as possible,
while providing support for the tree in storms. These
are called buttress roots.

BEAR SAYS
Buttress roots can sometimes
be hard to spot, so watch your
step and be careful not to trip!
Canopy layer
This layer is essentially the roof of
the rainforest. Trees in this layer
are around 40 m in height, and
are usually evergreen with broad
leaves. The trunks and branches of
these trees often have other plants
attached to them — these are known
as epiphytic plants and they catch
water and minerals from the trees
that they cling onto.
epiphytic plant

Rainforest wildlife
s A
hy
Se
Due to the abundance of food and
% GS
eee a sunlight, the canopy layer has a huge
Yee —

Aly
diversity of birds and animals, including
spider monkeys, sloths, and many
millions of different arthropods.

BEAR SAYS
Insects, crustaceans, centipedes,
millipedes, spiders, and
scorpions are all arthropods
- invertebrates that have an
external jointed skeleton.
 A Bear
Grylls

Emergent layer
A small number of very large
trees are taller than the canopy
layer. They are called emergents,
as they emerge from the layer
below. They can grow to over
50 m, but need to be able to
withstand high wind and heat.

flying fox Ecodiversity

4 This layer is a completely different world
to the forest floor. The treetops make a
very effective barrier between the top and
bottom of the rainforest. Animals that live
here need to be able to cope with a bright
and open environment, with weather that
can quickly change from baking hot to
very windy to sudden rainstorms. These
als can often fly or glide to get about,
and rely upon their hearing to help catch
prey, as they can’t always see through the
thick canopy.

macaw

Trees
Trees in the emergent layer spread ou
their-foliage to catch as much light

with wings that float on the wind so

they can plant themselves far from
the other trees in order to get the best
conditions for growth.
 Understory
This layer does not get much
sunlight, as the taller trees in
the canopy block most of it out.
Trees in this layer are usually
shorter with large leaves so
they can catch as much light
as possible.

“a Ve en,
P S a. ~~

BEAR SAYS
A banana tree is a great find in
il
a

the rainforest. They provide

food for many animals, and
their large, wide leaves
can provide shelter "Wert
LIEB
Pp
OCTLNES
ERD
GA
Iee
Bt

from rainfall.

sap-covered
leaves Symbiosis
This tree is shaped like an umbrella,
with a hollow trunk and leaves
covered with sticky sap. The ants that
live in the trunk eat the sap. In return,
the ants help the tree to survive by
protecting it from any animal that
tries to eat its leaves, and stopping
plants growing around the tree
by biting them. This is a special
relationship where both the ant and
the tree help each other — scientists
call this symbiosis.
Forest floor
This is the lowest layer and
receives only about two percent
of the sunlight. Plants that grow
here are adapted to cope with
low light levels. Larger animals
can move more freely in this
layer because there is often not
much vegetation growing on the
forest floor. tarantula

fungus growing
on dead insect
matter
Rainforest fungi
Dead plant and animal matter
decay fast at this level because of
the warm and humid conditions.
Many forms of fungi are found
here, growing on dead matter.
EQUIPMENT
Conditions in the rainforest are hot, humid, and wet, so equipment
needs to be waterproof or quick-drying. Carefully pack everything
that needs to stay dry into dry bags, and protect your backpack
with an appropriate raincover. Be careful to dry anything wet before
you pack it again, as your equipment can get mouldy or rusty and
extremely smelly on a long trip.

binoculars

backpack with mosquito

waterproof cover net

spare dry clothing

@
in waterproof bags
insect repellent

fire steel

machete for cutting

through dense jungle
 A Bear
Grylls

camera

rope or
parachute
cord
tarpaulin

sunscreen
mobile phone

torch Ff
= fishing hooks
and wire

waterproof
matches

water
purification malaria tablets
tablets
CLOTHING
There are some very good quick drying fabrics available for trekking
in wet conditions — it really is worth buying the best quality you can
afford so that your clothes are comfortable and don’t rub when wet.
There is nothing worse than getting up in the morning and putting on
clothes from the previous day that haven’t dried. Always keep a spare
dry set packed in a waterproof bag for emergencies and take time to
dry your clothes before you go to sleep.

wide-brimmed hat

rubber boots

poncho

loose, long-
sleeved shirt

: waterproof
spare
Pp dr y loose trousers
socks trousers
 A Bear
Grylls

STAYING DRY
There is no way you can go to arainforest and stay dry. It does not
have to be a miserable experience, though, as long as you go with
the right equipment and frame of mind.

Equipment

absorbent
cloth

~~

waterproof
bag
talcum
powder
tarpaulin

Survival tips
e Choose your shelter location carefully, and make sure your tent or
tarpaulin is good quality and waterproof. It is worth building a fire so
water runs away from it and you can dry any wet clothing.
e Keep your supplies dry in a shelter, vehicle, or waterproof bag.
e Put flip flops on as you enter your shelter to keep mud out.
e If you can, use an absorbent cloth to wipe down seats and get the dew
from the inside of your shelter. DS,
e If you can carry them it is worth taking cards or other games in case you
have to spend a long time waiting for rain to ease off.
SHELTER
lf you are planning to spend the night in the rainforest, a good
shelter is vital. Heavy rainfall is common, and temperatures are
high, so your shelter will need to keep you and your equipment dry,
as well as protecting from heat and any dangerous animals like
snakes and scorpions.

Building a shelter
If you are using a tent, set it up in high ground
at an angle so that water drains away from
it. Don’t shelter near swamps or river banks,
as you will find lots of mosquitoes in these
areas, and never camp on river beaches as
there is a danger of attack from animals here.

Risks to avoid
Ravines or dry river beds should be avoided
in case of floods. Tall or old trees pose
a danger of branches falling on you, and
should also be avoided. Palm trees have
very shallow roots and often fall over.

Preparing the area

Clear away leaves, branches, and other
debris using a stick in case there are
snakes hiding there. It is worth digging a
trench around your shelter to act as a drain.

When to build your shelter

Build your shelter while it is still daylight,
and remember it gets dark very quickly in
the rainforest. Light a fire and sleep close to
itto keep insects and other animals away.
 A Bear
Grylls

Jungle A frame shelter

This is a more complicated shelter that will need practice to perfect. A knowledge
of knots would be useful in order to secure everything tightly. This shelter will keep
you off the ground, away from insects and snakes.
1. Take two long, sturdy sticks, connecting them at the top to create an A shape.
Secure this with a smaller stick tied about halfway down. You will need two
of these.
2. Find three long poles of a similar length. Secure each end of one to the top
of your A frames, then rest the other two on the connecting poles to create a
hammock area.
3. Tie the structure securely with rope or string (if you don’t have rope, parachute
cord or vines will do).
4. Secure one poncho or tarp as a roof, and the other as a hammock. The
hammock will need to be firmly tied, taped, or even sewn, so it can safely hold
a person.

jungle A-frame shelter

BEAR SAYS
Sleeping in the rainforest Learning about different knots
When you go to bed, keep your clothes on and will give you a better chance
tuck your trouser legs into your boots and socks of getting your shelter to work
to stop insects getting in during the night. Any every time.
body parts you cannot cover can be covered
in mud to stop insects biting. Cover yourself
completely in a blanket or palm leaves.
ANIMALS
Rainforest animals have adapted to help them survive in hot and
humid conditions. Some of them are very good at climbing and
holding onto trees so they can live high up, and others can cope with
the low light levels on the forest floor.

Spider monkeys
These animals live high in the canopy and stay
well away from the rainforest floor. They are
found in Central and South America and some
parts of Mexico.

Red-eyed tree frogs

When the red-eyed tree frog is asleep, it hides
its bright colours so that it is camouflaged. If
it is under threat, it uses the colour to frighten
away predators. It has special suction cups on
its toes to help it climb.

Blue morpho butterflies

The blue morpho butterfly lives high in the
canopy and eats rotting fruit using its long nose
(probiscus). It can grow to about 15 cm wide.

Bengal tigers
This beautiful animal eats other animals —
sometimes even elephants. It can be found in
southern and south eastern Asia, and has been
known to attack humans to defend its territory.
 A Bear
Grylls

Electric eels
These are actually more closely related to catfish than eels,
and are found in South America. They often live in shallow,
muddy water. They have poor eyesight, but use a low electric
charge to help them find their prey. They can produce an
electric shock which will be painful but not usually fatal
to humans, but the shock is strong enough to knock down
a horse. They use the shock to stun their prey. If they are
frightened, they can produce a series of repeated short shocks
that can go on for over an hour without getting tired.

How to survive a tiger attack

e Stay away from tiger territory — they are very likely to attack if they are
disturbed. Make sure you know where not to go, and take a guide with you.
e@ Make a backwards facing mask — tigers tend to attack from behind, and at an
unexpected moment.
e Do not urinate in tiger territory — they see this as a threat to their territory.
e Stay calm and try to back away slowly if you see one — do not show aggression
as they will see this as a sign to be aggressive themselves.
e Hide up a tree, as tigers aren’t very good at climbing.
e@ Make yourself look big and brave. Do not run away.
e Make a big loud noise — shake metal or glass items together or shout ina
confident voice.
© Do not play dead but fight back if you are being attacked. Aim for its mouth
and nose.
PLANTS
More than two thirds of the world’s plant species are found in
tropical rainforests. The hot and humid conditions are ideal for many
plants, but there is often competition for sunlight and nutrients.
Some plants grow quickly, while others have large leaves or clever
defences from predators.

Epiphytes
This group of plants do not have their
roots in the ground, but instead live
on other plants. A single tree could
have several tonnes of epiphytes living
on it. The most common epiphyte is a
bromeliad, which wrap their roots around
trees. Bromeliad leaves are in a rosette
shape, directing water into the centre
of the plant. The pool of water formed
can be a habitat for other insects and
birds, and many other animals use it for
drinking water.

Corpse flower
The biggest flower in the world, a corpse
flower can grow up to 1 m in diameter.
It smells like rotting flesh in order to
attract flies which then help it pollinate.
 % Bear
Grylls

Walking palm
These can grow to around 20 m tall, but
have a trunk diameter of only about 12
cm. They are often home to epiphytes,
and have unusual stilt roots that appear
above the surface of the ground. There
are several interesting theories about why
they have these roots. Originally it was
thought that they could grow new roots
if they were knocked over, but another,
newer, theory is that the trees grow very
quickly upwards towards sunlight, and the
roots help with stability.

Amazon water lily

The Amazon water lily grows in lakes and
rivers in the South American rainforest.
The beautiful leaves can grow up to3 m
in diameter, but they have a hidden guard
mechanism — on the bottom side ofthe leaf
are lots of sharp spines that deter animals
from eating them.
Rubber tree
Rubber trees in the Amazon rainforest can be
“tapped” to allow the sap to run out. A cut is
made in the bark and the milky liquid, called
latex, is collected.
This can be used to make many
rubber objects such as Car tyres.

Strangler fig
This is an epiphyte, but
unlike other similar plants it
eventually kills its host plant.
The strangler fig wraps its
branches around the host
tree and produces roots that
reach the ground. It steals
nutrients and sunlight to
such a level that the host
cannot survive. The figs it
produces are eaten by many
rainforest animals.
 Bear
Grylls

Silky oak
Despite its name, the silky oak is
not actually related to oak trees. It
is resistant to rot, so its timber is
useful for carpentry.

BEAR SAYS
Rainforest trees often have
dark, leathery leaves. This stops
them blistering and losing water
due to the blazing sun.
7e

Tualang tree
These trees have very smooth bark, so
are difficult for animals
to climb. They
are | soy peenelahaaatiin dinthe
rainforest and can grow over 80 m tall. Giant
honey bees make their nests high up in
tualang trees, safe from animals.
FOOD STORAGE
It is very easy to waste valuable food by not storing it correctly. Food
can easily go bad in hot and humid rainforests, and the last thing
you need is to become unwell from eating spoiled food. There is
also a risk of animals stealing food if they can smell it. Only carry
food if you can see that you won't be able to get any more for the
foreseeable future, as it usually attracts unwanted wildlife.

Storage
Never leave food or rubbish in your shelter,
as animals are attracted to the smell of food.
Don’t leave your food unattended. You can
get odour-proof bags and solid containers
(known as bear canisters) that are difficult
for animals to open, but small enough to fit
in your backpack. If you have a vehicle, it is
worth keeping food locked away at night.
In some environments, you can leave food
hanging in a bag from a tree, but this is
probably not safe in the rainforest.

bear canister

Salting
This method of preserving food has been
used since ancient times. Food is kept ina
large quantity of edible salt, and can then
be dried. Salt draws moisture out of food, so
bacteria cannot survive in this environment.
If done properly, the food can be eaten for a
very long time.
 A Bear
Grylls

poncho or
tarpaulin

rips of meat
» be smoked

fire pit

How to smoke food

e Dig a fire pit and make a tepee and racks out of sticks.
e@ Cover the tepee with a poncho or tarpaulin. Take care to keep it well away from
the heat and leave a hole in the top.
e Light a small fire — you need smoke, not heat.
e If possible, build a fire using hardwood rather than softwood. Pine smoked
food doesn’t taste very nice.
e Once the fire is burning red, add some moist leaves or wood to make smoke.
e Hang up the meat or fish. Remember, you aren't trying to cook the meat. The
warm smoke cures it gently over time. The meat doesn’t need further cooking
once it has been smoked.
e Check the fire regularly and add more fuel if needed.
e If the food is smoked for a day, it should stay edible for about a week if it is
thinly sliced.
RAINFOREST FOODS YOU
MIGHT RECOGNISE
Surprisingly, many of the foods we eat every day were originally from
rainforests. This makes things a bit easier if you need to find food in an
emergency, as lots of things are easily identified. If you find nuts and
need to crack them, it is worth finding a suitable hole to stop them
flying around when you hit them with a rock.

avocado

pineapple

ginger

“BEAR SAYS
Even if you think you recognise
something growing in a
rainforest, don’t eat it unless
___a grown up who knows about
_ plant identification says
it is safe. banana
 % Bear
Grylls

FISHING
Rainforests are full of water, so there will usually be some edible
fish to catch and eat. It is always worth packing some fishing line
and hooks, or you could make an emergency hook with a paperclip or
a sharp, thorny twig. Maggots, caterpillars, and even ants could be
used as bait in an emergency.

Spear fishing spear made froma

You can try spear fishing knife tied to a stick
using a sharpened stick
ora knife tied to a stick.
Remember that light refracts
at the boundary between air
and water — this makes the
fish seem closer than they | sharpened
actually are. Spear fishing stick
takes practice.

Preparing a fish
Be very careful when
preparing a fish. You don’t
want to eat any sharp bones
or poisonous parts. The liver,
intestines, and egg sacs of a intestines - liver - do
fish are all very dangerous. do not eat! not eat!

Stationary trap
This is designed so the fish
can get in, but will have
trouble getting out again.
If you are watching you can Ba Ih
then quickly block the exit - =
and attempt to spear them.
 VVATER
One of the biggest hazards in the rainforest is drinking
contaminated water. There is plenty of water about, but lots of it
contains parasites, and could make you unwell. All water should be
boiled for at least three minutes, or purifying tablets should be used.

Treating swamp water

Muddy swamp water can be drunk if it is boiled
for three minutes, left to settle for at least 12
hours, and then strained through a cloth.

Where to find water

The safest place to find drinking
water is from a fast-flowing stream.
Take it from under the surface,
away from debris and bugs that
may be floating.

A
BEAR SAYS
How to tell if water is safe to drink
Drop some fine sand into a Container of
water. If it floats, the water is contaminated
Water that collects in certain and not safe to drink. If it falls quickly to the
types of plants can be safe bottom, then the water is likely to be cleaner.
to drink - but watch out for
insects!

3)
LOST?
Getting lost can be a frightening experience, especially if you are
somewhere unfamiliar. It is worth preparing for this situation before
you go on an expedition. Practise finding your way out of a forest,
and learn some trail-making skills — you could carry some brightly
coloured material in your pocket in case you need to leave a trail.
oa

Survival tips when lost

e Plan before you go. Make sure you know where you are going, have a guide,
and take the correct clothing, equipment, and backup supplies. Make sure
someone else knows your route and expected arrival time so they can raise
the alarm if you don’t turn up when you should. The best way to survive is to
avoid getting lost in the first place.
e As soon as you realise you are lost, take a moment to relax and calm down. You
cannot help yourself or anyone else if you are panicking.
e@ Check your pockets for any resources that might help you. A water bottle,
matches, and a poncho would be extremely helpful.
e Find water, light a fire, build a shelter, and find food. Stay in one place if you
think people are looking for you. Only move if you need help urgently and you
think nobody is coming.
e If you are near a stream, follow it downstream — you are likely to find a larger
body of water, and more likely to find people. Otherwise, walk downhill and
leave a trail.

au
 BUGS
It is well worth learning about the different insects you might
come across in the rainforest. Not only are they very interesting,
they can also be deadly poisonous, or make a nutritious meal in an
emergency situation.

Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes consume the blood of other animals.
Blood loss isn’t usually a problem if you get bitten,
as they only drink a few drops, but in some parts
of the world mosquitoes can carry nasty diseases
such as malaria and zika virus, and may infect you
when they bite.

use a
mosquito net
at night mosquito
repellent can
be useful to
prevent bites

Survival steps when lost

You cannot be vaccinated against malaria, so it is important to take steps to
protect yourself.
e Avoid mosquito bites.
e Be informed. Know exactly which areas are likely to be a problem and be aware
that malarial mosquitoes typically bite after sunset, and the risk often depends
upon the time of year.
e Take anti-malarial tablets as directed by your doctor. Some types need to be
taken weeks before you go on a trip, so be organised well in advance.
 A Bear
Grylls

Assassin bug
The assassin bug is an easily
recognisable creature that injects
its prey with venom that melts its
internal organs. It can kill other,
larger bugs, and can give humans
a painful bite that may pass on
a disease.

Amazonian giant centipede

This feisty predator will eat
anything it can catch — even small
snakes and bats. It coils around
its prey, eating it alive. It grows to
around 30 cm long and will make a
human feel unwell if it bites.

Bullet ant
The bullet ant is one of the most
dangerous animals in the rainforest.
People who have been bitten say
itis as painful as being shot. The
place where you are bitten can be
paralysed temporarily.

Brazilian wandering spider

All eight species of this venomous
spider are found in the Amazonian
rainforest. It is nocturnal and found
on the forest floor. The bite can be
extremely painful, and can cause
breathing difficulties and paralysis
if it isn’t treated quickly.
PROTECTING RAINFORESTS
COOSCHSSHSSOSHSHSHHOHSSHSHSHEHSHOHSSHEHSHHSHHSHSHSHSHHSHEHSHSHEHSHEHSHSSHEHTEHEH
SEEEEE

There is a well-known conservation saying: “take only photographs

and leave only footprints.”This isn’t always possible in a survival
situation, but the environment needs to be protected — especially
somewhere as precious as a rainforest. All litter needs to be removed,
and the plants and animals should be left alone as much as possible.

Why are rainforests important?

e They help keep the world’s climate stable.
e Many plants and animals live there.
@ They help maintain the water cycle.
e They protect against flood, drought, and erosion.
e Many foods and medicines are found there.
e There are many tribes of people who live there.
e They are an interesting place to visit.

What is deforestation?
Deforestation is the cutting,
clearing, and removal of
rainforests. Causes include:
logging, mining, oil and gas
extraction, farming animals
and plants, and war. Sadly,
deforestation is rapidly
increasing. Madagascar has lost
over 95 percent of its rainforests,
and El Salvador has lost more
than 80 percent of its rainforest
due to a civil war.
El Salvador Madagascar
 A Bear
Grylls

Environmental consequences
of deforestation
e Up to half our animals and plants
will become extinct or be forced to
move into other habitats.
@ Soii will be eroded.
e@ More deserts will be formed.
@ Climates will change.
e Pollution will increase.

Social impacts will include

e People living there will lose their
homes and risk losing their culture.
e@ There may be conflict over land.
e@ Economies may be affected.

What can we do about it?

e Don’t waste paper — always use
both sides.
Recycle everything you can.
Buy recycled or re-useable
products.
e@ Use up the whole of your pencil
before you throw it away.
Buy wooden products that have
been legally cut down (certified).
@ Avoid using the car too much —
walk, cycle, or share lifts instead.
e Save electricity by turning off lights
and computers when you aren't
using them.
e Save water by taking showers
instead of baths and turning the
tap off while you brush your teeth.
RAINFOREST PEOPLE
It is unusual to find rainforest people who have no contact with the
modern world and still rely entirely on their surroundings for food,
shelter, and medicine.

Mbuti people
The Mbuti people live in the Ituri rainforest in the
Democratic Republic of Congo. They are a pygmy
tribe — adult men are typically less than 150 cm
tall. Mbuti people are hunter-gatherers and trade
meat and animal hides with their neighbours for
other goods such as cooking pots and baskets.
The forest is a sacred place for the Mbuti and it is
often called “mother” or “father”.

Mbut
tribespe:

Democratic
Republic of Congo
 A Bear
Grylls

Western New
Guinea

Dani person
tribesperson cooking using an
earth oven

Shaman Dani people

A shaman is a person in a rainforest The Dani people are from western
village who knows about medicinal New Guinea. They are well known
plants. They treat the sick using plants and visited by tourists in the area.
from their surroundings — often as part Interestingly, they don’t have words for
of an elaborate ceremony or ritual. Their any colour other than dark and light. At
spiritual beliefs are often closely linked celebrations, a pig is usually cooked in
to their work with medicine. ; an earth oven.
DANGERS IN THE
RAINFOREST
CROCS SSHOSSSSHSSSHSSHSHSHSHEHSSHSHSHEHTHESHSHSHEHSHEHSESHSSSHEHSEHHESEHEEHEEEEE

While it is an incredible place to visit, the rainforest can also be very

dangerous. It is important to be aware of the dangers you may face
on atrip, and be prepared to deal with any problems.

Keeping feet healthy

Often the only way to travel in a rainforest is by foot, so it is essential to keep
them healthy. There is enough to worry about without sore feet, or having to carry
someone who cannot walk. As soon as you set up camp, it is worth taking some time
for foot care.
e Wash and dry your feet.
e Check for blisters or any injuries, and use plasters if necessary.
e Use talcum powder to keep them dry.
e Get ina hammock and give your feet plenty of time to rest, and plenty of fresh air.
e Spend time drying your wet footwear ready for the next day.
e Put on dry socks and/or footwear. Plastic slippers with holes in are useful for
around the shelter and are light to carry and fast-drying.

Immersion foot
Immersion foot is a condition that can
occur when your feet are continuously
in water or mud of 22 C for between
two and 10 days. Trench foot is a
similar condition that was common in
the First World War, but is associated
with colder, wet conditions. Blisters
and peeling are common, leaving
painful, raw patches that are prone to
nasty fungal and bacterial infections.
The cure is to clean and dry the feet,
treat any infection, and leave shoes
and socks off for up to a few weeks.
 A Bear
Grylls

Tremodotes (flatworms)
These are small, worm-like creatures often
found in water. Children that play in dirty
water are often at risk of getting an infection
called snail fever from a particular flatworm.
Symptoms may take weeks to appear, and
include pain, diarrhoea, blood in the faeces
and urine, and more serious symptoms if left
flatworm
untreated. Luckily, there is medicine available
as treatment and, as access to clean water
improves, fewer people are getting infected. ren ae

hold a clean bandage or

cloth over a leech wound
to stop the bleeding > ee ee
eec

Blood-sucking leeches
If leeches are not removed from the skin, they will fall
off when they finish feeding (this takes between 20
minutes and a couple of hours). Leeches produce an
anti-clotting agent, so the wound may bleed for some
time after the leech has been removed. In addition to
stopping the blood from clotting, they also mix it with
a chemical to stop it from decaying in their body. This
is so efficient that some leeches only need to feed
twice a year.

Leech survival tips

e Break the seal with your skin using a fingernail or other flat object.
@ It is not recommended to use chemicals or to burn them off, as this causes them
to vomit into the wound and may cause an infection.
@ Clean and dry the wound and apply pressure to stop the bleeding, which may go
on for a while.
e The wound may itch during healing, so apply a cold pack or ask an adult to give a
suitable antihistamine medicine if this is needed.
e Some people can have a severe allergic reaction to leech bites, so watch out for
any unusual symptoms and ask for medical advice if you are worried.
SURVIVAL STORIES
COCO SSHSSESHSSHSHSHESHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHHSSHEHSHSHEHSHEEHSHEHHEHHE
HHHEHSESEHEEEEE

People can survive in rainforests quite successfully. It isn’t usually

cold, and there is plenty of food and water. Most problems occur
when people lack the survival knowledge they need, and get injured
or unwell by eating something poisonous, drinking contaminated
water, or getting bitten by insects. Planning is everything, and having
the right knowledge could save your life.

Looking for gold

A 21-year-old Israeli man was stranded for three weeks in
1981 in an unmapped part of the Bolivian Amazon jungle
when he went looking for gold with three other men that
he hadn’t met before. He had previously been in the navy,
and will have been physically strong and learnt some
survival skills as part of his job. He was dreaming
of reaching the uninhabited heart of the jungle.
He was warned by local people that they were
choosing a dangerous path, but chose to
ignore this advice. They had to eat
monkeys when food supplies
ran low — one man refused —
and became very weak.

The men fell out and decided to split up.

Two of the men decided to travel by raft, but
got separated from each other when they
hit a waterfall and lost control. The Israeli
man was attacked by giant red ants, almost
drowned in a flood, and nearly sank into a
bog. His foot began to rot from fungi, and he
suffered hallucinations. He ate berries, fruit,
and raw eggs from nests. Eventually, he was
rescued and spent three months in hospital
recovering. One other man was also rescued
by local fishermen after five days, but the
other two were never seen again.
Wildlife photographer
A photographer went to the Peruvian
Amazon in 1995 to take pictures of an
area of rainforest that had never been
photographed before. He wanted to show
people the beautiful plants and animals
that could be found there. He had been to
the rainforest before, and employed some
local people to help carry his equipment.
On the second day, these people went
home, leaving all the equipment behind.

Poor planning and an unsuitable map

led to five people becoming lost for
almost two weeks. Equipment was
lost, they didn’t eat for 12 days, and
they had to drink swamp water. The
photographer got badly injured ina
canoe crash, and found himself alone
on the river, clinging to a log. He said
that his religious faith helped him
mentally survive, and he was eventually
rescued. Despite his experience, he has
returned to the jungle since then.
Surviving a plane crash
In 1971,a 17-year-old girl was the only survivor of a
92-passenger flight that crashed in the Peruvian rain
forest. She was travelling with her mother to meet her
father, and the plane was struck by lightning. She was
in shock and slightly hurt, but after failing to find her
mother she remembered her father’s survival advice:
“Heading downhill in the jungle leads to water, and
water leads to civilization”. Her father was a German
biologist and her mother an ornithologist (a scientist
who studies birds).

She drank water from a stream, but only had

some sweets to eat and could not sleep at night
because of the pain from infected insect bites.
She eventually found a boat and poured petrol
from the tank on her wounds, which made all the
maggots in her arm crawl out. She had seen her
father do this for a dog in the jungle ona previou
trip. After surviving in the forest for 10 days, she
was rescued and taken to a waiting helicopter
by canoe. The journey took seven hours. She was
then airlifted to hospital where her father was
waiting. Sadly, her mother did not survive.
 % Bear
Grylls

Lost in the Australian rainforest

A woman was found only a few metres
from where she disappeared from a well-
known swimming spot in the Australian
rainforest. She had a row with the people
she was with as she wanted to go home.
She stormed off on her own in order to
calm down, and fell asleep. When she
woke up, it was nearly dark and she was
confused and disorientated. Her terrified
fiancé spent three hours looking for her
before calling for help from the police.

She lived off fish and insects and spent

three days lying in water because of
the pain of sunburn. Search teams had
been looking for her for 17 days, and
she returned to the area by following
coloured markers they had left behind.
She had splinters and stones in her feet,
and had mysteriously lost most of her
clothes.
Lost in the jungle
Two French men headed into the Amazon
rainforest for a hike with only a map anda
compass to help them, and got lost. They built
a shelter and waited for three weeks to be
rescued. They chopped down trees to make a
fire. Despite hearing helicopters, they weren’t
found, so decided to try and walk out. They
walked for three hours each day — the rain
made it extremely difficult. They ate spiders,
centipedes, and turtles.

One of the men had lost about 20 kg, was

infested with worm parasites, had itchy
flea bites, and couldn’t speak clearly after
swallowing venom from a spider they hadn’t
cooked properly. His friend eventually
found help and sent rescuers back for him.
Doctors said he would have died within
three days. Surprisingly, the first man was
in reasonable health. About forty police and
soldiers had searched for them for three
weeks before giving up hope of finding
them alive. Rescuers described it as a
miracle that they survived.
 A Bear
Grylls

Taking a short cut

A 65-year-old man was working as an
engineer on the trans-Amazonian highway.
On his day off, he decided to take his dog
for a walk through the jungle to the nearest
community — 10 km away! The area was
mainly dense and unpopulated rainforest. He
took a shortcut through a field, and ended
up lost in the forest. He attempted to retrace
his steps, but failed to find his way back. He
couldn't find any fruit or animals to eat, so
eventually ate flies and wasps to stay alive.

Police and firefighters with sniffer dogs

rescued him after 12 days, less than 10
miles from where he started after he was
spotted by a local resident. He had been
walking in circles. He had sores on his arms
that were covered in maggots. His family
were hoping dll the time that he would be
found alive, but he said he’d given up all
hope of being found about two days before
he was discovered.
GLOSSARY
HSHEHHHEHSHEHEHSESEEEE
COCHSSSSHOSSSHSHSHHSHHSHSHSHSHHSHHSHSHSHSSHSHSHSHSHHSHEHEHSH

Antihistamine - a medicine that is used to treat allergies.

Civilisation - humans that are living in an area.

Contaminated - something that is made impure by mixing it with something

unclean.

Epiphyte - a plant that grows on another plant.

Equator - an imaginary line drawn around the Earth separating the northern -
and southern hemispheres.

Faeces - waste matter that comes from a person's bowels (poo).

Hallucination - when someone believes they can see, hear, or sense

something that isn’t really there.

Hardwood - strong and hard wood often from a broadleaved tree such as
oak, teak, or mahogany.

Humid - air that contains a high amount of water vapour.

Meteorologist - a person who uses science to forecast the weather.

Northern hemisphere - the half of the Earth that is north of the equator.

Photosynthesis - the method plants use to make food and oxygen. They use
light and carbon dioxide in the green parts of their leaves.
 A Bear
Grylls

Probiscus - a long, sucking mouth on an insect that is flexible and

shaped like a tube.

Pygmy - a person or animal of very short stature.

Ravine - a deep narrow gorge with steep sides.

Softwood - wood that grows quickly and can be cut easily, usually
a conifer such as pine, spruce, or fir.

Southern hemisphere - the half of the Earth that is south of the

equator.

Symbiosis - a relationship between different plants or animals

where each one gains something from the other that helps them
to survive.

Urine - a yellow liquid that is stored in a person's bladder then let

out as waste (wee).

Venom - a poisonous substance produced by an animal.

 Discover more amazing books in
the Bear Grylls series:
Perfect for young adventurers, the
Survival Skills series accompanies an
exciting range of colouring and activity
books. Curious kids can also learn
tips and tricks for almost any extreme
situation in Survival Camp, explore
Earth in Extreme Planet, and discover
some of history’s greatest explorers in
the Epic Adventures series.

Conceived by Weldon Owen in partnership

with Bear Grylls Ventures

Produced by Weldon Owen, an imprint of Kings Road Publishing

Suite 3.08 The Plaza, 535 Kings Road,
London SW10 0SZ, UK

Copyright © 2018 Weldon Owen

WELDON OWEN
Publisher Donna Gregory
Designer Shahid Mahmood
Editorial Susie Rae, Lydia Halliday
Contributor Anne Farthing
Illustrator Bernard Chau
Cover image © 2018 Bear Grylls Ventures

Printed in Malaysia
123" 557-910) 6674.2
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored ina retrieval system
or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, except brief extracts for the purpose of review, without the prior
written permission of the publisher.

Disclaimer
Weldon Owen and Bear Grylls take pride in doing our best to get the facts right in putting together
the information in this book, but occasionally something slips past our beady eyes. Therefore we
make no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of the information in the book and to the
maximum extent permitted, we disclaim all liability. Wherever possible, we will endeavourto correct
any errors of fact at reprint.

Kids — if you want to try any of the activities in this book, please ask your parents first! Parents — all
outdoor activities carry some degree of risk and we recommend that anyone participating in these
activities be aware of the risks involved and seek professional instruction and guidance. None of the
health/medical information in this book is intended as a substitute for professional medical advice;
always seek the advice of a qualified practitioner.

A WELDON OWEN PRODUCTION. AN IMPRINT OF KINGS ROAD PUBLISHING.

PART OF THE BONNIER PUBLISHING GROUP.
 “4 Bear
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—— SURWIVAL SKILLS HANDBOOK

~ RAINFOREST
Discover aha amitine world of the rainforest as you
embark on a wild adventure with Bear Grylls
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Discover the plants and animals of the jungle, find E
_out what to take on a rainforest expedition, and lez
: some incredible survival skills
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