Animals and Plants
What is growing in Myanmar?
The mountains and the coastal regions of Myanmar are determined by the tropical rainforest. In the river delta of the longest river Ayeyarwady grow mangroves. In the humid monsoon forest of Myanmar, teak trees and bamboo plants of various kinds stretch upwards. Incidentally, the teak tree can grow up to 60 meters high. It is used in a variety of ways because its leaves give off a sap whose purple color is ideal for coloring fabrics.
Palm trees and other trees in Myanmar
In Myanmar’s tropical climate, many palm trees also grow, including the coconut palm and the palmyra palm. Rattan furniture is made from the branches of the rattan palm.
One type of fig tree is the banyan tree and the thanaka tree is used to make a make-up called thanaka paste, which is very popular. Those who visit the highlands of the country will also find pine forests. Oaks, pines and rhododendron bushes can also be found in the highlands in the north.
Poinsettia in Myanmar
As in other regions of South Asia flourish in Myanmar poinsettias. We usually have these around Christmas time. In Myanmar, they also bloom from December to January, but can bloom all year round. And the specimens there grow much taller than our poinsettias, which usually have to stay in a small pot.
In the cooler season the hibiscus blooms. The West Indian jasmine grows to a height of three to seven meters. Many tropical fruits such as lemons, bananas, mangoes and guavas grow on the coasts.
Which animals live in Myanmar?
Many wild animals still live in Myanmar. These include tigers, leopards, panthers and rhinos, but also bears. There are also elephants. Many species of monkeys also cavort in the country’s tropical forests.
There are also snakes, including dangerous cobras and vipers. By the way, Myanmar has the highest number of snake bite deaths worldwide. The king cobra, which can be up to five and a half meters long, and a special species of viper called Russell’s Pit Viper are definitely dangerous. Scorpions are also dangerous. However, like most snakes, they withdraw, you just shouldn’t step on them, they can’t stand that. Lizards, turtles and crocodiles can also be found in the river deltas.
Many animal species were able to survive, especially in the less populated areas of the north. Of course there are also workhorses. This includes water buffalo, which are mainly used in the rice fields and have to plow the earth here. Elephants are also used as work animals and unfortunately not always treated well. There are also cattle, pigs, chickens, cats and dogs, just like ours.
1000 species of birds have also been counted in Myanmar, including parrots, peacocks and pheasants. In the Moe Yin Gyi Wildlife Reserve, which is about 80 kilometers northeast of the former capital Yangon (Rangoon), you can watch birds very well.
Protection for the animals
So that many animal species can continue to survive, they are protected in special areas, for example in national parks or in specially designated areas such as nature reserves and protected wetlands.
Mount Victoria National Park, which is located in the north-west of the country, is very well known. Those who hike here will experience many forests that have been spared human interference and in which orchids and other rare flowers are still in bloom. Tigers, bears, leopards, monkeys and wild boars have also retired here.
The little panda
The little panda, also known as the red panda because it has a red coat, is popular. By the way, panda means something like “bamboo eater”, precisely because this animal likes to eat bamboo. He is the “little brother” of the “giant panda”, which is common in China. Scientists argue about which species the panda really belongs to. If you want to know more about the little panda, just take a look at Tierchenwelt.
Economy
Myanmar economy – what does Myanmar trade in?
For a long time, according to indexdotcom, Myanmar was isolated from the rest of the world. There were few trade relations with other countries. Wood is an important export and China is one of the largest buyers for the wood. Above all, valuable teak is exported, but also rosewood, also a type of wood of high quality. It is assumed, however, that a great deal of wood is smuggled into China or Thailand.
The country is also known for its beautiful gemstones. Rubies, sapphires, jade, topaz and amber can be found in the mines of the mountains. There are also oil and gas deposits, hard coal, lead, copper, silver and gold.
Myanmar’s economy: opposites attract
The country is developing economically, but at the same time it is still very backward. This often has unpleasant consequences. In Yangon (Rangoon), the country’s old capital, there are now many cars that were imported from Japan. As a result, the city smells badly of car exhaust. Modernity can be seen everywhere. Cell phones and flat screens can be bought, but few people in Myanmar have pipes with running water.
Agriculture in Myanmar
Despite all the modernization measures, agriculture is still the most important. 55 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) is generated from it. Rice, sugar cane, legumes and millet are grown. Until 1945, Burma was actually the most important export country for rice. The inhabitants of Myanmar need these cultivated fruits to a large extent themselves. In addition to rice, they also export peanuts, jute and cotton. Agriculture often has to struggle with nature, as natural disasters repeatedly destroy crops.
The thing about poppies: why is poppy grown in Myanmar?
An important cultivation product is the poppy. However, it is not intended for the delicious poppy seed rolls that you may know, but drugs such as opium or heroin are also processed from poppy seeds. Criminals earn a lot of money with it. Myanmar belongs to the so-called “Golden Triangle”, which lies on the border with Laos and Thailand. A lot of poppy seeds are grown in this triangle, which is later processed into drugs.
