Rainforest - The Understorey

Treasury of Life

A 50 sqm large habitat diorama with a lifelike reproduction of the UNDERSTOREY of an African lowland rainforest invites the visitors to playfully discover the diversity of animal and plant species living here.

Audio stations point out special relationships between the diverse rainforest dwellers.

At several places all across the exhibition one "stumbles" upon the ecologically significant driver ants. On a Rainforest Bai forest elephants are getting alive by a glance through the telescopes. And the information sign at the “entrance” to the National Park invites visitors to a chimpanzee tracking tour.

 A walk-in strangler fig leads from the UNDERSTOREY at the ground floor of the museum directly to the second part of the Rainforest Exhibit on the first floor: an equally lifelike presentation of the RAINFOREST CANOPY.

Rainforest treefall gap with Mandrill

Tropical rainforests are among the most important ecosystems on Earth. As a comprehensive carbon storage they play a central role in the global climate. Although they cover less than 7% of the land area, they probably harbour more than 60% of the world's species. A multitude of these already provide important resources to mankind. Undoubtedly, there are numerous further, still undiscovered treasures slumbering here.

Driver ants and ant-following birds.