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March 18, 2016The 10 Most Stunning National Parks in Africa 2015
March 21, 2016Africa is one of the richest continents in flora, fauna and avi-fauna. Unfortunately, some species of animals are at risk of extinction due to human greed. Take a safari in Africa to see some of the critically endangered animal species. The good news is that the governments of African countries where the endangered and critically endangered animals live have put several strategies to conserve them. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), below is the list of the 10 most endangered animals in Africa as of 2015.
Africa is one of the richest continents in flora, fauna and avi-fauna. Unfortunately, some species of animals are at risk of extinction due to human greed. Take a safari in Africa to see some of the critically endangered animal species. The good news is that the governments of African countries where the endangered and critically endangered animals live have put several strategies to conserve them. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), below is the list of the 10 most endangered animals in Africa as of 2015.
10) Chimpanzee
These are found ONLY in Africa and endangered since 1996. Today, they are around one hundred and fifty thousand only found in the wild. Chimpanzees are extinct in some countries like Burkina Faso, Gambia, Benin and Togo. They are found from Southern Senegal across the forested belt north of the Congo River to Western Uganda (Kibale, Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks as well as Karinzu Forest reserve) and in western Tanzania in Gombe National Park, Africa’s first Park created specifically for chimpanzees. They attract many tourists into Africa especially in Uganda and Tanzania where we have habituated chimpanzee groups for tourism purposes. In other words, Chimpanzee tracking and Habituation experience is one of the tour activities attracting tourists into Africa.
9) African Penguin
The African penguin is endangered since 2012 and their population is rapidly decreasing up to today with only fifty two thousand mature individuals. We find them on the south-western coast of African 24 Islands in Namibia and Algoa Bay, East of Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
8) African Wild Dog
These are endangered since 1990, with only 3000 – 5500 left in the wild. We find them in countries like Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The major threats to the existence of African Wild Dogs include on-going habitat fragmentation, conflict with humans and infectious diseases.
7) Grevy’s Zebra
This endangered since 1986 and it is the largest and most endangered zebra species with less than 2.000 Grevy’s zebras left in the whole world. Grevy’s zebras live in Southern part of Ethiopia, and in northern Kenya. The major threats to their existence include hunting, habitat degradation, diseases, reduced water sources, loss from over grazing and loss from competition for natural resources leading to their death.
6) Rothschild’s Giraffe
Considered as one of the tallest giraffes and endangered since 2010 and today, we find less than 700 individuals in the wild. Rothschild’s giraffes can be an astonishing 20 feet in height and weight about 2,500 pounds with the males weighing more than the females by several hundred pounds. Their threats are poaching, population segregation, loss of habitat and human-wildlife clash.
5) Ethiopia Wolf
These are endangered since 2004 with less than 500 individuals left in the wild. The major threats to Ethiopian Wolves are; road killings, shooting, Rabies, climate warming and loss of habitat. They are to the blink of extinction.
4) Black Rhino (critically endangered)
Black Rhino is a critically endangered species since 1996 with only four thousand and nine hundred in the world today. In Africa, Black Rhinos are found in Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Malawi and Botswana. The main threats to Black Rhinos include human activities such as encroaching to their habitat and poaching.
3) Mountain Gorillas (Critically endangered)
The mountain gorilla is a subspecies of the endangered Eastern gorilla and critically endangered since 1996. According to the 2011 gorilla census, they are less than 900 left in the wild. Half of the Mountain gorilla population is found in the Virunga ranges, a chain of volcanic mountains shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo and the rest of the population is found in the Impenetrable Forests of Bwindi National Park in South Western Uganda. If you want to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, book a gorilla tour to parks like; Virunga National park in DR Congo, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Mgahinga National park and Bwindi impenetrable forest in Uganda. The main threats to Mountain gorilla population include human diseases and human activities like hunting and encroachment to their habitat.
2) Northern White Rhino (Critically Endangered)
The Northern white Rhino is endangered since 1996 and believed to become extinct in the next 10 years if no measures taken to conserve them! It is unbelievable that ONLY five (05) Northern white rhinos live today. They are formerly found in parts of north-western Uganda, North-Eastern DRC, Lake Chad, Southern South Sudan, Cameroon and Eastern Central African Republique.
1) The Riverine Rabbit (Critically endangered since 2003)
This is Africa’s most endangered species, only two hundred fifty left in the world today, found in South Africa. He major threats to their existence include accidental deaths, human activities like hunting and loss of their habitat.
