Is the Amazon Rainforest Disappearing?
Flora and fauna Not all of the plant and animal life of Amazonia are known because of its hugely unexplored areas. No one knows how many species of fish there are in the river either. Some have estimated close to 2,000 though. Some of the famous Amazon animals that reside here are the electric eel, the piranha, and the anaconda. The small percentage of plants and animals know to science have produced valuable foods, medicine, and commercial products. The rain forest in the Amazon Basin is under threat from logging, the clearing of land for farms and ranches, and water pollution. External linksAmaznia (www.colegiosaofrancisco.com.br) Using computer models, scientists found that about 40% of the Amazon rainforest will be lost by 2050; nearly 100 native species will be deprived of more than half of their habitats and about 772,300 square miles of forest will be lost, unless more is done to control expansion and increase protected areas. The scientists said better conservation of the rainf
