Suriving The Jungle and other Tropical Regions

EVERYTHING THRIVES IN THE JUNGLE...

The jungle is crawling with all forms of life... Including disease. Germs and Parasites bread at an alarming rate. Causing the slightest cut to become infected if not token care of properly.  At night the jungle floor literally moves, with crawling insects, snakes, rodents, and other creatures. That is why it is so important when building a shelter in the jungle to build it OFF the ground. If not, you will have all kinds of creatures biting you through out the night, such as spiders, scorpions, ants, snakes, and lizards. Nature provides water, food, and materials for making shelters. Which makes it possible to survive for long periods of time in a jungle. There are so many different kinds of things to eat. Things that help cure infection and cuts. You can even collect water from certain vines in the jungle.  Indigenous peoples have lived for thousands of years from hunting and gathering, but for the outsider it can take some time getting used to the conditions and the ever moving activity.

Native people wear little, except as ornament, but an outsider,  unaccustomed to insects and leeches and unfamiliar to moving through dense jungle growth, needs to keep as covered as possible. Clothing may become saturated by perspiration but it's better than being stung, scratched and bitten all over. Do not remove wet clothing until you stop. And with humidity at 80-90 percent, there is no point in hanging them up to dry, unless you can put them directly in the sun, or by the fire. Clothes saturated regularly by sweating profusely will rot in time. Moving through the jungle is almost like putting on a sauna suit and then sitting in a sauna and exercising vigorously.
  Except at high altitudes, both equatorial and subtropical regions are characterized by high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and oppressive humidity. At low altitudes, temperature variation is seldom more than around 50 degree's Fahrenheit and is often around 98 degrees Fahrenheit. At altitudes over 5,000 feet ice will often form at night. The rain has a slightly cooling effect, but, when it stops, the temperature soars.
 
Rainfall is heavy, often with thunder and lightening. Sudden rain beats on the tree canopy, turning trickles into raging torrents and rivers rise a an alarming rate, but just as suddenly as it started, it is gone. Violent storms may occur, usually towards the end of the summer months. Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons develop over the sea and rush inland causing tidal waves and devastation. In choosing camp sites, make sure you are above any potential flooding. Prevailing winds create variation between winter and summer with the dry season, which is rain once an day, and the monsoon season, which is continuous rain. In southeast Asia, winds from the Indian Ocean bring Monsoon, but it is dry when the winds blows from the landmass of China.
  Tropical Day and Night are of equal length, darkness falls quickly and daybreak is equally sudden.

EQUATORIAL RAIN FORESTS
The climate varies little in these forests, spread across the equator in the amazon and Congo basins, parts of Indonesia and several Pacific islands. Rain of 60-138 inches is distributed evenly throughout the year.  Temperatures range from 86-68 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
  Where untouched by man, jungle trees rise from buttress roots to 200 feet, bursting into a mushroom of leaves. Below hem, smaller trees produce a canopy so thick that little light reaches the jungle floor. Seedlings struggle beneath them to reach light masses of vines and Laina's twine up to the sun. Ferns, mosses and herbaceous plants push through a thick carpet of leaves and a great variety of fungi grow on leaves and fallen trunks.
   It's fairly cool in this PRIMARY JUNGLE, with little undergrowth to hamper movement, but visibility is limited to about 170 feet. It's easy to lose a sense of direction and also difficult to spot anyone from the air.

RESCUE SIGNALS
Smoke is diffused by the tree canopy and may not be seen, especially if there is mist about as well. Set signals in a clearing more often found near river bends, or better out on rafts on the river itself.


SECONDARY JUNGLE
Growth is abundant where sunlight does penetrate to the jungle floor, mainly along river banks, on jungle fringes and where primary jungle has been cleared by man for slash and burn farming. When abandoned, this is reclaimed by a tangled mass of vegetation, look out for cultivated food plants which may survive among the others.
   Grasses, ferns, shrubs, and vines of secondary jungle reach heights of 7-10 feet in a single year. Moving is slow, often hacking away with a machete or parang, hot work, with visibility of only a few yards. Jungle vegetation seems to be covered with thorns and spikes and bamboo thickets can be impenetrable barriers
   In Some area's of the world, jungle trees are low. Light is able to  reach the fertile ground, producing abundant undergrowth even in primary jungle.

SUB-TROPICAL RAINFOREST
Places such as Central and South America, Madagascar, western India, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Burma, and the Philippines, have seasonal reduced rainfall and drought in their forests. The Rain comes down in cycles, like monsoons. There are more deciduous trees because of the marked seasons, making it where more sunlight reaches the forest floor making undergrowth dense.

Montane  Forests
When altitude becomes higher, the climate becomes cooler, this is because of lower air pressure. Like the Ruwenzori Mountains in Africa, known as the "Mountains of the Moon" the characteristic of Flora and Fauna in the mountain changes because of the elevation in climate. Montane Forest occur between the Sub alpine and Submontane zones. The higher altitude of the Montane forest is typically known have a much harder terrain, with sharply contoured slopes making a crater like landscape covered in moss between ice-capped peaks. In the lower elevation of the Montane Forest Plant growth is known to have sparse trees and distorted, Their branches are low, and are difficult to walk under. Nights are cold and day temperatures are high with lost of mist, That is why a Montane Forest is more known as a cloud forest. Survival is difficult in this terrain. Don't stay long, make your way back down the mountainside to the tropical rainforest's where you will have much more opportunities for foraging and gathering food and water, and a much better chance of survival until you can become rescued or self rescue.

SALTWATER SWAMPS
Where coastal areas are subject to tidal flooding, mangrove trees thrive. They can reach heights of 40 feet and their tangled roots are an obstacle both above and below the waterline. Visibility is poor and passage difficult, it may take 12 hours to cover 3,000 feet.  Sometimes channels are wide enough to raft, but generally progress is on foot.
    There are mangrove swamps in West Africa, Madagascar, Malaysia and the Pacific Islands, Central and South America and at the mouth of the Ganges. The swamps at the mouths of Orinoco, Amazon and Rivers of Guyana consist of stinking mud and trees which offer little shade. Tides can rise as much as 40 feet.
   Everything in mangrove swamps seems hostile, from water leeches and insects, to cayman and crocodiles. Avoid them if you can. If forced there by mishap look for a way out. Where there are river channels intersecting the swamp you may be able to make a raft.
    You wont starve among the mangroves. There is plenty of fish and vegetation. At low water crabs, mollusks, catfish and mud fish can be found. Arboreal and aquatic animals include water opossum, otter, tapir, armadillo and on firmer ground, peccaries.
  Inland of the mangroves, nipa palm swamp is common, all of the nipa palm's growing points are edible.
    If forced to stay in a swamp, determine the high-tide level, by the line of salt and debris on tress, and fit up a raised bed above it. Cover yourself for protection against ants and mosquitoes.
    In any swamp a fire will have to be built on a platform. Use standing deadwood for fuel. Decay is rapid in a swamp so choose wood that is not for from decay.

FRESHWATER SWAMPS
    Found in low lying inland areas, their mass of thorny undergrowth, reeds, grasses and occasional short palms makes going difficult and reduces visibility to only a few yards, but wildlife abounds and survival is easy. A freshwater swamp is not such a bad place once you get used to it. It will often be dotted with islands and you are not chest deep in the water ALL the time. There are often navigable channels and raw materials available from which to build a raft.

SHELTER
There are ample materials for building shelter in most tropical regions. Where temperatures are very high and shelters directly exposed to the sun, make roofs in two layers with an airspace in between to aid cooling. Much of the heat will dissipate on striking the upper layer, and with the air passing between this lowers the temperature of the layer beneath. The distance between should be 8-12 inches. Double layers of even permeable cloth will help keep out rain if well angled.

FIRE
   Everything is likely to be damp. Take standing dead wood and shave off the outside. Use that to start your fire. Dry bamboo makes excellent tinder (be sure to store some, it always good to collect items that you could use later along the way), so does a termite's nest.

FOOD
A large variety of fruits, roots and leaves are available. Banana, papaya, mango and figs are easily recognized. (Papaya is one of the few plants with white sap that is edible.) The large, thorny fruit of the Duran, of southeast Asia, smells disgusting, but is good to eat.
    Palms provide an edible growing point and manioc produces massive tubers, though they must be cooked before eating. Taro, wild potato and some kinds of yam must also be prepared to remove poisons before they are eaten. You may also be prepared to remove poisons before they are eaten. You may find the wealth of tropical foods hard to identify, if you're not sure, don't risk eating them.

ANIMAL FOODS
   Deer, pigs, monkeys and wide range of animals can be hunted and trapped according to location.
In primary jungle, birds spend most of their time in the tree canopy among the fruit and berries. Place traps in clearings and lure birds with fruit. Some, Such as the Asian Horn bill, also feed on lizards and snakes. Near rivers, traps can be baited with fish or offal for Fish Eagles and similar species which patrol rivers for prey.
   Parrots and the relatives around in the tropics, their mad screeching makes their presence known from early morning. They are cunning, get them used to asking bait before setting the trap.
   Snakes are easier to catch, go for the non poisonous constrictors, and very tasty. Catch them by using a forked stick.

FOOD FROM RIVERS
  Rivers support all kinds of life: Fish, plants, animals and insects. If you have no fishing tackle small pools can be dammed and then emptied with a bucket or container, fish and turtles in surprising numbers can be found in the mud. Try constructing traps or crushing certain roots and vines to stupefy or poison the fish. (I will explain in a later post)
   Fish are easily digested and have good protein content. Many jungle people depend on them for nourishment, but in the tropics they spoil quickly. Clean thoroughly, discard entrails and eat as soon as possible, o not preserve them by smoking or drying. Fish from slow moving water are more likely to be infested with parasites. If you suspect  any at all, boil the fish for 20 minutes. In areas where locals use the water as their sanitation system, fish may carry tapeworms and other human parasites and the water itself could be infected with amoebas which cause dysentery. Always boil water before drinking it.
  Rivers can bring dangers too. Piranha may be found in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraguay river systems of South America. A similar fish is found in Burma. Electric Eels are slow moving and not aggressive, but they can grow very large and discharge 500 volts or more. Stingrays also occur in some tropical South American and West African rivers. Look out for crocodiles or alligators and water snakes and take care in handling catfish, which have sharp dorsal fins and spines on their gill covers, the Electric catfish can also deliver a powerful shock.

DANGERS

COVER YOUR FEET!!!!
Good footwear and protection for the legs are essential, they are most exposed to leeches, chigger, and centipedes. Wrap bark or cloth around the legs and tie it to make gaiters or shin guards.

INSECT ATTACK!!
Slashing your way though jungle you may disturb bees, wasps, or hornets nests. They may attack, especially hornets, whose stings can be especially painful. Anywhere left bare, including your face, is vulnerable to attack. Run!! Sunglasses would help protect your eyes.
   Perspiration is a problem, insects desperate for salt will fly to wettest parts of your body, However, they will also sting. Protect armpits and between the legs. (If you are a lady, protect under the breast and in other private areas, same with men, keep your private area protected)

BEWARE OF INVADERS
   Keep clothing and footwear off the ground, then scorpions, snakes, and other creatures are less likely to invade them. Always shake out clothing and check boots/shoes before putting them on and be wary when putting hands in pockets. On waking, take care. Centipedes tend to curl for warmth in some of the more private body regions.

BEWARE CATERPILLARS TOO!!!
  If mosquitoes and leeches sucking you blood, painful bites from centipedes and the risk or scorpion and snake bites are not enough look out for hairy caterpillars. Be careful to brush them off in the direction they are travelling or small irritant hairs may stay in your skin and cause you an itchy rash, which may fester in the heat.

MOSQUITO PROTECTION
Wear a net over your head, or tie a tee-shirt or a bandanna of it, especially at dawn or dusk. Better, take a strip of cloth long enough to tie around your head and about 18 inches deep and cut it to make a fringe of vertical strips hanging from a band that will hang around your face an over your neck and saturate your clothes and bags, and anything else that you have with repellent.
   At night keep covered, including your hands. Use bamboo or a sapling to support a little tent of clothing plus large leaves, rigged over your upper half. Oil, fat or even mud spread on hands and face may help to repel mosquitoes. In camp a smoky fire will help keep insects at bay. If you are bitten make sure you don't scratch (which is almost impossible because it itches so bad) as this may let infection in.

LEECHES
Leeches lie on the ground or on vegetation, especially in damp places, waiting to attach themselves to an animal (or person) to take a meal or blood.  Their bite is not painful but they secrete a natural anti-coagulant that makes it messy. Left alone, they drop off when they have had their fill, but if you are covered in them you must do something!! Do NOT pull them off, There is a risk the head will come off leaving the jaws in the bite, which would turn septic. Remove with a dab of salt, citric acid from fruit, alcohol, or an ember from a coal, or a flame. They will then back themselves out like a tick would.

BEWARE THE CANDIRU!!!
     This tiny Amazonian catfish, about 1 inch long, very slender and almost transparent, sucks blood from the gills of other fish. It is reported to be able to swim up the urethra of a person urinating in the water. It then gets stuck by its dorsal spine. The chance of this happening is remote but the consequences could be dire!!! Cover your genitals and DON'T ever urinate in the water or even above it. They are even known to swim up the urine when just you could be standing on the river bank, not even in the water and get up in your urethra. So don't do it. Just don't. That would be one of the most painful, awful, and embarrassing things to happen. And there is no telling what they would have to do to have it removed...

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