Rainforest Playgrounds.

REMOTE-sensing images; SOCIAL networks; RESEARCH personnel; RAIN forests; GORILLA (Genus)

The article in Scientific American discusses the discovery of extensive clearings called bais in the rainforests of the Republic of the Congo, where elephants, gorillas, and other animals gather to forage and maintain social networks. Researchers used drone surveys and AI processing to map over 2,000 bais, which are crucial meeting spots for endangered mammals. The study sheds light on the importance of these clearings for animal conservation and raises questions about their formation and sustainability in the face of threats like poaching and climate change. [Extracted from the article]

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