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Explorer’s Handbook
what’s inside... your kit 6
Getting There 8
River Expedition 10
Jaguar Alert!
18
Carnivorous Plants 20
Jungle Puzzles 22
Helicopter Rescue 24
Real-Life Explorer
12
Deadly Record Breakers
26
14
28
Enter the Danger Zone! 16
Survival Camp 2
Would YOU Survive in the Jungle?
ndrés! Meet A
Try It! 30
Win a FAMILY TRIP TO THE RAINFOREST!
Could YO U win?
Images from ‘Real-Life Explorer’ © Devlin Gandy / Sofia Ruzo/ Andrés Ruzo. All other photographs © Getty Images.
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Welcome to the Jungl e!
You’re about to vent ur and challenging – e into one of the most exhilarating – environments on Ea rth. Deep inside th ancient tangle of lu is sh green foliage, yo u’ll face swarms of bloodthirsty in se cts , near-constant rain The overwhelming heat and . Towering trees for AMAZON IS ma dense canopy that blocks out most of THE world’s the sunlight, and dang erous predators lur largest k in th e damp dark unde rainforest - IT rgrowth. COVERS ABOUT But this seemingly ho stile world let’s go! 40% OF South is teeming with spec tacular America! wildlife! Although rainforests cover jus of the world’s land su t 6% rface, over half the world ’s animal species live here, from poiso nous frogs and flesh-chomping fi sh to powerful jaguars and deadly snakes. Essential resources like food s, sp and materials are als ices, medicines o jungles. And there’s found in these still much more to disco so ver! Inside this handbo ok you’ll find everything you need to know to survive in this incredible Rainforests ecosystem. are like the Are you ready for an adventure?
Earth’s lungs – they help purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide!
YOUR KIT Packing the right gear is vital for a successful adventure. Here are the essentials for staying alive in the jungle… Use a compasS to figure out which way you’re heading, and to locate your position on a map.
Insect protection
They might be tiny, but blood-sucking mosquitoes cause over a million deaths each year by transmitting diseases. Use nets deadly diseases and mosquito repellent to keep them at bay. And don’t scratch itchy bites!
HOW a compass WORKS
How to
The Earth is like a giant magnet. All compasses have a free-spinning magnetised needle which always lines up with the Earth’s magnetic North Pole. Once you know which direction is north, you can figure out south, east and west!
Dress for the jungle Lightweight clothes
Go for long sleeves and trousers to protect limbs from bites and scratches. 4
Waterproof COAT
A simple poncho also doubles as a ground mat and water catcher. Clever!
Water treatment
Rainforests get extremely humid, so prepare to sweat – a lot! You’ll need to drink at least three litres a day to replace lost fluids. Purification tablets will remove nasty germs from river or rainwater, so you can stay hydrated if supplies run out.
ZIPLOCK Plastic bagS
A MACHETE is the most vital part of your kiT! YOU’lL use it to hack paths through the jungle, build shelters, cut firewoOd and prepare foOd. So keEp it sharp!
Keep water and insects off your kit!
lighter
Start a fire at the flick of a switch with a handy lighter.
Machete
Jungle boots
Choose a quick-drying pair of boots with sturdy rubber soles, deep treads and high ankles.
Wide-brimmed hat The right hat will keep rain off your face and stop bugs dropping down your neck!
Getting Th Zoom across rocky dirt roads and treacherous swamps in off-road vehicles specially designed for tropical terrain…
Caterpillar tracks
Wide, continuous tracks spread the truck’s weight so it can power across soft or muddy ground without sinking.
Get ready to rolL!
How to
DRIVE OFF-ROAD 6
Tyres
Deep tread patterns grip tightly to uneven surfaces such as mud, rocks and boulders.
Approach boulders, logs and diagonally, not head-on. 1 ditches Try to always keep three 2 wheels on the ground. check what’s over the other side before driving up hills. 3 Always crossing water, find out its depth – don’t cross deep, fast-flowing streams. 4 Before
here
Snorkel
Light bar
A row of lights high above the cab illuminates a wide area so hazards and nocturnal creatures can be spotted in the darkness.
SUCK IT UP!
Engines need air and don’t like getting wet – a problem when driving through swamps! But a snorkel allows the engine to suck in air, even when underwater.
Dirt bike
Powerful, nimble and lightweight, these off-road motorbikes scramble around at speeds of up to 200kmph.
THE ORIGINAL JEEP
Nicknamed the ‘‘Jeep’, the Willys MB was one of the first mass-produced allterrain vehicles. Made between 1941 and 1945, it was developed for use by the U.S. Army during World War II. 7
River Expe To get deeper into the jungle, it’s best to travel by boat – but the murky waters are full of dangers! Meet some ferocious creatures from the Amazon River…
Cover any cuts before entering the water piranhas can smelL bloOd!
x 188 Size Up to 6m long. Fearsome fact Cruising
Black ca iman
through the water at night using its thick tail and webbed feet, this incredible hunter can take down capybara and deer with ease. Although it mainly eats fish, attacks on people have also been reported. So stay alert!
How to
Wrestle a Caiman
Here’s how to pin down a caiman, alligator or crocodile in an emergency situation!
distract the caiman by 1 First chucking a T-shirt over its eyes!
your arms outstretched, leap on 2andWith its back from behind, pushing its neck head firmly towards the ground.
edition Red-bell ied piran ha x 10 Size 28-33cm long. Fearsome fact Famous for x 281 Size Up to 9m long. Fearsome fact The largest
Green anaconda
snake in the world, this monster predator can kill deer, caiman and even jaguars. It wraps its huge muscular body around victims and squeezes them to death. Then it opens its jaws wide to swallow them whole!
Use your legs to pin the 3caiman’s back legs
to its sides and raise them up. Now it won’t be able to roll over.
their razor-sharp teeth, shoals of hungry piranhas can enter into a feeding frenzy, tearing all the flesh from a large animal in minutes. But don’t panic – they usually only eat insects, plants or creatures that are already dead. Phew!
The red LEGO® kayak does not float in water. Do not try to wrestle a reptile in real life!
Cover its eyes with one hand and slide the other along its 4bottom jaw to clamp its mouth
closed at the tip. Move your other hand so both are now firmly gripping the jaw shut. Pull its head up. Result! 9
jAguar al Venturing into the rainforest, you’ll need to look out for the Amazon’s most powerful predator, the jaguar…
WORLD’S STRONGEST JAWS
A jaguar kills prey with just one skull-crunching bite. Strong teeth pierce bones and skin with ease.
LONGER THAN your bed At up to 2.4m in length, its the largest cat in the x 75 Americas.
BLACK PANTHERS
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Some very rare jaguars are born with dark fur. They’re called melanistic jaguars or black panthers.. Black leopards are also known as black panthers.
lert! MASTER OF DISGUISE Rosette-patterned fur allows this big cat to sneak up on victims undetected.
Jaguars live alone and prefer hunting at dawn and dusk.
If YOU seE one of these big guys, don’t run! INSTEAD, back away slowly. if IT chargeS, STAND FIRM, ShouT and wave your arms. STIlL COMING? Punch it on the nose!
CROC KILLERS!
Skilled swimmers swimmers, jaguars can power through rivers to caiman, turtles catch caiman and fish. They also pounce on deer monkeys. Eek! and monkeys 11
DEADLY
RECORD BR Keep your eyes peeled for dangerous beasts lurking in the undergrowth…
WORLD’S MOST TOXIC FROG!
GOLDEN POISON DART FROG
Lives A small area of remote rainforest in Colombia. Size 2.5cm on average –
smaller than a LEGO® brick!
Fearsome fact Tiny but lethal, one of these frogs has enough poison to kill ten men in three minutes – whoa! Local hunters once used the toxin on their darts.
actual size!
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REAKERS
WORLD’S FASTEST LAND SNAKE!
BLACK MAMBA
Lives Sub-Saharan Africa, from tropical forests to dry savannah. x 140 Size Up to 4.5m long. Fearsome fact Fast and agile,
a black mamba pursues prey at up to 20kmph,, before striking repeatedly. It can raise a third of its body off the ground and its bite is deadly to humans. humans. Argh!
THEre are more than 100 types of dart frog – the MOST COLOURFUL ones ARE THE DEADLiest!
WHO NEEDS A NOSE?
The mamba’s black forked tongue is used to ‘smell’ prey such as bats, birds and bushbabies.
Brazilian wandering spider
Lives South American rainforests. x 4.5 Size Up to 15cm. Fearsome fact At night this
scary spider ‘wanders’ the jungle floor searching for prey. It injects toxins into its victims, causing extreme pain, swelling, paralysis and even heart attacks. Luckily, there’s an anti-venom. Phew!
WORLD’S MOST VENOMOUS SPIDER!
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Enter the
DANGER ZO ge 29 answers on pa
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ONE
Can you find all the life-threatening animals in this jungle scene? X X
2 3
X X
6 9
Survival C It’s too tricky to travel after sunset, so find a natural clearing away from the river and set up a place to rest for the night…
Get A GOOD NIGHT’S KIP
QUENCH YOUR THIRST
Is it safe? Scan the floor for ants or snakes, and look out for rotten branches. Check for animal tracks – you don’t want to be in their path!
Collect rain! Spread your poncho
Rise up! The ground may be crawling
Track animals! Plant-eating creatures such as deer are never far from water. Follow well-worn tracks to lead you there.
Stay dry! Make sure you have two
Purify! Make a fire and boil all water for ten minutes to make it safe, or use purification tablets. Never drink untreated water, no matter how clean it looks.
Top tips for a decent snooze!
with biting bugs, so snooze in a hammock, or build a simple raised platform. Cover yourself with a net. sets of clothes – one for night and one for day. Before bed, hang up your drenched walking clothes and get into the comfy dry set. Snug!
Luckily, rainforests are full of H0! between two branches and put a small stone in the middle. Once the rain starts, it’ll form a pool.
Real-life
SURVIVORS THE GIRL WHO FELL FROM THE SKY
After her plane was struck by lightning in 1971, Juliane Koepcke awoke to find herself alone in the Peruvian rainforest. Incredibly, the 17-year-old had survived a 3km fall! When helicopters failed to spot the wreckage, Juliane knew her best bet was to follow a stream – it would lead to a river and then, hopefully, people. Wading in the water to avoid snakes, after 10 days she reached a hut where she was found. A small amount of survival knowledge had saved her life! 16
Camp! LOOK OUT FOR LAND LEECHES!
HolLow vines may be fulL of drinking water! First slash them to check no milky sap oOzes out. If the liquid is clear, cut the vine and colLect the wet stufF! Don’t let the vine touch your mouth.
The jungle is full of these pesky little bloodsuckers, who bloodsuckers clamp on to skin with three sets of jaws! A painkiller in their saliva means you won’t feel a thing until they’ve slurped their fill. So keep your skin covered up!
LOST IN THE AMAZON
In 2007, pals Loic Pillois and Guilhem Nayral lost their way on a trek through the Amazon in French Guiana. They stayed alive for seven weeks by scoffing cooked tarantulas, frogs, turtles and centipedes! tarantulas
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Carnivorou
Flesh-gobbling greens are for real! Flies, spiders and other small animals all fall victim to these predatory plants. Check out three terrifying types!
ap flytr s u Ven
Grows Bogs and swamplands on the east coast of the USA.
Fearsome fact The jagged
jaws of this green meany can snap shut on insects in a tenth of a second! As the trapped prey wiggles around, the two ‘lobes’ squeeze tighter together, releasing chemicals that digest it alive! Yikes!
Over 630 species of carnivorous plants grow around the world!
us plants Grows All continents except Antarctica. They like bogs.
Fearsome fact Don’t be fooled
by the sundew’s jewel-like blobs – they’re a deathtrap for insects that get stuck in the glistening goo! Tentacles curl around the struggling victim, then the leaf folds around it too, oozing fluids that dissolve the body. Eek!
Sundew
Grows Jungle marshes in
Southeast Asia, India, Australia and the Americas.
Fearsome fact Victims are
Pitcher plan t
lured to nectar on the plant’s lid or rim, then lose their grip on the slippery sides, tumbling into the liquid-filled funnel. Digestive acids turn the insects into a nutrient soup. Yum!
Pitcher plants can be a goOd place to find water – but boil it BEFORE DRINKING, and remove any dead flies! 19
Jungle Puz Wrong-turn worries!
Uh-oh! You’re lost in the rainforest. Can you find your way back to the mobile lab?
start
finish
20
zzles
ge 29 answers on pa
FOOD FINDER
If rations run out, knowing what food is OK to eat could keep you alive. Which of the following things are safe to gobble?
1 GRUBS
ANIMAL I.D.
Can you identify these jungle creatures from their close-ups? Use the scrambled letters to help. SAFE
A
DANGEROUS
2 MUSHROOMS
SAFE
NOTUAC
DANGEROUS
3 HAIRY CATERPILLARS B
rugaja
SAFE
DANGEROUS
SAFE
DANGEROUS
4 WILD FIGS
C NOPISO RTAD GROF
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HELICOPTER
You’ve lost your way in the jungle and supplies are running low – time to alert a rescue mission to your location!
First, Get visible!
Find a clearing, or head to higher ground so you can be seen. You could try the bank of a river or, if it’s safe, wade to the middle of a shallow creek creek.
create flashes! a phone, belt buckle or metalLic cup can be used insTead of a mirRor!
To signal your exact location to the helicopter crew, use a mirror to make bright flashes. Here’s how... Hold a small mirror level with your eyes and angle it upwards so the sunlight catches the surface. Direct the reflected sunlight onto your outstretched hand and then move your hand up to the sky. Create a V-shape with your fingers to view the helicopter through. Aim the light there so the pilot can see you, moving the mirror up and down to create flashes.
1 2 3
How to
MAKE SMOKE SIGNALS! No sign of a helicopter? Attract attention by creating clouds of billowing smoke! a basic fire 1yourBuild and light it with lighter. 22
it’s going, 2addOnce green leaves to produce smoke.
R RESCUE!
at nighT, light threE fires in a triangle about 30M apart. This is an international distresS signal!
the fire with a water-soaked blanket until the smoke stops 3rising.Cover Remove the blanket to let a cloud of smoke rise, then cover again. Repeat until there are three clouds.
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Meet a
Real-Life E
Andrés Ruzo is a National Geographic Explorer whose daring scientific missions led him to the heart of the Amazon. There, he came face to face with a mysterious ‘boiling’ river…
nearest active volcano is over 700km away! So far, our data tells us the Boiling River is not volcanic, but rather a large geothermal system. Simply put, waters flow deep into the earth, where they heat up, and ultimately shoot back to the surface to form the river. How did you find it? I spent two years asking experts and A local s Is the river looking around libraries and had totally Andrés tohaman allowed study th dangerous? given up. But then my aunt told me that e river Absolutely! she’d seen it with her own eyes! She People have died in it, and had worked with indigenous people who used the river to cook and make been badly burned. At some points tea! When she took me there I was the temperature can reach over 90ºC blown away – clear turquoise waters which would cause flow hot for over 6km,, with large, third-degree burns. deep steaming pools and When animals fall in, even waterfalls! they try to swim out but their muscles cook Why is it so hot? on the bone bone, so they Ancient legend says an lose power and slowly 18m serpent spirit named sink. Their eyes cook Yacumama birthed the hot quickly, turning a waters. In more modern times, milky white. The people assumed it was caused moral of the story ! ly d by a huge volcano. But the is – don’t fall in! be dea n a c r e The riv 24 Hey, Andrés! What made you want to go and explore the Amazon? When I was a boy, my grandfather told me a crazy legend about a mysterious lost city of gold hidden deep in the jungle. There were giant snakes that swallowed men whole and a river that boiled! Years later, when I became a geothermal scientist, I remembered this story and wanted to see if the legendary, sacred Boiling River actually existed…
Explorer AcCept that things wilL not go as planNed – the jungle has her own way of doing things and she is the bosS!
Can anything survive in there? Amazingly, yes! There are some very special life forms called extremophiles, which thrive in temperatures that would kill you and me! Most are algae or microbes that look like slime. Have you had a scary jungle experience? Yes! My team’s path was blocked by a rotten log, so we hacked at it to get past. But then a cloud of angry wasps flew out of the log! We ran as fast as we could, but our thin trail was right on the edge of the Boiling River! Fortunately, no one was seriously injured – but we were stung pretty badly.
Youch! What qualities do you need to become a jungle explorer? Using a to check thermal camera You must the temp be brave erature! enough to face the unknown, creative enough to think on your feet, and resourceful enough get the job done with the tools at hand. And finally – what advice would you give to young adventurers? Remember your ABCs… Always B Be Curious!
Head to LEGO.com/jungle for more real-life exploring!
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YOU
Would
survi
Test your new knowledge with a rainforest mission!
1
Which of the following items is the most important to pack? A
4
c
b
2
3
A fallen tree is blocking your vehicle’s route into the jungle. You… a) Charge towards it at full speed! b) Turn around and go home. c) Approach it diagonally.
You’re deep in the jungle when a jaguar appears through the trees! What do you do? a) Run for it! b) Back away slowly, making a noise. c) Lie on the ground and sob.
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5
6
You’re really peckish. How do you get a quick, safe snack in the jungle? a) Make a spear and go hunting. b) Look under rotting bark for juicy grubs. c) Pop to the supermarket.
It’s getting dark. Where do you camp? a) In a natural clearing. b) On the bank of a river. c) Right next to a big ant nest.
Your lighter’s broken! Which of the following could help you start a fire? a) Magnifying glass. b) Sausages. c) Walking boots.
For hints, read this handbook!
ive in the jungle? 7
9
You awake to find yourself covered in insect bites. What do you do? a) Scratch them. b) Ask your mum to kiss them better. c) Don’t scratch! Wash them and apply antiseptic cream.
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Your water supplies have run out, but luckily you spot a stream. What next? a) Gulp the water down quickly. b) The water could contain germs – after you’ve collected it, build a fire and boil for 10 minutes. c) Have a little paddle.
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You’re lost! A rescue mission should be here soon. But how can you alert them to your position? a) Spell out SOS using twigs on the ground. b) Sing loudly. c) Find a clearing and build a signal fire. It’s been two days and there’s still no sign of the helicopter. What’s the best way to find people? a) Find water and follow it downstream. b) Find water and follow it upstream. c) Find a waterfall and climb up it.
RESULTS Give yourself one point for each correct answer: 1. c , 2. c, 3. b, 4. b, 5. a, 6. a, 7. c, 8. b, 9. c, 10. a
9-10 POINTS
KING OF THE JUNGLE!
Adventurous and bold, you thrive in a rainforest environment and have all the skills and knowledge needed to stay safe on a jungle mission. High five!
6-8 POINTS
EXPLORER IN TRAINING
Not bad! You’re certainly brave enough for a wild adventure, but you need to sharpen your skills (and machete) so you don’t put yourself at risk.
3-5 POINTS
DANGER ZONE
Hey, did you actually read this handbook? Hmm, thought not! Head back to the beginning and start again so you’re prepared for action. Good luck!
0-2 POINTS
KING OF THE SOFA!
It might be best if you give the next jungle mission a miss – at least until you’ve brushed up on your survival skills! Right now, it’s unlikely you’d make it out of the forest alive…
Try it! Give these LEGO® City Jungle missions a go at home…
Create a compass! You need
● Needle ● Magnet ● Leaf ● Plastic dish of water
don’t get lost, dudes!
Stroke the magnet over the needle lots of times in one 1direction – this will magnetise it. the magnetised needle on a leaf floating on some water. 2MakePlace sure the magnet is far away. needle will spin round to point north-south. To work out the 3northThe end, use the position of the sun – it rises in the east and sets in the west.
Build a JUNGLE VEHICLE! Design or draw a cool rainforest vehicle! Will you make a bike, boat or buggy – or invent something completely new? Upload your creation using the LEGO® Life app!
Nature hunt
Head outdoors to your garden or local park. Your mission is to find the following…
calLing alL jungle detectives!
seEn it
seEn it
seEn it
seEn it
PUZZLE ANSWERS ENTER THE DANGER ZONE PAGE 14
seEn it
WRONGTURN WORRIES! PAGE 20
FOOD FINDER PAGE 21 1. SAFE – Find wood-boring larvae under bark and gobble them raw. They’re packed with protein and can be tasty. 2. DANGEROUS – Never ever eat mushrooms! Though some are safe, they’re hard to tell apart and chomping the wrong one could lead to instant death. 3. DANGEROUS – Never eat hairy or brightly colored insects! Bold colors warn of toxins, and hairs could sting. 4. SAFE – Most wild figs are edible. Only eat the ripe fruit.
ANIMAL I.D. PAGE 21 A. Toucan. B. Jaguar. C. Poison dart frog.
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WIN A FAMILY TRIP
TO THE RAINFOREST! ENTER AT LEGO.COM/JUNGLE Want to head to Costa Rica on a real-life jungle expedition? Check out our creative competition at LEGO.com/jungle
1 st PRIZE
If you’re the lucky winner, you and your family will head off with National Geographic Expeditions to the jungles of Costa Rica in Central America! You’ll explore the treetops and volcanic canyon landscapes of Río Blanco, go zip-lining through tropical forests surrounded by astonishing wildlife, visit a wild cat rescue centre to meet orphaned ocelots and jaguars, and dine in a tree house! Wow!
2 nd and 3rd prize
Two runners-up will scoop a range of LEGO® City Jungle Explorer sets! All winners will also win a subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine. Many will enter; only a few will win. No purchase necessary. The competition is brought to you by National Geographic Kids and LEGO System A/S and void where prohibited. The competition is open to residents of US, UK, Germany, Benelux, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Portugal, France, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and South Africa who are aged 6-16 years. The competition starts 1 June 2017 at 00:00 GMT and ends 30 November 2017 at 23:59 GMT. A jury will select the winners. Prizes: 1st prize 1 x family trip (4 persons) to Costa Rica; 2nd prize 1 x full LEGO® City Jungle assortment consisting of six (6) sets; 3rd prize 1 x LEGO® City Jungle assortment consisting of three (3) sets. The winners will be announced on LEGO.com/jungle on 8 January 2018.
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Find the official rules and more details about the prize at LEGO.com/jungle
jungle collection