What You Can't Eat In The Congo
When in the Congo jungle, there are animals and plants that you can't eat. In the Congo it is crucial to know what types of plants and animals is which. To begin with you really aren't supposed to eat animals period. But, here I will list some of the animals you really can't eat and why. For example, frogs, you may think and you can eat them, but there many types that are poisonous to humans. Scroll down to find out what you can't eat in the Congo.
ChimpanzeesWhile it is possible to eat chimpanzees and the other types of monkeys that live in the jungle it is illegal to do so. The chimps are an endangered species and are protected by law.
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scorpiansIn some places it is a delicacy and a tasty snack, but they are also dangerous creatures that are poisonous. While you can eat these insects it can be dangerous, unless you know how to get rid of all the poison within them.
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FrogsFrog legs anyone? While you can eat some of the frogs in the Congo it would be best not to. Why? Because some are poisonous! Sometimes it can be hard to tell which frog is what kind so it would be in your best interest not to eat them.
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RoachesYou can eat roaches if you want to, but some people are allergic to them. Not to mention some carry bacteria and disease. If you aren't sure whether or not you are allergic and want to play it safe, we suggest not to eat them.
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BatsA nocturnal creature and lives in caves. You can eat these creatures but they are thought to be the source of Ebola and some are endangered species.
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RatsThe cheese eating monster that everyone knows and doesn't love. Even though these rats aren't from the sewer they still can carry disease and germs. In other words eat at your own risk.
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Plants You Can't Eat In The Congo
The best way to tell whether or not a plant is poisonous is to see of it has any of the following qualities: Milky or discolored sap, beans, bulbs or seeds inside pods, a bitter or soapy taste, spines, fine hairs or thorns, dill, carrot, parsnip or parsley-like foliage, an ""almond"" scent in woody parts and leaves, grain heads with pink, purplish or black Spurs or three-leafed growth pattern.
*Castor bean, a short green plant with red flowers, all parts of the plant are toxic, it is very dangerous to eat them
* Chinaberry, a tall tree with purple reddish wood, the plant grows yellow berries and like the Castor Bean plant is toxic. * Manchineel, a tree with green leaves as well as green fruit if you even touch the berry, tree, or leaves it can kill you. * Lantanas, a bright red, orange, yellow, and pink flower that is potentially lethal. * Oleander, a pink flower that is potentially toxic in all areas of the plant. * Pangi, a tree with green leaves and brown fruit that look like kiwis, all parts are poisonous, especially the fruit and seeds which contains toxic levels of hydrogen cyanide. They can only be made edible if you ferment them * Physic nut, a green shrub that grow yellow and green seed pods, is lethal to humans and animals. * Poison and water hemlocks, a plant that grows small white flowers, is often mistaken for medicine plants, they grow near the water. * Rosary pea, a long vine with red berries. While these berries may look delicious if humans eat a single bite it can be fatal. * Strychnine tree, a small tree with fruits that look somewhat like oranges, but don't be fooled these fruits are poisonous to humans. |
Within the Congo there are many types of diseases you can catch. You can never be too careful when dealing with animals, plants or anything that can possibly be infected with something. You must even be careful and aware of mosquitos, one type is responsible for giving people malaria. It is also hard to find cures within the Congo. If you are going into the Congo it is advised that you take all the nessisary shots and more just to be safe.
Possibly Ebola, An incurable disease that will kill you, there is no known cure for this. You catch it by eating the dead carcass of animals that was infected, such as a bat.
Rabies, Caught from an infected animal's saliva, most animals with rabies will foam at the mouth and bite you, you will die a few days after you get the bite. While there is no actual way to cure this while you are in the Congo, it is best to clean out the wound and make sure to get help as soon as possible.
Dengue Fever, Caught from Mosquitos will give you severe headache and fever, with a 5% chance of dying. There is no specific cure for this disease, however it is best to hydrate yourself, make sure you don't any more mosquito bites and to stay in bed and rest. Depending on how bad your symptoms are you may have to go to the emergency room.
Malaria, Caught from the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. First you get a fever, chills, you start sweating and eventually get anemia. You can then possibly die depending on your condition. There is one way to treat malaria while in the Congo, quinine sap, other wise you have to go see a doctor or go to the ER deposing on your situation.
Trypanosomiasis-gambiense, known as the sleeping sickness. This diseases is deathly and can kill you without any treatment. Even with treatment there is still a chance you won't survive. There are no ways to prevent this nor any cures within the Congo. The cure for the sleeping sickness is poisonous to humans without this disease.
Schistosomiasis, a deadly illness that can kill you if let untreated. This disease originates from fresh water snails. Depending on where the worms from this disease are it can cause serious damage, such as tearing bladders and kidneys. However there is a cure for this, just not in the Congo. You'd have to get out of the Congo quickly and get help.
Rabies, Caught from an infected animal's saliva, most animals with rabies will foam at the mouth and bite you, you will die a few days after you get the bite. While there is no actual way to cure this while you are in the Congo, it is best to clean out the wound and make sure to get help as soon as possible.
Dengue Fever, Caught from Mosquitos will give you severe headache and fever, with a 5% chance of dying. There is no specific cure for this disease, however it is best to hydrate yourself, make sure you don't any more mosquito bites and to stay in bed and rest. Depending on how bad your symptoms are you may have to go to the emergency room.
Malaria, Caught from the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. First you get a fever, chills, you start sweating and eventually get anemia. You can then possibly die depending on your condition. There is one way to treat malaria while in the Congo, quinine sap, other wise you have to go see a doctor or go to the ER deposing on your situation.
Trypanosomiasis-gambiense, known as the sleeping sickness. This diseases is deathly and can kill you without any treatment. Even with treatment there is still a chance you won't survive. There are no ways to prevent this nor any cures within the Congo. The cure for the sleeping sickness is poisonous to humans without this disease.
Schistosomiasis, a deadly illness that can kill you if let untreated. This disease originates from fresh water snails. Depending on where the worms from this disease are it can cause serious damage, such as tearing bladders and kidneys. However there is a cure for this, just not in the Congo. You'd have to get out of the Congo quickly and get help.
How To Find And Build A shelter
When in the Congo and looking for a shelter you can either find a inhabited cave or you can stay in the trees. You could also build yourself a shelter such as the ones below.