Growing up in Kenya, I had the opportunity to visit all the major national parks and game reserves of East Africa. At a very early age I had seen the animals in their wild habitat that most of the children see either in books or in the zoos. I had the chance to witness the Great Migration in Mara. It is a spectacle that needs to be experienced; it is something beyond description. When one talks of the wildlife of Kenya the lions, giraffe, zebra, elephant, cheetah etc. come to our mind. However, how many have heard of Sitatunga or Gerenuk or Hartebeest? Many of them are facing the threat of extinction.Here are some of the lesser known but facinating species of animals found in Eastern African regions.Sitatunga
It is a type of antelope found in the Saiwa Swamp National Park near Kitale in Kenya. The difference between Sitatunga and other antelops is that the Sitatungas dwel in the swampy areas. Their movement on the firm grounds is clumsy. Though they are not yet declared endangered, Sitatunga population is on the decline.Hartebeest
They are a very large species of antelope, weighing approximately 200 kilos. Hartebeest are found in the high altitudes of Mount Kenya at an elevation of about 13,000 ft. In Somalia they are also known as Hirola, which means 'good luck'. To the cattle herders of Somalia they have a spiritual significance. They believe that if the Hirola become extinct then their cattles will die too. Hartebeest or Hirola are currently categorized as endangered species.Tana River Mangabey
Tana River Mangabey have become an endangered primate due to their loss of habitat. Currently, only 1000 - 1200 are existing in the wild. They are found in the lower Tana River region of Kenya. Though they spend most of their waking hours on the ground, they prefer to sleep on the high branches.Mountain Bongo
Mountain Bongos are the largest among the forest antelops and were found in plenty in the forest regions of Mount Kenya and Mount Elgon. Their number, however, dwindled dramatically over past 4-5 decades due to loss of habitat, disease, and hunting. They had been hunted due to their beautiful coats. Their meat, though, is not edible because its consumption is believed to cause epileptic seizure. They have been declared critically endangered on the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list. Silver lining in the horizon is that their population is thriving in captivity.Grévy's zebra
The largest species of Zebra, the Grevy's Zebra is now one of the most endangered species. They are found in northern part of Kenya, and Ethiopia.In Ethiopia, the current population estimate is 126, over a 90% decrease from the estimated 1,900 in 1980. In Kenya, the situation is slightly better with 1600 - 2000 in the east of the Rift Valley and Lake Turkana, north of Mount Kenya and the Tana River. They have become completly extinct in regions of Somalia, and Eritrea. The decline was mainly due to hunting and loss of habitat.Ethiopian Wolf
It is wrongly believed that wolf does not exist in Africa. They do and are one of the rarest species of carnivorous animals. In 2004 they were declared critically endangered by the Ethiopian government. Today, only 400 remain in the wilds of Ethiopia. Their dwindling number is mainly due to agricultural and commercial farming that led to the loss of habitat. Contacting rabies from dogs herding the cattles also contributed to the reduction in their numbers.Rothschild's Giraffes
I remember seeing at the Giraffe Manor in the Langata suburb, 20 kilometers from Nairobi. That was way back in the early 90s. One of them had put its head through the open window of the dining hall, expecting some treat. These friendly and gentle animal are the tallest land animals and are declared in 2010. Only 670 now exist in the wilds. They are found mainly in Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya and Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda.Conservation Measures
Unfortunately, the wildlife of Africa are under threat due to human activities. The loss of habitat and poaching are increasingly threatening to wipe out the wildlife of Eastern Africa. Different conservation societies such as African Conservation Foundation, Africa Network for Animal Welfare, Amara Conservation and many more are working to protect endangered wildlfe and their habitats by addressing the root cause. These organisations are aiming to build community awareness and stem the poaching activities.A number of conservation projects are going on in different parts of Africa to create a collaborative network of self-sustaining community-led conservation initiatives. One example is Predator Compensation Fund that was created to compensate the loss of livestock of the Masai people who often resorted to killing big games if their cattles were hunted. This was a common problem in the area surrounding the north of Mount Kilimanjaro. Lion killings have been found to drop by 90% since the compensation program started.
Comments