Terrain Training Tuesday: The Jungle Part 3

Now weather in the jungle is harsh, and the one thing that you will get is lot’s and lot’s of rain. As a result the jungle is lush, full of greenery teaming with life. A quick fact is that jungles cover only 2% of the Earth’s surface but they account for 50% of all plants and animals. Now, all that life makes it both easier and more difficult to survive in the jungle. Because jungles are so wet, collecting rainwater is probably the easiest part of survival. Leaves on the rainforest floor are large because of the limited amount of sunlight they get. Large leaves are useful in collecting dew and rainwater. If you have a container to store water such as a plastic bag (which should be in your survival kit) or container, simply angle a leaf into it overnight or during a rainstorm and you have some fresh drinking water in no time. Fear not if it tastes a little funny, it's because rainwater lacks certain minerals found in groundwater or streams.  IF it bothers you a lot and you have the spare time, make a homemade filter:

Even better is if you can find a running water source. Animals need water, so look for wildlife or animal tracks to lead you to a stream. If you find a stream, don't just start drinking; it could contain parasites that can make you seriously ill. You should purify the water by boiling it over a fire --10 minutes is a good rule of thumb. Either that or if with other people hold off and either let someone else or goad your most challenging opponent into drinking it first and then just sit back and wait. Diabolical no?

Green bamboo has clear and odorless water inside it that you can drink. To access it, bend the top of a tree down about a foot off the ground and tie it off. Cut a few inches off the tip, put a container underneath and leave it overnight. The next day, you should have some drinkable water.

Now besides water, the other thing you'll need to survive in the jungle is food. Your dining choices will largely revolve around edible plants, fruit, insects and fish. It can be a bit hard trying to figure out the edible and non edible, especially once you run out of human guinea pigs, however you can follow these general rules when foraging for plants:

• Avoid plants with white or yellow berries.

• Don't eat mushrooms. Some are safe, but many are highly toxic and even deadly, so it's probably not worth the risk.

• Avoid plants with thorns.

• If it tastes bitter or soapy, spit it out.

• Steer clear of shiny leaves.

• Stay away from plants with leaves in groups of three.

• Stay away from plants with umbrella-shaped flowers.

• Avoid beans or plants with seeds inside a pod.

• Milky or discolored sap is a warning sign.

• Avoid anything with an almond smell.

ooooo...pretty mushrooms.....

Fruit can be found throughout the jungle. Depending on where you are, you can find everything from mangoes and bananas to coconuts to wild yams and sugarcane. 

Insects are another good source of protein. Unfortunately, there isn't a dead giveaway to tell if a bug is edible unless you know what you're doing. But there are some general guidelines you can use to help you decide:

• Steer clear of brightly colored insects.

• Avoid insects that are extremely pungent.

• Don't eat hairy critters or bugs that bite or sting.

ok, this one's a no no

Worms, grubs and termites are everywhere in the jungle and are all a great protein source. If you had fresh water, you could survive for months on insects alone. Beetles can also make for a hearty meal, but some carry parasites. A good way to make sure you're safe is to cook it. A good boiling or slow roast will usually negate the effect of harmful toxins.

yum yum yum! Open wide, here comes the HUGE protein filled insect!

So what if you want something with a bit more substance and cool hunting style? Stay tuned for next week when we find out how to make a spear Lord of the Flies style....