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Endangered Species in Kenya: Plants and Animals

Davidokul — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 05:05:00 +0000

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

Bauhinia mombassae: The species is under intense pressure from elephants at the Kenyan coast.
Brucea macrocarpa: A shrub found in central Kenya in swampy areas around Thika and Kamiti. Expansion of land for agriculture is a major threat
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.
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
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.
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.
Camphor (Ocotea kenyensis): The vulnerable species are found in various places in sub-Saharan Africa. However, it is threatened by the loss of habitats.
Parasol tree (Polyscias kikuyuensis): The tree is endemic to Kenya, but is threatened by habitat loss and overexploitation for timber and medicine.
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.
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.
Combretum tenuipetiolatum: IUCN lists it as ‘critically endangered, and can only be found in Rabai forest
Euphorbia tanaensis: Another critically endangered species found in Witu Forest, where you can find about 20 mature trees.
African Olive (Olea europea ssp africana) is endangered in the East African region because of its beautiful wood and medicinal properties.
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.

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

Aders’ duiker (Cephalophus adersi)
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.
Hirola (Beatragus hunter)
Eastern red colobus (Procolobus rufomitratus)
Tana crested mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus)
Roan antelope (Hippotragus equines)
Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger)

Species listed as endangered include:

African elephant (Loxodonta Africana): But populations are increasing because of concerted conservation efforts
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
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): Need huge spaces to survive as they find it hard to compete with other predators
Striped hyaena (Hyaena Hyaena)
Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii)
Leopard (Panthera pardus)
White rhino (Ceratotherium simunz simum)
Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi)
African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
Giant thicket rat (Grammomys gigas)
Barbour’s vlei rat (Otomys barbourin)
Mount elgon vlei rat (Otomys jacksoni)
Golden-rumped elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus)
Eastern bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci)
Lelwel hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus)
Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)
Coalfish whale (Balaenoptera borealis)
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:

Du toit’s torrent frog (Petropedetes dutoiti)
Shimba hills banana frog (Afrixalus sylvaticus)
Shimba hills reed frog (Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus)
Forest frog (Afrixalus sylvaticus)
Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
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:

Singidia tilapia (Oreochromis esculentus):
Lake Chala tilapia (Oreochromis hunteri):
Jipe tilapia (Oreochromis jipe):
Victoria tilapia (Oreochromis variabilis):
Rainbow sheller (Ptyochromis sp.):
Lake Victoria deepwater catfish (Xenoclarias eupogon):
Montane dancing-jewel (Platycypha amboniensis):
Magadi tilapia (Alcolapia alcalicus):
Giant wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus):
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.

Bird migration to East Africa from other parts of the world

May 9, 2020

Feeding, Breeding and Killing Habits of Lions (African Lion)

May 3, 2020

Feeding, breeding and Killing habits of Leopards (African Leopard)

May 3, 2020

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.

The post Endangered Species in Kenya: Plants and Animals appeared first on Silvica: Blog for Sustainable Development .

Invasive species in Kenya: Plants and Animals

Davidokul — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 14:42:56 +0000

By David Okul

Like in many parts of the world, invasive species in Kenya are a threat to the native wildlife and vegetation. Consequently, human health and economies become a risk from the invasive species as a bulk of the commercial, agricultural, and recreational activities depend on a healthy native system.

But how can we define if a species is invasive or not? In general terms, invasive species refer to species not native to the ecosystem and causes harm to the environment, ecosystem, or human health. The species are also likely to reproduce quickly or spread aggressively. Although most invasive species come from different countries, it is not often the case. A species may be invasive even it’s native to a different region in the same country.

Whether intentionally or by accident, humans are the major spreaders of invasive species. Intentional in the sense that some are released pets (e.g. Burmese pythons in the everglades), while some are intentionally planted (such as landscaping plants). Under the Wildlife and Conservation Act of Kenya (2013), various species are classified as invasive. This article will outline these species.

Not Many Mammals are listed as Invasive in Africa

The only mammal listed as invasive in Kenya is the Coypu rat (Myocastor coypus). The large semi-aquatic rodent is native to South America but is nominated by IUCN as one of the “100 of the World’s Worst invaders.” Today, the Coypu rat is found in every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Initially, they were kept for their fur, but many farmers learned that its fur is not premium in the market like a rabbit, minx, or fox furs. The rats eat a lot of vegetation and reproduce fast. A breeding pair can create 16,000 individuals within three years. Crazy numbers! But the species has a gestation period of 130 days resulting in a litter of 4-6 young ones on average, and a female can reproduce 48 hours after giving birth. Also, consider that the nutria can eat vegetation 25% of its body weight. It is no wonder that the Kenyan government is cautious about it.

Nevertheless, some mammals should be a concern for Kenya and across Africa because of their invasive nature. Examples of invasive mammals in Africa include feral cats, goats, house rats, and European rabbits. Feral cats are particularly nasty to any ecosystem as they kill any species they can. All in all, the impacts of invasive mammals are not as severe when compared to plants.

Invasive plant species in Kenya

Various plant species are known to be invasive in Africa. They take up pastureland and some are persistent weeds in cultivation lands. Regardless, all invasive plant species tend to limit the production of indigenous species.

Mathenge (Velvet mesquite) (Prosopis juliflora): It is perhaps the most notable invasive woody species in Kenya and some parts of Africa. In Kenya, it was introduced in the Baringo region, but it did spread to other parts. It spread aggressively leading to the loss of pasture. Among its other negative impacts include punctures to tyres, reduced biodiversity, loss of agricultural land, injury to livestock, and blocking challenges.
Tickberry (Lantana camara): Lantana camara is native to South America but graders have moved it across the tropics, mainly because of its showy flowers, which produce berries. The berries are eaten by birds that further disperse the seeds. The species push native plants because livestock cannot its leaves or stems.
Nile Cabbage (Pistia stratiotes): the plant was introduced to Africa from South America. It is grown as an ornamental and often used to provide cover for fish in aquariums or ponds. However, its devastating effects in East Africa outpower its positive effects. It has clogged water bodies and irrigation channels.
Yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana): The plant is naturalized in many parts of Africa as it is commonly used for fencing. As the plant is poisonous to humans and most animals, it tends to spread fast.
Mauritius thorn (Caesalpinia decapelata): The woody plant has its origin in Southern and Eastern Asia but has been naturalized in East Africa. Because of its thorns and fast growth, it is often used as a live fence in Africa as it can prevent invasion from notorious animals, like baboons. Regardless, the species chokes native vegetation. It has also been reported to clogs water infrastructure.
Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium): The origins of the noxious weed are relatively unknown, but it is suspected to be native to the Americas region. The species has spread to most parts of the world. In Africa, it is common in roadsides, agricultural lands, disturbed areas, and riverbanks. The plant is used as medicine and narcotics. It is invasive because of its tendency to spread fast in agricultural areas reducing crop yields.
Yellow bells (Tecoma stans): The plant is native to the Americas and has spread over the world because of its ornamental appeal. However, its seeds are dispersed by the wind at a rapid rate leading to weed-like tendencies in riparian areas and roadsides.
Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana): It is native to Mexico and Texas but has spread as a weed to most tropical areas of the world. It is poisonous to livestock but deaths are few because it is not readily eaten. Its seed remains dormant for a long time making its control difficult.
Opuntia exaltata Long spine cactus
Opuntia ficus– indica Sweet prickly pear
Opuntia vulgaris ” Drooping prickly pear: Most of the Opuntia species were introduced to Kenya by the British as ornamental plants. The plant thrives in arid conditions suppressing grass and other indigenous vegetation. The cacti have sweet fruits, but they are dangerous to livestock because the spine can cause injury to animals feeding. Regardless, animals like baboons and elephants help the spread of the plant as they feed on the seeds and help disperse. A species of opuntia was considered Australia’s worst weed before a series of biological agents were deployed to fight it.
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes): Water hyacinth has numerous negative effects on Lake Victoria including obstructing waterways, the spread of water-borne diseases, and increase of water loss through evapotranspiration.

Acacia reficiens is a species that is native to Kenya but is treated as an invasive species in some areas. For instance, the species has colonized former grasslands in parts of northern Kenya. As such, local NGOs with the community are cutting down the trees and planting grasses. Similarly, Acacia mellifera in southern parts of Kenya is also not desirable by the pastoralists.

In some areas of Africa, a list of invasive plants also includes the Acacia wattles (especially Acacia mearnsii), Eucalyptus species (probably because of its negative impacts on wetlands), and castor oil plant (Ricinus communis).

Other animals listed as invasive in Kenya

Apart from mammals, other animals including birds, reptiles, and anthropoids are classified as invasive. The following section outlines them

Birds

Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus):
Ring-necked pheasant (Phasialus colchicus)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
Common Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
Rose-ringed (Ring-necked) Parakeet (Psittacula krameria): It is a common ornamental bird across the world. However, it is known to escape cages and free itself from captivity. The species is recognized as invasive in most parts of Africa.
Common (European) Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Rock Dove (Feral pigeon) (Columba livia): It is thought that the first rock doves came to Africa from Dutch settlers in South Africa in 1652. They are a menace to the agricultural landscapes.
Beautiful fruit dove (Ptilinopus pulchellus)
Black-chinned fruit dove (Ptilinopus leclancheri)
Coroneted fruit dove (Ptilinopus coronulatus)
Mariana fruit dove (Ptilinopus roseicapilla)
Pink-spotted fruit dove (Ptilinopus perlatus)
Wompoo fruit dove (Ptilinopus magnificus)
House Crow (Corvus splendens): Urban pest that damages crops and is a hazard at the airports. It was introduced in Kenya in about 1947, and is responsible for killing fruit bats.
Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea)

Reptiles

Red-headed agama lizard (Agama agama)
Brother’s Island tuatara lizard (Sphenodon guntheri)
Orange-throated whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis hyperythra beldingi)
Rainbow kopje skink (Lampropholis delicata)
Brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis)
Red diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus exsul)
Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynotan

Invertebrates

Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)

Fishes

Although not listed in Kenya’s wildlife Act, an invasive species of interest to conservationists is the Nile Perch (Lates niloticus). The species was introduced to Lake Victoria in 1954 to address the issue of overfishing. However, Nile Perch is the main cause for the disappearance of over 200 endemic fish species in the lake.

It is apparent that invasive species have a devastating impact on the native species. In Kenya, the impact of invasive species is particularly significant. Because the economy depends on natural resources for industries like tourism and agriculture. Even more concerning is the growing list of endangered species in Kenya, whose habitats are destroyed by the invasive species.

Bird migration to East Africa from other parts of the world

May 9, 2020

Feeding, Breeding and Killing Habits of Lions (African Lion)

May 3, 2020

Feeding, breeding and Killing habits of Leopards (African Leopard)

May 3, 2020

The post Invasive species in Kenya: Plants and Animals appeared first on Silvica: Blog for Sustainable Development .

A Look Into The Different Types of Reptiles In East Africa

Davidokul — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 19:04:11 +0000

By Benjamin Muraguri

East Africa’s tropical climate makes the region a worldly renowned haven for some of the greatest and most fascinating reptiles in the world. From turtles, snakes, chameleons to lizards, there so many reptile species in East Africa. This outline breaks some of East Africa’s most common reptile species.

Snakes are among the most common reptiles is East Africa

Snakes are East Africa’s most common and elusive reptile species. There are an estimated 130 snake species in East Africa alone. Below are East Africa’s most popular snake species.

Black Mamba –Black Mamba isn’t just the most dangerous snake in East Africa, but the snake is also the most elusive snake species in the entire African continent. It is also among the most dreaded and aggressive snake species in the world. Contrary to its name, this snake isn’t entirely black. Instead, Black Mamba is brown/olive-skinned. Its mouth is black, and it opens it up once threatened. It can be easily found in East Africa’s scrub tree hollows, savannahs, and tree hollows. It kills its prey using its potent cardiotoxic venom.
Puff Adder –The Puffer Adder is infamous for causing the most fatalities in East Africa, automatically making it the region’s most deadly snake. The snake has a maximum length of about a meter. It has beautiful color patterns, although patterns can vary based on its habitat. It is common throughout East Africa, apart from deserts and dense rain forests. Its potent venom coupled with large fangs makes it capable of killing almost any creature that crosses its path. This snake uses camouflage to protect itself from potential threats.
Boomslang –This extraordinary snake inhabits trees across East Africa, earning it the name tree snake. The male is light green while the female is brown, although males have black highlights. The snake can grow to a maximum height of 1.5 meters. Nevertheless, the snake is attributed to a few human fatalities since it is extremely timid. The snake inhabits the region’s scrubs, lowlands, and arid savannas in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
Cobra –East Africa boosts 4 cobra species, namely the red spitting cobra, black-necked cobra, forest cobra, and the Egyptian cobra. These species feed on rodents and other snake species. The cobra is known for spitting venom to its prey or towards any perceived threat. The cobra possesses powerful venom purposely to kill its prey and scare away threats. Cobras are common in Kenya and Tanzania’s rocky hills and savannahs.

The camouflaging chameleons

Chameleons are also popular reptiles throughout East Africa. Below are East Africa’s most common chameleon species.

Dwarf chameleon –The newly discovered chameleon species inhabits Kenya’s Aberdare Ranges. Measuring 15 cm in length, this chameleon is smaller in size compared to other chameleon species in East Africa. The chameleon is restricted to areas where rainfall is plenty throughout the year. It is distinct from other chameleons courtesy of its viviparous nature-meaning this chameleon gives birth instead of laying eggs. When provoked, this chameleon inflates itself, changes color dramatically, and produces a hissing sound.
Jackson’s chameleon –Also known as the three-horned chameleon, this chameleon is strictly native to East Africa. The chameleon is native to the region’s forests and woodlands. It is prevalent in northern Tanzania and south-central Kenya. Depending on the prevailing habitat, this chameleon can possess at least three brown horns. Nonetheless, the females don’t have horns but rather rostral horns. The medium-sized chameleon can grow to a length of 38 cm, while females can grow to an approximate length of 25 cm. This chameleon’s primary diet consists of small insects. It can also prey on isopods, centipedes, millipedes, lizards, and spiders.
Side –striped chameleon –This chameleon is native to Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Southern Sudan, and Ethiopia. In Kenya, this chameleon lives in the mountainous areas of Aberdare ranges and Mount Kenya. In Tanzania, it inhabits the might Kilimanjaro. In other East African nations, this chameleon is prevalent in forests and woodlands. It is strictly diurnal and prefers to shelter at night.

Diverse lizards can be seen all over East Africa

East Africa boasts a diversity of lizard species more than any other African region. In Kenya alone, the nation has over 90 documented lizard species. Below are common types of lizards that inhabit East Africa.

· Long-tailed skink-The long-tailed lizard is common in East Africa’s woodlands and other moist areas. The strictly diurnal lizard has a distinct tail that is thrice the size of its body. While females and males have similar physical traits, the males can be distinguished from their pre-anal pores. The lizard can reach a maximum length of 12 cm. Being strictly diurnal, the lizard is only visible during morning hours as it basks in the sun. The lizard is extremely fast and agile. Its diet consists of small insects. It also feeds on worms and maggots in the absence of insects. Unlike other lizard species, this lizard is quite fast and it can jump into the air when hunting on flying prey.

· Striped skink-The lizard species is common throughout East Africa, although it also inhabits other parts of Southern Africa. The bronze-colored lizard has distinct yellowish stripes on both sides of its spine. Both sexes can reach a maximum of 25 cm. Insects, flies, and worms make a significant part of this lizard’s budget.

· Agama –The small-sized lizard has a long tail that gives it a weird appearance. It is strictly insectivorous although, on rare occasions, it can feed on maggots. The lizards live in East Africa’s bushes, rocky hills, and forests. They are diurnal like most lizard species in East Africa. Unlike most reptiles, this lizard can withstand high temperatures, although it can seek shelter when subjected to extremely hot weather.

Crocodiles

Crocs are undoubtedly the largest reptile species in East Africa. The Nile crocodile is native to East Africa’s freshwaters, including rivers, lakes, and swampy regions. On average, this crocodile can grow up to 5.5 meters. However, some Nile crocodiles have reportedly grown to up to 9 meters in length. Described as apex predators, Nile crocodiles are ruthless hunters that can hunt on a wide variety of prey including mammals, fish, smaller crocs, and even humans!

Bird migration to East Africa from other parts of the world

May 9, 2020

Feeding, Breeding and Killing Habits of Lions (African Lion)

May 3, 2020

Feeding, breeding and Killing habits of Leopards (African Leopard)

May 3, 2020

Benjamin is a freelance article writer. His email is benjamuragz@gmail.com

The post A Look Into The Different Types of Reptiles In East Africa appeared first on Silvica: Blog for Sustainable Development .

Feeding and breeding habits of black rhino

Davidokul — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 19:46:08 +0000

By David Okul

Black rhinoceros are different from the white rhino in that the latter has a square mouth while the former has a hooked upper lip. They are also smaller as compared to white rhinos. Up to 8 subspecies of black rhinos occur in Africa. Between 1960 and 1995, black rhinos’ populations dropped by a staggering 98% to less than 2,500 individuals in Africa. Concerted conservation efforts have led to the increase of rhino numbers to about 5,500 by writing this post. Regardless, black rhinos are still listed as critically endangered and need all the support to increase their population.

Scientific name	Diceros bicornis
Weight	800-kgs up to 1,400 for adults
Height	1.3 meters to 1.8 meters for adults
Length	2.8 meters to 3.8 meters without tail
Life expectancy	Up to 35 years in the wild and up to 50 years in captivity
IUCN status	Critically endangered since the early 90s
Gestation period	15 to 16 months

General habits of black rhino

Many know the black rhino as an imposing creature. Moreover, it is known for charging wildly at moving objects. Other characteristics of black rhinos include:

Black rhinos are relatively sedentary and solitary animals. They can live in one area for the rest of their lifetime.
Male black rhinos live separate from other rhinos, although they reunite with fellow rhinos at the start of the breeding season. Females live in small groups alongside their calves. However, black rhinos live in groups and usually travel together when feeding.
Black rhinos are active both in the evening and in the morning. Nevertheless, these creatures are less productive at midday hours.
Upon detecting danger, they flee while making snorting sounds and curling their tails. Once the threat has passed, they curiously explore the cause of the threat.
They usually take mud baths to help them cool off.
Black rhinos have poor eyesight, which prompts them to attack every object, including rocks and trees mistakenly.
They are not too territorial as they would move in and out each other territories with ease.
Adult rhinos have no natural predators thanks to their thick skin, power, and dangerous horns.

Feeding habits of black rhinos

Black rhinos are herbivores by nature. They feed on leafy plants, thorny wood bushes, fruits, shoots, and branches. Black rhinos mostly prefer feeding on woody plants, which helps save the grass for other wildlife species that depend on grass as their primary diet. Other feeding habits of black rhinos include:

Black rhinos are generalist feeders. As such, these creatures don’t feed on a particular type of food. They can consume more than 200 different plant species. They opt for quality over quantity while choosing their diet.
Black rhinos usually consume water at night. The adult black rhino can drink up to72 liters of water when thirsty. However, black rhinos, especially those residing in dry and hot habitats, can last for up to 5 days without water.
Black rhinos usually feed for up to 4 hours a day. They exhibit little feeding activity during the early morning hours. Nonetheless, serious feeding among these rhinos takes place from midday to late evening.

Breeding habits of black rhinos

Rhinos are solitary animals except when breeding and when a mother is rearing a calf.

Like other rhino species, black rhinos are extremely polygamous. One male has exclusive rights to mate with multiple females.
Breeding among black rhinos takes place all year-round. Nevertheless, these creatures have peak breeding periods. These periods differ significantly among black rhino populations, depending on their geographical location.
Before breeding starts, black rhinos exhibit courtship behaviors in readiness for mating. These behaviors include sparring with horns and snorting among males.
Like most animal species, older males are given priority while mating. They scare away younger rhinos to win over the females. Breeding pairs can mate for 2-3 days. Mating can sometimes last for weeks.
Mating takes place multiple times a day, while copulation can last for about half an hour.
Females give birth within 15 months after gestation. After birth, the mother hides the calf until it is at least a week old.

Hanoi People’s Court sentence Nguyen Van Pho to 5 years in prison for trafficking 1.9 kg of black rhino horns from Angola (horns will likely have come from Namibia, SA or Botswana) via Bangkok to Vietnam on 7 Nov 2019 https://t.co/1OiW3iaflw pic.twitter.com/Lz7ullKtUP
— Save the Rhino (@savetherhino) June 3, 2020

Threats faced by black rhinos

Poaching is the biggest threat that the black rhinoceros face. The rhino horn is a valuable product within the illegal wildlife trade circles. A kilogram of rhino horn could fetch as much as US$ 60,000 in the black market. Asia consumers (notably China and Vietnam) are usually the market for the horns, where they are used for folk remedies. Political instability in countries like Somalia, Sudan, and Angola have worsened the poaching incidents.

Since the population of rhinos is meager, the threat of inbreeding is high.

Habitat fragmentation is also a threat.

Bird migration to East Africa from other parts of the world

May 9, 2020

Feeding, Breeding and Killing Habits of Lions (African Lion)

May 3, 2020

Feeding, breeding and Killing habits of Leopards (African Leopard)

May 3, 2020

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 active environmental management projects, I spend my time writing for Silvica on a variety of topics. The views on this blog post are personal.

The post Feeding and breeding habits of black rhino appeared first on Silvica: Blog for Sustainable Development .

Feeding and breeding habits of African elephants

Davidokul — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 13:16:43 +0000

By David Okul

African elephants are the largest land animal on earth. As a keystone species, the African elephants shape their habitats in many ways. For instance, their dung contains seeds where a variety of plants germinate. The African elephants are categorized into savanna elephant and forest elephant. This article focusses on the former.

Scientific name	Loxodonta Africana
Weight	3,000 kg to 6,000 kg
Height	2.2 meters to 4.2 meters
Length	3 meters to 5 meters
Life expectancy	50-70years in the wild, up to 80 years in captivity
IUCN status	Vulnerable
Gestation period	22 months

General habits of African elephants

Apart from their massive size, other general habits of these African huge creatures include:

Although they appear nimble, they can walk approximately 196 kilometers (122 miles) per day. However, they cover an average of 25km per day. These elephants can also run surprisingly fast for up to 64 km/h (40 mph).
African elephants are social creatures and live in huge groups. They live in family groups for their entire lifetime. Their calves don’t stray far from other family members, particularly their mothers.
Unlike other elephant species in Asia and Africa where the leader of the entire herd is the largest and the oldest male, African elephants have one leader, usually the oldest female elephant, the matriarch. Often, the males live in bachelor herds.
They can recognize themselves in the mirror, something that very few animals can do.
African elephants are highly intelligent. They use various means of communication among themselves. They communicate by vocalizing a wide array of sounds and calls. They utilize infrasound which can unmistakably be heard from kilometers away.
Some people report that elephants avenge for the death of their loved ones. Similarly, they can remember people who assist them. These behaviors are testaments to their intelligence.
Elephants ears are huge as they help in regulating temperatures. Their trunks have over 40,000 muscles and it is used for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking, and for grabbing things. The trunk is prehensile, and it can be used to grab small items.

Feeding habits of African elephants

Like other elephants, savanna elephants are strictly herbivorous. The gentle giants feed on plants, trees, herbs, grasses, and other vegetation. They stick to a healthy, vegetarian diet, whereby they consume up to 73 plant species. Other interesting feeding habits include:

To maintain their dietary needs, African elephants can consume between 100 to 300 kilograms of food daily. These creatures spend 16 to 18 hours of feeding every day. Simply put, African elephants spend 80% of their time in a day feeding. They also drink up to 190 liters a day.
African elephants’ favorite diet is tree bark. It contains roughage and calcium, which helps with digestion.
To supplement their diet, African elephants dig up the earth to derive essential minerals and salts. They can also congregate at mineral-rich sources such as water holes, mineral licks, and termite mounds to supplement their food with minerals.
The fact that African elephants require vast amounts of food means they have to traverse for large distances foraging for food. This causes habitat destruction wherever they transverse, in turn posing a threat to their survival.

Breeding habits of African elephants

Their long gestation period (almost 2 years) means that a lot of investment is needed in producing a calf. Furthermore, a cow often gets pregnant five years after giving birth.

Both male and female African elephants reach sexual maturity from 8 years to 12 years. Females remain productive until old age.
Breeding among African elephants occurs throughout the year. However, mating is more frequent from early December to late March, than in other months of the year.
When females are ready to mate, they attract suitable males. Although dominant, older males are often the first to mate, the female can mate with multiple males within the group. Moreover, the female gets to pick her preferred mating partner.
Both the sexes have a gland between their eyes and ears that secrete temporin. Nevertheless, elephants in the musth period produce a more viscous secretion that has high testosterone levels. Males are at their top physical condition during musth and the male elephants in musth are often the ones that breed.
When it comes to mating season, both the cow and the bull isolate themselves from the group to mate. The mating can go on for a month, although the female can choose the number of males to mate with throughout the mating season.
Elephants have the longest gestation period of land mammals and give birth to a calf weighing 100 kg (220 pounds). The calf will drink milk from its mum until the milk dries out or the calf’s tusks become too poky.
After reaching maturity at about 12 years female elephants remain in their natal herds while the males leave the herd for single life or join other males.

Crossing the river is a challenge for the little elephant.

But he is not alone.

Watch the strong solidarity and cooperation within an elephant family. #elephants #nature #wildlife #animals #ElephantDay pic.twitter.com/p68N2L779o
— Alexander Verbeek (@Alex_Verbeek) August 12, 2019

Threats faced by elephants

Poaching is the biggest threat that elephants face. Before the coming of Europeans, there were as many as 26 million elephants. However, poaching has reduced the number of elephants to barely 400,000. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned the trade of ivory in 1989 but the trade is still rampant. Approximately, 27,000 elephants are killed in Africa every year.

By the fact that they eat massive amounts of foods, elephants often meet humans. Farmers get mad when elephants raid their crops that they would want to retaliate. Thankfully, many conservation organizations are offering compensation schemes for affected farmers.

Habitat fragmentation is a threat considering elephants need vast spaces to roam.

Bird migration to East Africa from other parts of the world

May 9, 2020

Feeding, Breeding and Killing Habits of Lions (African Lion)

May 3, 2020

Feeding, breeding and Killing habits of Leopards (African Leopard)

May 3, 2020

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 active environmental management projects, I spend my time writing for Silvica on a variety of topics. The views on this blog post are personal.

The post Feeding and breeding habits of African elephants appeared first on Silvica: Blog for Sustainable Development .

Global Impact of Coronavirus on Endangered species

Davidokul — Thu, 14 May 2020 07:49:40 +0000

Without a doubt, the coronavirus has altered our lives in many ways. While some short-term environmental benefits of COVID-19 are refreshing, the pandemic is likely to have a net-negative impact on the environment. For instance, the virus is increasing threats to the already endangered species.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the risk faced by species into nine categories. One of the classes is the ‘Endangered’ category, which shows a species has a high risk of extinction in the wild. Extinction threatens over 31% of the assessed species.

If action isn’t taken, some of the species on IUCN’s red list may be gone sooner than expected because of the coronavirus. Species under threat range from rhinos in Africa to Giant Ibises in Asia.

Black and white Rhinos in Africa are facing unprecedented threats from poachers.

The rhinoceros once roamed the world, but fewer than 30,000 different species of rhinos exist today, mostly in protected areas such as reserves, sanctuaries, and national parks. The black rhino has about 5,000 individuals (there were about 70,000 black rhinos as recently as 1970). It is no wonder that IUCN classifies the black rhino as ‘critically endangered.’ On the other hand, the white rhino number at least 17,000 (also in Africa) and is classified as ‘Near Threatened.’

A significant cause of the decline of the rhino population is the poaching and illegal trade of the rhino horn. In the current market, a kilogram of rhino horn could fetch over US$ 60,000. In many Asian countries, rhino horns are viewed as a standard wealth symbol and aphrodisiacs.

The demand and illicit trade of rhino horn were there even before the coronavirus. However, lockdowns and low tourism numbers have significantly increased poaching incidents in Africa.

In Botswana, poachers have killed at least six black rhinos since the coronavirus lockdown. Conservationists in Botswana are translocating black rhinos to undisclosed locations following the poaching and impending floods. Similarly, nine rhinos have been killed in South Africa. It is a bloody calamity that has led to the loss of lives too. Botswana security forces have killed at least five poachers in separate incidents.

Mountain Gorillas and Eastern Chimpanzees in Central Africa

On 24^th April 2020, suspected rebel groups killed twelve rangers and five other people in Virunga National Park. The rebel groups fighting the Congolese government use poaching to fund their activities. Some of the species targeted include the endangered mountain gorillas and Eastern Chimpanzees.

The deadly attack happened amid the coronavirus lockdown. Maybe the attack wouldn’t have happened if the park was busy with tourism activities, just perhaps.

Jaguar, Ocelots and Pumas in Columbia

A conservation organization called Panthera reports that poachers have killed five jaguars, one puma, and one ocelot in Columbia following the lockdown. The exact numbers of the threatened cats killed are unknown because both the informants and conservation security staff are on lockdown.

Like the cases in Africa, poachers are more emboldened to strike because of the decreased patrols and law enforcement. The big cats are often perceived as pests in South America because they kill livestock.

Although IUCN lists jaguars as ‘Near Threatened,’ both puma and ocelot are listed as ‘Least Concern.’ Regardless, the populations of the big cats are reducing such that some conservationists think that they will be endangered soon.

Poaching incidents in Asia are increasing too.

About three hundred giant Ibises are left worldwide, and three were poisoned in Cambodia during the lockdown (that is 1% of the population). The critically endangered bird has a slow reproduction rate, but it is poached for its meat. The poachers believe removing the gut content quickly makes the meat poison-free. The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down ecotourism in the tourism-reliant South East Asia, which means that a significant number of people lack income. These people turn to cut trees and hunting wildlife for food and income sources. Apart from Ibises, significant numbers of painted stock, white-wing ducks, and sarus cranes have been killed in Cambodia following the lockdown.

India is home to 75% of the endangered tiger species. The New York Times report conservationists in India are worried that the virus could ‘jump into’ their tiger population with devastating effects. Additionally, there is an increase in bushmeat poaching of deer for food. If the trend of deer poaching continues, the tigers may have difficulty in finding prey.

Tourism and philanthropy are the primary basis of models for protecting wildlife and other natural resources. Following the coronavirus, travel restrictions and lockdowns have virtually stopped tourism. This halt implies that funds available for protecting wildlife, including endangered species, have reduced as well. Poachers are taking advantage of reduced surveillance.

We owe the future generation a chance to enjoy the current natural resources. The coronavirus has accelerated the pressures faced by the natural environment. Despite the pandemic, world leaders should think of an action plan to save the endangered species. Fast.

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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 active environmental management projects, I spend my time writing for Silvica on a variety of topics.

The post Global Impact of Coronavirus on Endangered species appeared first on Silvica: Blog for Sustainable Development .

Feeding, Breeding and Killing Habits of Cheetahs (African Cheetah)

Davidokul — Mon, 11 May 2020 16:05:38 +0000

Cheetahs were once widespread throughout Asia and Africa. However, they currently inhabit East and Southwestern Africa. In Iran, a small population of around 200 cheetahs exists.

Cheetahs are built for speed as an adult can attain distances of 110 kilometers per hour (70mph) within 3 seconds. Its unique body structure that includes a flexible spine, long legs, tail for balancing, and semi-retractable claws enable it to achieve the maximum distances. The claws of its legs act as cleats of a track to grip the ground when at top speed. The adaptations to rate also include its lungs, heart, and legs.

Scientific name:	Acinonyx jubatus
Weight:	40-70 kg (Up to 160 pounds)
Height:	94 cm (34 inches)
Length:	200 cm (about 6 feet)
Gestation period:	About 3 months
Life expectancy:	10-12 years in wild, up to 20 in captivity
IUCN Status:	Vulnerable (2020)

General habits of Cheetahs

Most people know that cheetahs are the fastest animal on land. Some of the other general habits of cheetahs include:

Unlike the other big cats, cheetahs do not roar. Their vocalization includes growls when in danger and high-pitched chirp when communicating with each other.
Cheetah is the only big cat that can turn in the air while running.
Male cheetahs would usually live in groups with their siblings, while the female cheetah is primarily a solitary animal. A male grouping of the cheetah is called a coalition.
Male cheetahs have territories that they protect while female cheetahs would follow the herds. Males attempt to mate with females when they pass through their territories while following the herds.

Killing and Feeding habits of cheetahs

Unlike the leopards and the lions, cheetahs are diurnal, which means that they hunt during the day. The strategy helps the cat to avoid competition with the other bigger carnivores.

Cheetahs are cursorial animals, meaning that they are adapted to run. The cats can reach a maximum speed of 110 km/h (68.35 mph. However, they are unable to sustain the pace for long. Thus, timing is vital for cheetahs while hunting.

The main prey for cheetahs in Africa is the medium or smaller sized ungulates such as the gazelles. In community conservation lands, the cheetah will also hunt unattended goats and sheep. It is rare for a cheetah to pursue livestock when the herder is taking good care of the livestock. When food is scarce, a cheetah will go for even go for smaller prey such as hares and birds.

Because they have an advantage of speed, they have the ‘fast-twitch’ muscle fibers that provide power over endurance. Cheetahs are quite successful hunters. However, larger predators like lions and hyenas steal most of their kills.

Unlike the other big cats, cheetahs do not ambush or attack within springing distance. Instead, they begin the chase when the prey is between 70 and 100 meters (230 to 330 ft.). The hunt would rarely last a minute and is commonly at 20 seconds. The cat would knock down its prey and quickly use its canine teeth to strangle its catch.

Cheetahs would seldom scavenge prey that they did not hunt. A lone adult cheetah may hunt after between 3-5 days while a mother with cubs may need to hunt every day.

After making a kill, a cheetah may need time to catch its breath. Research shows that cheetah with cubs take a longer pause compared to other cheetahs. Probably because they must ensure the site is safe before introducing the cub for the kill. Then it would devour its prey before a scavenger emerges. At times, cheetahs would drag their kill to a hiding spot.

Breeding habits of Cheetahs

The cheetahs exhibit a polygynous mating system where one male can mate with multiple females. Moreover, male cheetahs only associate with females during mating. The male does not provide any assistance in parental care. Additionally, a female cheetah may mate with more than one male when in heat. Interestingly, the same litter can produce cubs of different fathers!

Like with the other big cats, the gestation period for cheetah is about three months. After which the female gives birth to a litter of between 2 and 5 cubs

Like other cats, cheetahs cubs are born blind and helpless. Nevertheless, the mother leaves the cubs in the nest after a day to hunt. This duration is the time the cubs are most vulnerable. After about six weeks, the cubs accompany the mother for hunts. As such, the cubs are also attacked by other predators, especially lions, hyenas, and leopards. It is no wonder that less than 10% of cheetahs’ cubs survive into adulthood.

Threats faced by Cheetahs

In 1900, cheetahs populations were estimated at over 100,000 individuals in the wild. Now, only about 7,000 cheetahs live in the wilderness of Africa. It is the most endangered of the big cats because of the following reasons:

Illegal trade of Cheetahs

Cheetah’s skin is a hot commodity in the illegal wildlife trade. Moreover, some people target cheetah cubs for pets. The illicit trade of the cat is rife in the East Africa region, particularly Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia. We suspect that the Middle East is the destination of most cubs.

The retaliatory killing of cheetahs

Unlike most of the other predators, cheetahs do not do well in national reserves and parks. This occurs because there is heightened competition for prey at reserves. The predators would kill cheetahs and their cubs at any opportunity. As such, there is a significant cheetah population in community lands across Africa (over 80% of cheetahs are in community lands.

The fact that cheetahs inhabit community lands and hunt during the day means they could attack livestock in herding. In many cases, a cheetah would attack a sheep or goat when the herder is not in proximity. Another sad reality is that in Africa’s pastoral communities, children herd the livestock. The predator will not even see the children while pursuing prey as children are not intimidating enough.

Herders retaliate after their livestock is killed. Cheetahs and other predators are sometimes poisoned or speared.

The good news is that many conservation organizations in Africa have a compensation scheme in the event herders lose their livestock to cheetahs or other predators. Consequently, retaliation attacks reduce in areas with compensation schemes.

Loss of habitat

Cheetahs require extensive home ranges for survival. An ideal range for one cheetah would be hundreds of kilometers or miles squared. However, human encroachment is limiting the habitat for cheetahs. The implication of reduced habitats means that they will compete more with other predators like lions, hyenas, and leopards, a fight which they will quickly lose.

Lack of genetic diversity

Cheetahs are famous for their lack of genetic variation. The species barely avoided extinction at the end of Ice Age, around 10,000 years ago. After that, there was widespread inbreeding, which led to a loss of genetic diversity. Consequently, cheetahs are prone to diseases and have low sperm quality. The situation is complicated by habitat loss that further reduces genetic diversity.

What Can you do to save Cheetahs in Africa?

You can seek to support the conservation efforts in Africa’s protected areas. This support could be achieved in a variety of ways, including:

Donating to organizations working with protecting cheetahs in Africa
Spreading the word by supporting bloggers such as ourselves through sharing content
Not participating in the illegal wildlife trade.

Feeding, Breeding and Killing Habits of Lions (African Lion)

May 3, 2020 No Comments

They may not be the most giant animal in the African savannas; however, the habits of lions make them the ‘King of the jungle’. The

Feeding, breeding and Killing habits of Leopards (African Leopard)

May 3, 2020 No Comments

The African leopard is one of the fascinating cats in the world. Globally, there are at least nine subspecies, but this article focuses on the

Bird migration to East Africa from other parts of the world

May 9, 2020 No Comments

Each year, millions of birds migrate long distances across the world to East Africa. Most bird species migrate to the region through flyways, which refer

Further Reading

AWF

National Geographic

Laurie Marker

The post Feeding, Breeding and Killing Habits of Cheetahs (African Cheetah) appeared first on Silvica: Blog for Sustainable Development .

The birds of East Africa (An outline)

Davidokul — Sat, 09 May 2020 15:43:17 +0000

There are over 1,290 documented bird species in the East African region. Globally, there are about 10,000 species of birds. Meaning that the region has approximately 13% of the world birds’ for its relatively small area. Birdwatchers find the overwhelming diversity and abundance of bird species in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania irresistible.

But differentiating between the hundreds of the bird species can be daunting to any amateur bird watcher, like myself. It is for this reason that I decided to write a blog article of the birds in East Africa. The blog categorizes the birds into families. It is my hope that this blog will assist you in identifying the birds of East Africa.

Order Passeriformes (The Passerines)

More than half of all birds in the world are in the order Passeriformes. They are also called perching birds or less accurately, Singing birds. Some key characteristics in the order include:

Three toes pointing forward and one pointing backwards (the hallux), which makes it easy for them to perch
Developed vocal organs that allows for vocalization
Unique sperm and bony palate morphology (I guess those are for the serious ornithologists, let’s get into the families under the order in East Africa)

Weavers and Allies (Family: Ploceidae)

The weaver birds get their name from the intricate nests that birds in the species build. Ploceidae mostly inhabit the old world, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. Sparrows and whydahs are not in the weavers and allies family, although older publications classify the two group of birds in the Ploceidae family. About 60 species of weavers and their allies (bishops, quelea, widowbird) are found in East Africa. They include:

Widowbird

Fan-tailed widowbird (Euplectes axillaris)
Jackson’s widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni)-Near-threatened
Long-tailed widowbird (Euplectes progne)
Marsh widowbird (Euplectes hartlaubi)
Red-collared widowbird (Euplectes ardens)
White-winged widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus)
Yellow-mantled widowbird (Euplectes macroura)

Quelea

Cardinal quelea (Quelea cardinalis)
Red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea)
Red-headed quelea (Quelea erythrops)

Weavers

African golden-weaver (Ploceus subaureus)
Baglafecht weaver (Ploceus baglafecht)
Black-billed weaver (Ploceus melanogaster)
Black-capped social-weaver (Pseudonigrita cabanisi)
Black-headed weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus)
Black-necked weaver (Ploceus nigricollis)
Brown-capped weaver (Ploceus insignis)
Chestnut-crowned sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser superciliosus)
Chestnut weaver (Ploceus rubiginosus)
Clarke’s weaver (Ploceus golandi): Classified as endangered
Compact weaver (Pachyphantes superciliosus)
Donaldson-Smith’s sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser donaldsoni)
Fire-fronted bishop (Euplectes diadematus)
Forest weaver (Ploceus bicolor)
Golden-backed weaver (Ploceus jacksoni)
Golden palm weaver (Ploceus bojeri)
Gray-headed social-weaver, (Pseudonigrita arnaudi)
Grosbeak weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons)
Heuglin’s masked-weaver (Ploceus heuglini)
Holub’s golden-weaver (Ploceus xanthops)
Lesser masked-weaver (Ploceus intermedius)
Little weaver (Ploceus luteolus)
Northern brown-throated weaver (Ploceus castanops)
Northern masked-weaver (Ploceus taeniopterus)
Orange weaver (Ploceus aurantius)
Red-billed buffalo-weaver (Bubalornis niger)
Red-headed malimbe (Malimbus rubricollis)
Red-headed weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps)
Rufous-tailed weaver, (Histurgops ruficauda) vagrant
Rüppell’s weaver (Ploceus galbula) vagrant
Salvadori’s weaver (Ploceus dichrocephalus)
Slender-billed weaver (Ploceus pelzelni)
Speckle-fronted weaver (Sporopipes frontalis)
Spectacled weaver (Ploceus ocularis)
Speke’s weaver (Ploceus spekei)
Taveta golden-weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps)
Vieillot’s weaver (Ploceus nigerrimus)
Village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus)
Vitelline masked-weaver (Ploceus vitellinus)
White-billed buffalo-weaver (Bubalornis albirostris)
White-browed sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali)
White-headed buffalo-weaver (Dinemellia dinemelli)
Yellow-mantled weaver (Ploceus tricolor) (Probably extinct)

Bishops

Black bishop (Euplectes gierowii)
Black-winged bishop (Euplectes hordeaceus)
Northern red bishop (Euplectes franciscanus)
Southern red bishop (Euplectes orix)
Yellow bishop (Euplectes capensis)
Yellow-crowned bishop (Euplectes afer)
Zanzibar red bishop (Euplectes nigroventris)

Sparrows (Family: Passeridae)

Sparrows are small birds that mainly eat seeds and sometimes insects. Sparrows are among the most common birds as they are comfortable in cities. In many cases it is challenging to differentiate between sparrows or some weavers. We have listed 10 of the swallows in East Africa

Chestnut sparrow (Passer eminibey)
House sparrow (Passer domesticus) – Introduced to East Africa region
Kenya rufous sparrow (Passer rufocinctus)
Northern gray-headed sparrow (Passer griseus)
Parrot-billed sparrow (Passer gongonensis)
Shelley’s rufous sparrow (Passer shelleyi)
Somali sparrow (Passer castanopterus)
Swahili sparrow (Passer suahelicus)
Swainson’s sparrow (Passer swainsonii)
Yellow-spotted bush sparrow (Gymnoris pyrgita)

Waxbills and allies (Family: Estrildidae)

They are small seed eating birds. It is not surprising that some sources classify them under the sparrow family, Passeridae. Most of the birds in the family have similar form and size, but different plumage. The largest species of the family is the Java finch which is found in Asia. Common species in East Africa include silverbills, twinspots, and firefinchs.

Bluebill

Red-headed bluebill (Spermophaga ruficapilla)

Cordonbleu

Red-cheeked cordonbleu (Uraeginthus bengalus)
Blue-capped cordonbleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus)

Crimsonwing

Abyssinian crimsonwing (Cryptospiza salvadorii)

Grenadier

Purple grenadier (Granatina ianthinogaster)

Firefinch and other finches

African firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricate)
Bar-breasted firefinch (Lagonosticta rufopicta)
Black-bellied firefinch (Lagonosticta rara)
Jameson’s firefinch (Lagonosticta rhodopareia)
Locustfinch (Paludipasser locustella) a Vagrant species
Quailfinch (Ortygospiza fuscocrissa)
Red-billed firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala)

Mannikin

Bronze mannikin (Spermestes cucullate)
Black-and-white mannikin (Spermestes bicolor)
Magpie mannikin (Spermestes fringilloides)

Nigrita

Gray-headed nigrita (Nigrita canicapillus)
White-breasted nigrita (Nigrita fusconotus)

Ptylia

Green-winged pytilia (Pytilia melba)
Orange-winged pytilia (Pytilia afra)

Seedcracker

Black-bellied seedcracker (Pyrenestes ostrinus)

Silverbills

African silverbill (Euodice cantans)
Gray-headed silverbill (Odontospiza griseicapilla)
Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)- introduced

Twinspots

Brown twinspot (Clytospiza monteiri)
Green-backed twinspot (Mandingoa nitidula)
Peters’s twinspot (Hypargos niveoguttatus)

Waxbills

Black-cheeked waxbill (Estrilda charmosyna)
Black-crowned waxbill (Estrilda nonnula)
Black-faced waxbill (Estrilda erythronotos)
Black-rumped waxbill (Estrilda troglodytes)
Common waxbill (Estrilda astrild)
Crimson-rumped waxbill (Estrilda rhodopyga)
Cut-throat (Amadina fasciata)- not a waxbill technically
Fawn-breasted waxbill (Estrilda paludicola)
Kandt’s Waxbill (Estrilda kandti)
Yellow-bellied waxbill (Coccopygia quartinia)
Zebra waxbill (Sporaeginthus subflavus)

Indigobirds and Whydahs (Family: Viduidae)

Indigobirds are group of birds that have a predominant indigo or black plumage. All the species are brood parasites. Meaning that they rely on other birds to raise their young. The estrildid finches often raise the chicks of birds in viduidae family. There are at least 9 representatives of viduidae in East Africa (Including the recently added Cuckoo Finch)

Broad-tailed paradise-whydah (Vidua obtuse)
Cuckoo Finch/Cuckoo weaver/Parasitic weaver (Anomalospiza imberbis)
Eastern paradise-whydah (Vidua paradisaea)
Pin-tailed whydah (Vidua macroura)
Purple indigobird (Vidua purpurascens)
Steel-blue whydah (Vidua hypocherina)
Straw-tailed whydah (Vidua fischeri)
Variable indigobird (Vidua funereal)
Village indigobird (Vidua chalybeate)

Cisticolas and Allies Family: Cisticolidae

Cisticolas and allies resemble warblers. Worldwide there are over 150 species in the family, and their songs are sometimes best used to identify them. Although they are small birds, they are differentiated from weavers and allies because they are purely insectivorous. The family is ubiquitous in the grasslands and scrublands of East Africa.

Apalis

Bar-throated apalis, Apalis thoracica
Black-collared apalis, Oreolais pulcher
Black-headed apalis, Apalis melanocephala
Black-throated apalis, Apalis jacksoni
Brown-headed apalis, Apalis alticola
Buff-throated apalis, Apalis rufogularis
Chestnut-throated apalis, Apalis porphyrolaema
Gray apalis, Apalis cinereal
Karamoja apalis, Apalis karamojae (Vulnerable)
Taita apalis, Apalis fuscigularis (Criticallty endangered and endemic to Taita in Kenya)
White-winged apalis, Apalis chariessa (Probably extinct)
Yellow-breasted apalis, Apalis flavida

Camaroptera

Green-backed camaroptera, Camaroptera brachyura
Olive-green camaroptera, Camaroptera chloronota

Cisticolas

Aberdare cisticola (Cisticola aberdare) (Vulnerable)- Endemic in Kenya
Ashy cisticola (Cisticola cinereolus)
Black-backed cisticola, (Cisticola eximius)
Boran cisticola (Cisticola bodessa)
Carruthers’s cisticola, Cisticola carruthersi
Chubb’s cisticola, Cisticola chubbi
Coastal cisticola, Cisticola haematocephalus
Croaking cisticola, Cisticola natalensis
Desert cisticola, Cisticola aridulus
Foxy cisticola, Cisticola troglodytes
Hunter’s cisticola, Cisticola hunter
Levaillant’s cisticola, Cisticola tinniens
Pectoral-patch cisticola, Cisticola brunnescens
Rattling cisticola, Cisticola chiniana
Red-faced cisticola, Cisticola erythrops
Red-pate cisticola, Cisticola ruficeps
Rock-loving cisticola, Cisticola aberrans
Siffling cisticola, Cisticola brachypterus
Singing cisticola, Cisticola cantans
Stout cisticola, Cisticola robustus
Tabora cisticola, Cisticola angusticaudus
Tana River cisticola, Cisticola restrictus Endemic to Kenya, probably threatened
Tiny cisticola, Cisticola nana
Trilling cisticola, Cisticola woosnami
Wailing cisticola, Cisticola lais
Winding cisticola, Cisticola marginatus
Wing-snapping cisticola, Cisticola ayresii
Whistling cisticola, Cisticola lateralis
Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis

Eremomela

Green-backed eremomela, Eremomela canescens
Greencap eremomela, Eremomela scotops
Turner’s eremomela, Eremomela turneri (Endangered)
Yellow-bellied eremomela, Eremomela icteropygialis
Yellow-vented eremomela, Eremomela flavicrissalis

Prinia

Banded prinia, Prinia bairdii
Pale prinia, Prinia somalica
Red-fronted prinia, Prinia rufifrons
Red-winged prinia, Prinia erythroptera
River prinia, Prinia fluviatilis (vagrant)
Tawny-flanked prinia, Prinia subflava
White-chinned prinia, Schistolais leucopogon

Warbler

Black-faced rufous warbler, Bathmocercus rufus
Buff-bellied warbler, Phyllolais pulchella
Gray-capped warbler, Eminia lepida
Gray wren-warbler, Calamonastes simplex
Miombo wren-warbler, Calamonastes undosus

African warblers (Family: Macrosphenidae)

Like cisticolas, the african warblers are insectivorous. Their size ranges from small to medium. The family is relatively new as most of the species were previously placed in the Sylviidae family. Some of the African warblers in the East Africa region include:

Green crombec (Sylvietta virens)
Green hylia (Hylia prasina)
Moustached grass-warbler (Melocichla mentalis)
Northern crombec (Sylvietta brachyura)
Red-faced crombec, (Sylvietta whytii)
Somali crombec (Sylvietta isabelline)
White-browed crombec (Sylvietta leucophrys)

We are still populating the list. check out the Wikipedia page below for a complete list. We should be done with our listing by April 1st 2022

Further Reading

Palearctic raptors in West and Central Africa

EBird

Wikipedia

More East African Wildlife

Leopard

Baboons

East Africa Migrating Birds

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 active environmental management projects, I spend my time writing for Silvica on a variety of topics.

The post The birds of East Africa (An outline) appeared first on Silvica: Blog for Sustainable Development .

Bird migration to East Africa from other parts of the world

Davidokul — Sat, 09 May 2020 05:24:39 +0000

Each year, millions of birds migrate long distances across the world to East Africa. Most bird species migrate to the region through flyways, which refer to well-established routes. The birds travel from Europe, Central Asia, the Americas, the Mediterranean region, and the East Atlantic to the East African region.

What are migratory birds?

Migratory birds are bird species that make a seasonal movement, mostly from Northern and Southern parts of the globe, via a designated route. These birds usually make fantastic voyages annually, particularly during the non-breeding season.

Palearctic migrants refer to bird species that breed in Asia or Europe but seasonally migrate south during the non-breeding season. Bird migration to East Africa could be broadly categorized into three main groups, namely waterbirds, raptors, and landbirds.

· Waterbirds (also known as aquatic birds)

They are bird species that live on wetlands or around wetlands. Most of these birds ecologically depend on water bodies. These birds can thrive in freshwater habitats, although some species of waterbirds can still inhabit marine environments. Moreover, some waterbirds can be more aquatic or terrestrial than others. Adaptations among these birds can vary depending on their respective territories.

Waterbirds in East Africa have adopted various strategies to enable them to exploit the variety of East African wetlands. The onset of the rainy season is a crucial trigger for migration among waterbirds. Some common types of waterbirds that migrate to the East African region include grebes, cormorants, pelicans, storks, ibises, flamingos, swans, and ducks.

· Birds of prey (Raptors)

Birds of prey include eagles, falcons, hawks, and vultures. Eastern Africa is an ideal habitat for numerous species of birds of prey. There are dozens of raptors migrating to the region via the Suez, most of which come to the African continent in winter. Migrant species vary in nature and size. Raptors that come to East Africa are either nocturnal or diurnal. The latter primarily hunt on sight, while the former hunt by using hearing and sight. Raptors can either hunt on their prey or consume food they have not killed. An example of the latter is the vultures that prey on carcasses and sometimes wounded animals. Some raptors that migrate to Africa (not necessarily East Africa) include black kite, Griffon’s vulture, Egyptian vulture, Pallid Harrier, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, long-legged buzzard, honey buzzard, Steppe eagle, red-footed falcon, and kestrel among others.

· Landbirds

Landbirds include bird species such as swallows, common cuckoo, songbirds, and the turtle dove. These birds can breed in farmlands and agricultural areas, and then cross the vast Sahara desert to East Africa’s open savannahs where they winter in large groups. These birds have remarkably complex, long-distance migration cycles. Nevertheless, landbirds are more vulnerable to prevailing environmental changes than resident species. Upon arriving in East Africa, these birds can concentrate together temporarily before dispersing into suitable habitats. As such, their conservation is quite challenging.

Birds that migrate to East Africa

East Africa has one of the richest avifauna in the world. Close to 200 Palearctic migrants have been spotted in the region. Some of such bird migration to East Africa include the following:

1. Black stork (Ciconia nigra)

The large bird belongs to the vast stork family of Ciconnidae. It measures 95 to 100 cm (approximately 40 inches) on average from the beak to the tail. Black storks have distinctive white underparts, and overall black plumage pointed red beak and long red legs. They are widespread despite being among the uncommon bird species.

Black stocks breed in scattered spots across Europe. The breeding sites include Spain, Portugal, and other eastern and central areas of the larger European continent. The long-distance migrant migrates to the tropical sub-Saharan area during the non-breeding season. It nevertheless avoids flying over the Mediterranean Sea when migrating to Africa on its way to East Africa. Black storks usually migrate to East Africa from August to October.

2. The African skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris)

The tern-like bird belongs to the Laridae family of birds. It inhabits the rivers, lagoons, and lakes of sub-Saharan Africa. The migrating bird has a black back, long wings, crown, and hindneck. Its forehead and remaining body are overly white. The African skimmer is regarded as an intra-African migrant.

African skimmers come to East Africa when water levels in the lakes and rivers have fallen substantially. They mostly prefer migrating to the region at the onset of the long, dry season. They mostly choose this season since it coincides with their breeding season. Once the breeding is over, these birds move northwards in readiness for the rainy season. Although IUCN lists it as Near Threatened, some conservationists claim the species could be vulnerable or even endangered.

3. The ruff (Calidris pugnax)

The medium-sized wading bird breeds in wet meadows and marshes across northern Eurasia. It is highly migratory, and it lives in large flocks in its respective winter grounds. East Africa is one of the favorite wintering grounds for this bird. Overly, the bird has a potbelly and a long neck. Males are way larger than females.

It breeds in Asia and Europe and then migrates to Africa via a flyway that takes them through the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Huge flocks of this bird then travel to East Africa and other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

4. Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

This tiny Palearctic wader has white underparts, greyish-brown upperparts, and short yellowish feet and legs. It breeds in temperate Asia and subtropical Europe. The bird migrates to East Africa annually at the fall of the breeding season. Hundreds of common sandpipers gather at the Palau region for breeding before migrating to East Africa via the Suez. The waterbird prefers migrating to East Africa’s freshwater wetlands. It is a gregarious bird often seen in large flocks.

5. Wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

The mid-sized waterbird has a brown back, a short bill, and long yellowish legs. It differs from other sandpipers thanks to its white rump patch. It breeds in the Scottish Highlands and subarctic wetlands. It migrates to freshwater bodies across East Africa after the breeding season, where it inhabits during wintering. They are mainly found in singles or small flocks. It is also uncommon for the wood sandpiper to mix with other bird species.

6. Common Greenshank (Tringa nebulari)

The waterbird is prevalent throughout northern Europe. The migratory bird prefers to winter in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically in East Africa’s wetlands. It is brown in winter and grey-brown while in breeding plumage. They have a striking resemblance to marsh sandpipers while in water.

7. Ospreys and Cuckoo

Like all of the Palearctic migrants, ospreys winter in Africa and move back in Europe from March onwards. It is females who usually start the migration then followed by males and their young. Compared to other migrating birds, ospreys are slower in migrating, probably because they make stopovers at their favorite feeding sites. A famous osprey traveled for 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) from Finland to Kenya. Unfortunately, the bird died after being trapped in a fishing net.

Another bird, a Mongolian Cuckoo, named Odon also traveled for 8,000 kilometers (4,970 miles) from China to Kenya. It shows that bird migration to East Africa is vital to the survival of various avian species.

While East Africa is an excellent migration destination for birds, most of these migrating bird species are vulnerable to poaching and a variety of environmental threats. As such, conservative action needs to be taken to protect these species.

Further Reading

Palearctic raptors in West and Central Africa

EBird

More East African Wildlife

Leopard

Baboons

Impala

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 active environmental management projects, I spend my time writing for Silvica on a variety of topics.

The post Bird migration to East Africa from other parts of the world appeared first on Silvica: Blog for Sustainable Development .

Feeding, Breeding and Killing Habits of Lions (African Lion)

Davidokul — Sun, 03 May 2020 16:37:06 +0000

They may not be the most giant animal in the African savannas; however, the habits of lions make them the ‘King of the jungle’. The lion is not the biggest cat, either; that title belongs to the tigers.

Historically, lions were present across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Currently, most lions occur in Africa, with a small population of Asiatic lions present in India. This article focusses on the African lion.

Lions have more pronounced sexual dimorphism as compared to the other cats. Meaning it is easy to distinguish between mature male and female lionesses. The male lions are not only bigger, but they have manes that darken with age.

Scientific name:	Panthera leo
Weight:	150-250kg (Male); 120-150 kg (Female)
Height:	100-120 cm
Length:	up to 350cm for male and 275cm for female
Gestation period:	109 days
Life expectancy:	10-18 years in the wild, but can live up to 30 years in captivity
IUCN Status:	Vulnerable

General habits of lions

The mane is one of the features that gives the species is majestic look. Some of the general habits of lions include:

Lions are social cats. They live in groups called the pride. Lions in a pride would hunt and live together. A pride could have as few as four lions or as many as forty lions. Most prides have between ten and twenty lions.
Each pride has its territory which can be small where prey is abundant or as large as 400 square kilometres where prey is scarce. Territories have a core area that is fiercely defended compared to fringe areas where a pride can allow other lions to roam.
Another majestic habit of lion is roaring. Both male and female lions roar can be heard over 8 kilometres away.
Roaring is one way which lions mark their territories. Another way is using scent markings. Males would urinate on bushes and the ground to demarcate their territories. They also defecate or rub against bushes to leave their scents.
Apart from roars, lions have other vocalizations including purrs, growls, and even meows.
Lions appear affectionate as they spend time licking, head rubbing and purring while resting.

Killing and Feeding habits of lions

The lion kills a variety of prey ranging from rodents to cape buffaloes. Heck, they could even take down an injured elephant or giraffes. One advantage of living in prides is the ability to take on large prey. Although they are powerful, lions often steal prey from other predators including hyenas, cheetahs, even jackals.

Hunting, like roaring, is done at either dawn or dusk. Typically, a lion would stalk prey and run it down in a short rapid burst. The cat then jumps on the prey’s neck until it is suffocated. Alternatively, lions would trip the hind legs of its pursuit, and quickly grab the neck of the prey when it falls.

Nevertheless, most hunts conducted by lions fail. Partly because they tire after short distances and they disregard the direction of the wind. As such, the prey usually picks up the lion scent and escape.

Most hunts in a pride are conducted by lionesses. Regardless, male lions are adept hunters. A male lion can eat 35 kilograms of meat in a single kill and rest for around a week before hunting again. In places where prey is readily available, lions would rest for up to 22 hours, and hunt for only 2 hours.

Other animals could also steal kills from lions. A cackle of hyenas could chase one or a few lions from their kill. But it is a high-risk game. One bite or paw stroke from a lion would kill a hyena. After all, an adult male lion is twice the size of a hyena and up to four times its weight.

Breeding habits of lions

The male and female lions are polygamous and would breed throughout the year. However, females are restricted to one or two males in their pride during mating. The copulation process is intense as the pair mate up to 50 times in a day, after every 20 minutes. This copulation process happens for 3-4 consecutive days when the female is on heat. The prolonged copulation seeks to stimulate ovulation and secures the paternity of the offspring as it excludes other males. Like the other cats, lions’ penises have backward-pointing spines that seek to stimulate the lions to ovulate while mating.

The gestation period for lions is about 3.5-4 months. A lioness would give birth to between 1 and 6 cubs, but the range of 2-4 is more common.

The cubs are born blind with dark spots which disappear as they grow. Cubs will accompany their mothers by three months and are weaned at six months. They can participate in kills when they are about one year old. However, they cannot survive in the wild by themselves until they are two years.

Male cubs are expelled from the pride at about three years of age. Similarly, some female cubs are expelled while others are retained in the pride when they attain three years. Expelled females may immediately join other prides or become nomads to join prides later. However, some male lions remain nomads for life as they are unable to take over prides. Mating opportunities for nomads are scarce.

Although males mature at three years, they will need to be at least five years before attempting to take over a pride.

When a male lion or a group of males takes over a pride, they would immediately kill the cubs in the pride. The purpose of the infanticide is to shorten the time needed for the lionesses to mate again. However, lionesses would attempt to protect their cubs from the infanticide by hiding the cubs or directly fighting with the lions. Generally, lionesses have a higher chance of defending older cubs as they were leaving the pride anyways.

Over 80% of lions’ cub die from various reasons, including infanticide. When there is a scarce food supply, lionesses could also abandon their young. Other predators such as hyenas, leopards, and wild dogs could also kill the cubs. In the Masai Mara, I have seen buffaloes trample lion cubs to death.

Threats faced by lions

Most conservation organizations estimate that about 20,000 lions are left in the wild.

Hunted for its Legacy

The majestic nature of the cat means that the lion is a prized hunting trophy. As such, game hunters feel accomplished by killing lions. Moreover, in some African cultures, such as the Maasais, killing lions is considered a sign of bravery. Such beliefs contribute to the declining number of lions.

The retaliatory killing of lions

Lions also attack livestock, especially cattle and sheep. When they do, community members may poison or spear lions in retaliation. Lions are particularly targeted in retaliation killing because of their apparent ‘contempt’. Many carnivores would flee and leave the carcass when they realize human pursuit. Not the king of the jungle. Sometimes lions would devour a livestock carcass when humans are watching.

The good news is that many conservation organizations in Africa have a compensation scheme in the event herders lose their livestock to lions or other predators. Consequently, retaliation attacks reduce in areas with compensation schemes.

Loss of habitat

As human being population continues to grow, so is development. The growth of agriculture, settlement, and roads means that we continue to encroach to lions’ habitats.

What Can you do to save lions in Africa?

You can seek to support the conservation efforts in Africa’s protected areas. This support could be achieved in a variety of ways, including:

Donating to organizations working with protecting lions in Africa
Spreading the word by supporting bloggers such as ourselves through sharing content
Not participating in the illegal wildlife trade

Further Reading

African Wildlife Foundation

Britannica

More East African Wildlife

Leopard

Baboons

Impala

The post Feeding, Breeding and Killing Habits of Lions (African Lion) appeared first on Silvica: Blog for Sustainable Development .