Top 10 Animals Nearing Extinction in Africa

The continent of Africa is a favorite destination for many tourists. The visit isn’t exactly because of the pristine beaches and the like. It is about animals.

With more than 1,100 different mammal species and over 2,600 species of birds, no other continent offers a diverse spectrum of wildlife in proximity like Africa.

The famous Africa Safari is usually for the thrill of seeing the Big 5 – the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and the buffalo. In fact, four of the five fastest animals alive on earth live in Africa.

There is one problem though, soon these animals will be extinct as most of them are affected by the harsh environment, poaching, among other reasons. Their numbers are gradually decreasing.

• Wild Dog

The wild dog is perhaps one of the most critically endangered carnivores in Africa. The population stands at 5000, of which a little over 1000 are adults.

The painted hunting dog live and hunt in packs. They are very social and spectacular. Human interference is partly to blame for their reduction in numbers.

• Mountain Gorilla

It is one of the subspecies of the eastern gorilla and is natives to central Africa regions including Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Mountain gorilla is critically endangered.

Despite numerous efforts to ensure their safety, these animals are far from saving. They are diminishing as a result of habitat loss, poaching, and war. By 2018, only about 800 mountain gorillas remained the world. The numbers have, however, slightly grown to about 1000.

• Black Rhino

They are among the most illegally poached animals in Africa. These eastern and central Africa natives are distinguished by an upper lip that is hooked and two or three horns used to dig for food. Their horns are used for international illegal trading.

By 2018, there were about 4000 black rhinos remaining in the world. Thanks to conservation efforts, today we have a population of 5,600. Nonetheless, three of its subspecies are already extinct.

• Cheetah

Known as the fastest animal in the world, this animal is part of the cat family and is sadly on the endangered list. Cheetahs are popular in the Savannah. They hunt by day and t