Reasons to keep the Congo

The Congo is the second largest rainforest in the world. Here are 5 reasons to keep it from turning into logs and sofas.

1. Around 70% of the Congo's population depend on what the Congo rainforests provide.

2. It is home to many animals that only live there and some that don't

3. It is one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. It will only take a year or so's worth of deforestation to completely wipe it out.

4. National parks like Virunga National Park are being destroyed, even staff getting murdered.

5. Deforestation will lead to climate change, meaning the weather changes. It might not sound like much, but can be catastrophic for people and animals alike.

Chimpanzees of the Congo: Fact File

 The chimpanzees of the Congo rainforests are very special. Here are 5 fun facts about them.

1. They are very good toolmakers! This trait is found in no other type of chimp.

2. Both types of chimp live in the Congo.

3. One species is called the bonobo, which is only found in the Congo's rainforests.

4. Bonobos are omnivores, but they are in favour of leaves, fruit, meat from small vertebrates like anomalures, flying squirrels and duikers. Sometimes but rarely they eat other bonobos.

5. Common chimpanzees eat mainly fruit, but will also snack on leaves, leaf buds, seeds, blossoms, stems, pith, bark and resin. There are other plants it eats but its favourite meat is that of the western red colobus monkey's.

2 bonobos at the Cincinnati Zoo

Congo Rainforest: Fact File

1. The Congo Rainforest is the second largest rainforest on Earth.

2. It crosses 5 countries in Central Africa (Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and Central African Republic)

3. Some of the primate species found in the Congo are found nowhere else in the world.

4. Despite a ban for over 10 years, the Congolese officials continue to hand out over 15 million hectares in new logging permits - the size of England

5. Logging affects around 70% of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's population.