The Unique Plants and Animals of Cloud Forests
In The Unique Plants and Animals of Cloud Forests, meet the rare Andean bear, climbing to the top of the canopy to reach food. While he struggles at first, because the only fruit is on the thinnest branches, a more experienced bear arrives to teach him how to reach it. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
Lesson Express
Q: Why is the forest called a “cloud forest”?
A: The forests are at such a high elevation that they are often enveloped in clouds.
Q: What is special about the animals that live in the cloud forest?
A: The different elevation, cooler temperatures, and moisture work together to create biodiversity and a particular ecosystem in the cloud forests. Rare animals, like the Pinocchio lizard and the Andean bear, are found there.
Q: What trick does the older bear use to get the higher fruit?
A: The more experienced bear knows that if he bites the branch just enough, the branch will swing down and the fruit will be within reach.
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