Page 26 - SST Class 05

Indian counterpart. The tsetse fly spreads sleeping sickness. The okapi is a rare kind of
giraffe. The Congo peacocks are found only in this region. In addition to these, there is
found a large variety of colourful birds, butterflies, bees etc.

Owing to unrest and military conflict in Congo, wildlife is at a grave risk and is
disappearing fast. In addition to endangering wildlife, other threats to wildlife in
Congo include deforestation, water pollution and mining.

Know It!

v Owing to its amazing variety of fauna, Congo is called the natural zoo of the world .

Lifestyle

The population of Congo is about 9.19 million. A large part of its population lives in
villages, where people live in huts. Many people have migrated to towns to work in
mines and factories. In urban areas, people live in houses made from mortar and brick.

There are five official languages in Congo, two of which are more important. French is
the most used one. In addition, several other dialects and languages are spoken in
different areas of the country.

Several ethnic groups live in Congo. The majority of them are the Bantu peoples. They
are Negroes with a strong and tall physique. They speak the Bantu language. The other
,
ethnic groups include Mongo Luba and Kongo
peoples. The Pygmies are believed to be the
original inhabitants of Congo. They lead a
primitive life in the lap of the thickest forests.
They are short in height, about 1.2 metres to 1.4

metres tall. They have a dark skin, curly brown
hair and a strong body. Their main occupations
include hunting, gathering food and nomadic
agriculture. They are excellent hunters. They carry
Pygmies of Congo

26 Contemporary Social Science-5