As Kenya is home to a diverse array of ecosystems and ecological zones including forest, grassland, scrubland, dry woodland, inland aquatic, coastal and marine areas, a wide variety of fascinating Wildlife in Kenya can be found throughout the country. However, many of these species have very restricted ranges and are threatened by human activities like agriculture, dam construction, livestock grazing, and deforestation, in addition to poaching, the exotic pet trade, and climate change.
With over 400 recorded mammal species, Kenya is second only to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa and tenth in the world. An endemic species is one whose habitat is unique to a defined geographical location, such as a country, an island or a defined zone of analysis. Endemism is different from indigenous or native species in that the latter is also found elsewhere. With tourism being a major foreign exchange earner in Kenya, it is important that the country preserve and maintain it’s rich bio diversity being the main facet that attracts tourists. We believe that tourism can effectively provide the incentive for promoting wildlife conservation, by visiting some of these isolated habitats thus providing economic incentive for their protection and also providing revenues to continue supporting conservation efforts.
Here we highlight the plight of 4 endemic and endangered mammal species in Kenya:
Eastern Black Rhino
The eastern black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) is a critically endangered subspecies of the black rhino. While it used to be found as far north as Sudan and across the Horn of Africa, it has survived only in Kenya and Tanzania. It has been reintroduced in Rwanda, and a small population is also found in South Africa, helped by assisted colonisation—the intentional release of a species outside its original range. The main threat to eastern black rhinos is poaching to acquire their horns for illegal trade. There are only about 583 of these rhinos left in the wild.
Pancake Tortoise
The pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) is found in isolated pockets of Kenya, Tanzania, and northeastern Zambia, including in Serengeti National Park. It’s named after the flat shape of its shell, which is thin and flexible. These tortoises are about 15 centimetres (6 inches) long.
These tortoises were first assessed as critically endangered in 2018. The biggest threat to their survival is the exotic pet trade. The destruction of rocks is also contributing to the degradation of their habitat, as pancake tortoises often make their homes in rocky areas like inland cliffs and mountain peaks.
Hirola
One of the world’s rarest and most endangered antelope, the Hirola is endemic to north-east Kenya and south-west Somalia. The Somalian population is believed to be extinct. The Hirola is slender with a sandy colored coat, male Hirolas however turn a shade of gray as they age. The have an elongated face, long legs and a short neck. A white line, or chevron, passes from one eye to the other across the forehead, giving the Hirola a bespectacled appearance. The Hirolas are well adapted to their hot arid plains habitat that are characterized by short grass and dry acacia bush. They use their large molars to chew the coarse grass.
The Hirola can go for long periods without drinking water, and handily survives drought by storing extra fat in its body in the Wildlife in Kenya. Hirolas feed mostly at dawn and dusk thus avoiding unnecessary energy sapping activity. Their range, a restricted area of approximately 7,600 km2 along the border of Kenya and Somalia is well outside any official or gazette national parks, thus increasing their vulnerability especially to hunting and habitat encroachment. Once common throughout East Africa, the species has suffered a devastating decline in the last 30 years, with numbers plummeting from around 14,000 in the 1970s to an estimated less than 500 today.
Rothschild’s giraffe
Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) is a giraffe subspecies found in Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan. It is classed as near threatened by the IUCN, but it is one of the most endangered giraffe populations. There are fewer than 1,400 of these giraffes left in the wild. Illegal hunting, agriculture, human encroachment, and destruction of its habitat in the Wildlife in Kenya have pushed Rothschild’s giraffe out of most of its historical range.
Contribute to responsible tourism and plan your next East Africa Holidays
We are the locals and experts of East Africa and are here to help you plan your holidays! Reach out today for your very own wildlife safari experience involving great migration experiences and endangered species, come with your family and loved ones. The parks and reserves in Kenya are home to an incredible array of animals, including lions, elephants, leopards, zebras, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos and many, many more, alongside top-notch lodges and private villas perfect for solo travelers, couples, families, and large or small groups. There is no greater gift you can give yourself or your loved ones than time together in the wild.
Reach out to us today!
Email: info@goldenluxeexpeditions.com or goldenluxeexpeditions@gmail.com
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