Africa is the world’s second largest continent after Asia and is home to over one million species of animals. With almost 12 million square miles of deserts, tropical rain forests, and savannas, Africa is best known for the “Big Five”. The Big Five game animals include the Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros, Elephant, and Cape Buffalo. Several species are vulnerable or endangered due to hunting and poaching. The endangered animals in Africa include the Pangolin, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Rothschild Giraffe, Okapi, and the Grey Crowned Crane. The Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, and African Forest Elephant are all vulnerable species and must be protected.
Rhinoceros
There are five species of rhino found in the world – two in Africa, and three in Asia. Rhinos communicate via a number of different means, including screaming, grunting and scattering their dung! In the past 40 years, the world has lost 95% of its rhinos. Although poaching has declined slightly in recent years, far too many rhinos are still killed for their horns. Check out the video for the real fun facts about rhinos!
Meerkats
Meerkats live in the deserts and grasslands of the southern tip of Africa. They’re super cute and have bushy, brown-striped fur, a small, pointed face and large eyes surrounded by dark patches. Learn more fun facts about meerkats in the video!
Monkeys
There are currently 264 known monkey species. Monkeys can be divided into two groups, Old World monkeys that live in Africa and Asia, and New World monkeys that live in South America. A baboon is an example of an Old World monkey, while a marmoset is an example of a New World monkey. You might be surprised to find out that apes are not monkeys. Watch the video for more fun monkey facts!
