A number of Africa’s most famous, beloved and beautiful species are in rapid decline.
It is often shouted from the rooftops those animals that are listed as endangered or only have limited numbers left, and rightly so. However there are other species whose numbers, although appearing great in number, are fast being depleted. The population numbers of the ten animals and birds listed below are decreasing at a rapid rate and while they may not have the least numbers to top the “10 most endangered species list”, they are certainly facing population crashes with little hope predicted for the future.
1. Western lowland gorilla
The population of the magnificent Western lowland gorilla has seen a rapid decline which can be attributed to high levels of commercial hunting and the devastating Ebola virus. The population has quickly gone from absolute abundance to a decline of more than 60% in the past twenty years and with gorilla reproductive rates being extremely slow, there is little hope for recovery. Despite a large portion of the population living within protected areas, poaching poses a serious threat to the species. To add to the problem, experts suggest that within the next 20 to 30 years habitat loss will also pose a greater threat due to use of land for agriculture, timber extraction and mining.
2. Black Rhino
Throughout most of the 20th century, the black rhino boasted the largest population numbers of all the world’s rhinos with estimations lying at about 850 000 individuals. However by 1960 only about 100 000 individuals remained due to land clearances for human settlement and farming, large-scale poaching and relentless hunting of the species and between 1960 and 1995 the population decreased by a dramatic 95.6%. While numbers are steadily on the increase today, current estimations are still 90% lower than three generations ago with one of four sub-species now considered extinct.
3. African wild dog
African wild dogs have disappeared from much of their former range in recent years and a current population estimate lies at just 6 600, with only 1 400 mature individuals. Populations are declining due to human encroachment and the resultant habitat fragmentation, plus direct persecution and infectious disease carried by domestic dogs. This human conflict is unlikely to be reversible and in fact is no doubt going to increase in the coming years. As the African wild dog is known to roam large territories, only a few reserves are able to provide protection for the species. The African wild dog is virtually eradicated from North and West Africa, and greatly reduced populations remain in Central Africa and North-east Africa.
4. African lion
While these magnificent beasts once roamed large tracts of Africa and beyond, populations have crashed dramatically to an estimated 450 000 in the 1940s and less than 20 000 animals today. Extensive trophy hunting, persecution in defense of life and livestock, prey base depletion, habitat loss and isolated breeding populations place increasingly downward pressure on populations. Though a lot has been done to protect the lions, there is need to protect these predators in communities where national parks are sorrounded by the pastoralists.
Would you like to see the tree climbing lions in Africa? Why not book a safari to Uganda and get to see these unusual creatures hanging up in the fig trees of Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
5. African Elephant
Though there is still a good number of elephants in south and East Africa, elephant are threatened by the booming ivory trade in Asia. Elephants are becoming threatened with increased poaching in several countries including Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Sudan, DR Congo and Uganda. When it comes to war torn areas like South Sudan and DR Congo, the numbers of elephants are plummeted to a degree that if nothing done, these animals are becoming extinct in a few years.
