Asian Wildlife Part I: Asian Rainforest Wildlife

Asia, one of the biggest continents on earth’s surface stretches from the Arctic in North to Tropic in South. So the entire stretch touches the frozen zone of the north as well as the warm zone of the south. This allows Asia to boast about its oscillating plains as well as high mountain ranges throughout.

Though major part of Asia receives scanty rain, yet one cannot deny those parts within Asia (especially India) where heavy rainfall is recorded. Different climate, atmospheric conditions and geographical conditions invites various varieties of wildlife species; few of them reputed endangered species such as tigers, Asian tigers.

Thus when it comes to wildlife, Asia has lots and lots to boast about! To understand Asian Wildlife accurately it is important to learn about it with exact specifications. When Asian wildlife is categorized depending on its geographical conditions within a particular area, you get a clear idea about how and which animals you may come across.

Asian Wildlife and its categorization

Asian Wildlife can be broadly categorized depending upon its geographical conditions, including

Rainforest Wildlife

Temperate Forest Wildlife

Grassland Wildlife

Mountain Wildlife

Boreal Forest Wildlife

Desert Wildlife

Asian Rainforest Wildlife

When we speak about the rainforests of Asia, we automatically imagine the overall warm climate and short dry geographical conditions. Though these rainforests are not large as compared to Amazon, yet they have their own variety of wildlife. Asian Rainforest can be broadly categorized further into 5 categories depending on their locations. These include:

South Asian Rainforests

South East Asian Rainforest

Borneo Rainforest

Indonesian Rainforest

Wildlife of South Asian Rainforest

Wildlife of South Asian Rainforest further splits into Wildlife of Indian Rainforests and Wildlife of Bangladesh and Sri Lankan Rainforests. Wildlife of Indian Rainforests overall include more or less 200 flora species which comprises of various rare herbs, medicinal plants and flowering plants. The wild fauna of Indian Rainforest comprises of leopards, wild elephants, porcupines, mongoose, monkeys, macaques, bats, bison, civets and endangered tigers.

Wildlife of South Asian Rainforest comprises of vast and extensive mangroves including the Sunderbans of Bangladesh and Sri-Lankan Rainforests which resemble to that of Indian Rainforests. The mangroves of South East Asian Wildlife comprises of saltwater crocodiles, crocodiles, deer, Bengal Tigers and wide variety of migratory as well as local bird species. Sri Lankan Rainforests on the other hand comprises wildlife such as leopards, monkeys, mongoose, parrots, parakeets, kingfisher, hornbills, herons, parrots, and other wide variety.

Wildlife of South East Asian Rainforests

Wildlife of South East Asian Rainforests includes the Thailand’s extensive rainforests that comprises of more than 30000 flora species comprising bamboo, flowering and non-flowering species and Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia. The Thailand’s extensive Rainforests include wide variety of mammals such as elephants, leopards, macaques, sun bear, deer, black beers, pangolins, gibbons, lizards, green vipers, snakes, monitor lizards. These jungles also include varied bird species such as Rhinoceros hornbill, woodpeckers, parakeets etc.

Talking of Myanmar Rainforests of Asia, the only thing that comes to mind is the Asian elephants and tigers along with wide variety of flora. Malaysian and Vietnamese Rainforests on the other hand comprises of rhinos, buffaloes, gibbons, bears, monitor lizards, pandas, civet cats and numerous snakes.

Wildlife of Borneo Rainforests

Borneo Rainforests on the other hand boasts about its wild flora that comprises of flowering plants, dense vegetation, chest nut trees, orchids and more than 15000 flowering species. Animals such as monkeys, elephants, Malayan flying fox, rhinos, gibbons and leopards are seen in large numbers.

Wildlife of Indonesian Rainforests

Indonesian Rainforests is primarily related to the dense rainforests of Sumatra Island and its wildlife. This dense forest area is known for its giant butterflies, wingspan butterflies, vipers, flying geckos, flying dragons, flying snakes, macaques, marmosets, bee-eaters, giant hornbills, and Philippine eagles.

Learn more with Asian Wildlife II: Temperate Forest Wildlife