Africa, as a continent, has one of the highest numbers of animals and creatures you don’t get to see just anywhere. They are unique and, most of the time serve as tourist attractions. But, these wildlife creatures are endangered and on the verge of being ultimately faced off from the earth due to human invasion. Therefore, something must be done, and this is too fast to keep and preserve them.
Below are ten African animals that are at risk and close to extinction:
Gorillas and Chimpanzees
These are a set of animal species that have been in existence for years. But, in the few years to come, they might not be existing anymore; this is because the thick and vast forests where they inhabit, where they were safe and protected have been invaded and taken over by humans who fell trees for construction and many other purposes. If these species are moved to a secure location, a forest where they can live without human invasion, they can live years upon years and continue to exist.
African Wild Dog
This is also known as the African hunting dog. These species of dogs are at risk of being wholly eradicated from the face of the earth. As a carnivore, it is also prey for other bigger animals like the lion and hyenas. It is gradually facing off due to diseases, illegal hunting for the usage of the land by humans, and the killing of wild dogs. In some cases, there are also human carnivores who capture these animals and use them as meat.
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros are herbivore animals found mostly around Africa and some parts of Asia. They have long protruding horned noses or snouts that look like the trunk of an elephant but are not as long, and theirs is a horn with very thick skin like a hippo. The horn of the mammal is believed to be medicinal in treating fevers, gout, and other ailments; they are also used as trophies and other ornaments, so these mammals are hunted and at significant risk of going extinct.
Golden Mole
Golden Mole is a small creature that lives in the sand underground as low as four feet down. It has no visible eyes, which are all covered up with fur and skin, no visible ears or tail with very short limbs with two powerful and long claws. The golden mole feeds on lizards, earthworms, and insects. They usually come out of their shelter after heavy rainfalls because they don’t like clay. Out of the 21 species of golden mole, no fewer than 11 are threatened with extinction. They are at a risk of facing out due to poor agricultural practices, digging out of sand or mining, development of places and domestic animals like cats and dogs feeding on the moles.
Green Sea turtle
Green Sea Turtle is a sea animal that travels distances in water and migrates there to feed and find suitable places to hatch their eggs. They usually go out of beaches, create a nest by digging into the sand and lay their eggs there at night. The mature turtles mostly live in shallow lagoons and feed on seagrass. The green sea turtle is close to becoming extinct because they get slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells. Also, the destruction of their habitat causes their extinction; changes in the climate also tend to affect where they make their nests. When fishing, the turtles could be caught accidentally. This is another reason for their extinction.
Ethiopian Wolf
The dog-like carnivore is found in the Ethiopian region of Africa, with an estimate of about 500 of them remaining in the whole African continent. It is close to extinction because its habitat has been taken over and made into farmlands. Also, diseases it contracts from domestic dogs make it prone to a shorter life span and total extinction.
Also read: 10 Culturally Significant Plants Around The World
Hooded Vulture
This specie of vultures is distinctive from other vultures; they are smaller and have thinner beaks than other species. As much as it seems that vultures generally don’t have any exciting thing or feature about them or don’t have any use for and in the environment, they do. They altogether remove the remains of dead or killed animals, so this helps in reducing diseases that can affect other living things. Without the vulture, diseases will ravage and destroy other living things. But, these species, the hooded vulture, are close to extinction due to a high rate of poisoning incidents in the air and around their habitats.
Hooded Vulture is Critically Endangered with Conservation Status 3.1
Rothschild’s Giraffe
The giraffe is the tallest mammal or land animal on earth at about 16.4 to 19.7 feet (ca. 6 m) and is close to being faced off from the face of the planet. It is mostly found in the west part of Kenya and the eastern part of Uganda. Poaching and illegal hunting in its habitat which has led to the loss of the habitat.
Rothschild’s Giraffe is Critically Endangered with Conservation Status 31
African Penguin
This is also called Cape Penguin and is found in Cape Town and restricted to the waters in Cape Town. Like other penguins, they move on feet and do not fly; their only distinctive features are that the African Penguins are smaller in size and have pink skin over their eyes that helps them adapt and survive in the warm waters of South Africa. It is on a sad note that these enchanting friendly species are going extinct due to some human-caused activities — oil spillage and pollution of their habitat, commercial fishing where they get entrapped in the process or die in search of fish to feed on; also, their eggs been taken as food are all causes of their extinction.
Pangolin
The Pangolin is a land animal found in the sub-Saharan region. They inhabit deep tree trunks or burrows. The fully scaled animal feeds on ants, insects, and termites by catching them with its long tongue. These harmless and gentle animals roll up into a ball to defend and protect themselves from predators, but not enough to protect themselves from humans. The Chinese use their scales as medicines, so their habitats are encroached on, and they are captured and killed. They are also eaten in most African Countries.
There is a need to save and conserve these wildlife species close to extinction. Especially during the World Environment Day 2020 Celebration. Help save them and keep them from facing off the earth forever.
