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Black rhinos are among the endangered species in Kenya

Endangered Species in Kenya: Plants and Animals

By David Okul

Endangered species in Kenya are part of the biodiversity that provides a variety of environmental goods and services. The biodiversity assets in Kenya include 7,000 plants, 25,000 invertebrates, 1100 birds, 315 mammals, 191 reptiles, 180 freshwater fish, 692 fish, 88 amphibians, and about 2 000 species of fungi and bacteria (NEMA, 2009). In this article, we list some of the endangered species in Kenya. Please note that the listing is based primarily on a State of the Environment report by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya’s state agency responsible for the management of the environment. Additionally, some of the listing (especially mammals) follows the sixth schedule in the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013. Although we focus on Kenya, most of the species listed are also endangered in other East Africa countries.  

Endangered Plant Species in Kenya

Various plant species are endangered because of overexploitation, deforestation, and degradation. In East Africa, clearing native vegetation types for agriculture and settlement is still a threat to biodiversity. Apart from commercial value, some plants are overexploited because of their medicinal values. The threatened plant species in Kenya include the

  1. Bauhinia mombassae: The species is under intense pressure from elephants at the Kenyan coast.
  2. Brucea macrocarpa: A shrub found in central Kenya in swampy areas around Thika and Kamiti. Expansion of land for agriculture is a major threat
  3. Voi cycad (Encephalartos kisambo); Species also threatened by agriculture and charcoal production. The good news is that the species is relatively easy to grow and is prized in landscaping.
  4. East African sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata); has been overexploited because of its oil that is valuable in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. As such, it is illegal to cut, uproot or export sandalwood
  5. Red stinkwood (Prunus africana): Its timber is prized because it is heavy, straight-grained, and strong. However, the tree is overexploited because of its medicinal properties as its bark and leaves are harvested. The species is protected under Appendix II of CITES.
  6. Meru oak (Vitex keniensis): The IUCN listed endangered species is valued for its timber. For a high-value indigenous tree, the species is relatively fast-growing.
  7. Camphor (Ocotea kenyensis): The vulnerable species are found in various places in sub-Saharan Africa. However, it is threatened by the loss of habitats.
  8. Parasol tree (Polyscias kikuyuensis): The tree is endemic to Kenya, but is threatened by habitat loss and overexploitation for timber and medicine.
  9. Rat aloe (Aloe ballyi): The tall poisonous succulent is among the few poisonous aloes. It is native to Kenya (Taita Hills) and Tanzania. The rare succulent is threatened by land clearance and is called rat aloe because of the smell of its leaves.
  10. Tana river poplar (Populus ilicifolia). Only species of genus Populus that is native to Africa, and endemic to a small section of Kenya and Tanzania. Was used by Pokomos for canoe making. Some of the tree is found in Nyando River (Near Ahero), but it is probably planted there. Relatively fast-growing.
  11. Combretum tenuipetiolatum: IUCN lists it as ‘critically endangered, and can only be found in Rabai forest
  12. Euphorbia tanaensis: Another critically endangered species found in Witu Forest, where you can find about 20 mature trees.
  13. African Olive (Olea europea ssp africana) is endangered in the East African region because of its beautiful wood and medicinal properties.
  14. Knobwood (Zanthoxylum chalybeum) is critically endangered in Kenya and threatened in the East African region, also because of its medicinal value.

Despite this list, the Kenya Wildlife and Conservation Act only consider sandalwood and Voi cycad as endangered. Some of the other species are listed as vulnerable in the Act.

elephants are one of the endangered species in Kenya
Trade in items like ivory negatively affects wildlife populations

Endangered animal Species in Kenya

Threatened Mammal Species in Kenya

Animals include mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, and amphibians, and in each group, there are endangered species in Kenya. According to the Kenya Wildlife Act, the following mammals are listed as critically endangered

  1. Aders’ duiker (Cephalophus adersi)
  2. Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis): Between 1960 and 1965, the population of black rhinos in Africa dropped by a staggering 98% to below 2,500 individuals. Because of concerted conservation efforts, their numbers have increased to around 5,500 individuals in recent years.
  3. Hirola (Beatragus hunter)
  4. Eastern red colobus (Procolobus rufomitratus)
  5. Tana crested mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus)
  6. Roan antelope (Hippotragus equines)
  7. Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger)

Species listed as endangered include:

  1. African elephant (Loxodonta Africana): But populations are increasing because of concerted conservation efforts
  2. African lion (Panthera leo): In the last 2 years, population has reduced by 43%. It is estimated that around 20,000 lions roam the wildlands of Africa
  3. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): Need huge spaces to survive as they find it hard to compete with other predators
  4. Striped hyaena (Hyaena Hyaena)
  5. Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii)
  6. Leopard (Panthera pardus)
  7. White rhino (Ceratotherium simunz simum)
  8. Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi)
  9. African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
  10. Giant thicket rat (Grammomys gigas)
  11. Barbour’s vlei rat (Otomys barbourin)
  12. Mount elgon vlei rat (Otomys jacksoni)
  13. Golden-rumped elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus)
  14. Eastern bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci)
  15. Lelwel hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus)
  16. Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)
  17. Coalfish whale (Balaenoptera borealis)
  18. Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)

Some of the animals like lions, leopards, and elephants are listed as ‘vulnerable’ in the IUCN list but as endangered in the Kenya Wildlife Conservation and Management Act because of their immense value in conservation and tourism in the country. Furthermore, the act lists some vulnerable species to include the common hyena, greater kudu, lesser kudu, hippopotamus, and springhare among others. Although not mentioned in the act, there is a serious concern in the conservation world in East Africa over the population of species such as giraffes and pangolins.

Amphibians and reptiles are also diminishing across East Africa

Some endangered species in Kenya of amphibians and reptiles include:

  1. Du toit’s torrent frog (Petropedetes dutoiti)
  2. Shimba hills banana frog (Afrixalus sylvaticus)
  3. Shimba hills reed frog (Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus)
  4. Forest frog (Afrixalus sylvaticus)
  5. Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
  6. Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
  7. Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
  8. Rock python (Python sebae): They are listed in CITES Appendix II, meaning that they are not threatened with extinction, but may become so soon, unless trade is strictly controlled.

Fish Threatened with Extinction in Kenya

Fish are a major source of protein worldwide. However, they are threatened with extinction because of overfishing, eutrophication, and the introduction of invasive species like Nile Perch. Some of the fish listed by KWS as endangered in Kenya include:

  1. Singidia tilapia (Oreochromis esculentus):
  2. Lake Chala tilapia (Oreochromis hunteri):
  3. Jipe tilapia (Oreochromis jipe):
  4. Victoria tilapia (Oreochromis variabilis):
  5. Rainbow sheller (Ptyochromis sp.):
  6. Lake Victoria deepwater catfish (Xenoclarias eupogon):
  7. Montane dancing-jewel (Platycypha amboniensis):
  8. Magadi tilapia (Alcolapia alcalicus):
  9. Giant wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus):
  10. Victoria stonebasher (Marcusenius victoriae).

From amphibians to cycads, it is apparent that biodiversity in East Africa faces a serious threat, as some species are staring at extinction. The endangered species of Kenya listed here show that the region has remarkable biodiversity. It is up to us to conserve it, such that the future generations could also enjoy the varied life forms.

David Okul is an environmental management professional with over 10 years experience on donor projects, conservation, forestry, ecotourism, and community-based natural resources management. When not working on  environmental projects, I spend my time writing for Silvica on a variety of topics.

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