Tanzania: The Land of Endangered Species

From beautiful Indian Ocean beaches to Lake Victoria, to the daunting heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro, according to the African Wildlife Foundation, Tanzania is considered as the jewel of East Africa.

From natural beauty to endangered species, the country features all! Popularly known for its wilderness, Tanzania is a destination for all animal lovers and nature admirers. You can find some of the most endangered species in this country. With efforts being made by the World Wild Fund (WWF), to save these species in Tanzania, there is still a lot that needs to be done. To date, about one third of Tanzania is protected, providing safe habitat for numerous species. Here are the top four endangered species in Tanzania:

The Black Rhinoceros

They are one of the most critically endangered species in Tanzania. Facing extinction, black rhinos are usually hunted for their horns or for their heads. These horns are primarily made of keratin, a protein, that when grounded, is used as recreational drug in China and Vietnam.

WildAid and African Wildlife Foundation, in 2012, launched a campaign, “Say No to Rhino Horn” in efforts to reduce the demand of rhino horn in the two countries which is known as world leaders in the consumption of rhino horn.

Usually found in the Mkonzami National Park in Tanzania, there are only about 40 rhinos in the whole country.

Leatherback Turtle

Survived for more than a million years, leatherback turtles are now diminishing rapidly. They are usually known for their leather shells instead of hard shells like all other turtles. They usually cross the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and feed on jellyfish. Intense egg collection and fisheries bycatch are the reasons why leatherback turtles are declining in numbers.

African Wild Dogs

Even though most of the population of these mammals is in Tanzania, African Wild Dogs are one of the most endangered species in the world. They gather in packs of 10, but some pack numbers are over 40. Being opportunistic predators they hunt ruminants such as gazelles. African Wild Dogs are hunted by the locals, or are being lost due to viral diseases such as distemper and rabies. Competition with larger predators like lions is also a reason behind their habitat loss.

Savanna Elephants

They are the largest subspecies of elephants. Found in large densities in Tanzania, they are regarded as endangered species due to their conflicts with humans and illegal wildlife trade. Savanna elephants can eat up to 600 pounds of food in a day, thus even a small herd can wipe out a farmer’s annual crop in a single night. They also disrupt human life causing damages to community life. As a result, huge killings of these elephants occur in the region. Ivory trade in the black market is another major reason behind their loss of habitat.

Because of the loss of habitat, poaching and various other factors, Tanzania is now home to a number of endangered species. Looking to experience this place up, close and personal?  Contact Travoge now for incredible Tanzania safari packages. Don’t miss this opportunity and experience the wildlife of Tanzania at affordable rates!