This article explores the list of endangered animals in Africa – which species are on the list, and just how endangered they are.
There are over 1,100 species of mammals and 2,600 species of birds in Africa. A number of these species are now at risk of extinction, primarily due to human activities such as poaching and habitat loss.
When species are referred to as endangered, it’s generally accepted that they will be in one of three specific Red List categories:
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Critically Endangered
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Endangered
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Vulnerable
So far, more than 96,500 species globally have been assessed by IUCN for the Red List, of which more than 26,500 are threatened with extinction. These species cover plants as well as animals, and are made up of amphibians, birds, conifers, coral reefs, crustaceans, mammals, and sharks & rays.
Of these 26,500 endangered species in Africa, the below list details all African mammals and birds that are currently classified in one of these 3 groups of at-risk species:
Critically Endangered African Animals
Critically Endangered: A species considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis)
The black rhino is one of many of Africa’s endangered species
Black rhinos generally weigh 850-1,600 kg and in some exceptional cases, adult males can weigh close to 1,800 kg. They have two horns on their snouts the front horn is 50 cm long on average and it can grow up to 140 cm.
Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)
The Cross River Gorilla in the Congo jungle, one of the most at risk species in the world
Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri)
Eastern Lowland Gorilla silverback
Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
A Western Lowland Gorilla gives the camera the eye
African Endangered Animals
Endangered: A species considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
African Pengiun (Spheniscidae)
Yes, there are penguins in Africa! Along with plenty of other flightless birds
African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)
African wild dogs are seeing habitat loss at an alarming rate
The African wild dog is one of the most successful hunters on the African plains, and are highly social and intelligent animals. Also known as the Cape Hunting dog or the painted wolf, these animals are canids indigenous to small pockets of sub-Saharan Africa.
Bonobo (Pan paniscus)
Bonobo chimp – human’s closest animal relative
Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)
Chimpanzee with baby on its back in Rubondo National Park
Giant Ground Pangolin (Smutsia gigantea)
Giant Ground Pangolin
The giant ground pangolin is the largest in the pangolin family. The range of its habitat stretches from West Africa to Uganda.
Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
Mountain gorillas can look rather shaggy!
White-bellied Pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis)
White-bellied pangolin on the forest floor
White bellied pangolins live in equatorial Africa. They are also known as tree pangolins or three-cusped pangolin.
Vulnerable Animals
Vulnerable: A species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
African elephant in the bush of South Africa
The large and imposing African bush elephant is found in most sub-Saharan African countries. They live in matriarchal family units led by an older cow and made up of adult cows with their daughters and sub-adult sons.
Black-bellied Pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla)
The vulnerable black-bellied pangolin on a branch
Black bellied pangolins also known as long-tailed pangolins. They live in trees in parts of western and central Africa, and are the smallest of all African pangolin.
Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)
African forest elephant
The shy and elusive African forest elephant is found only in Central Africa. They prefer evergreen and moist forested surroundings found in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Upper Guinea, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Gabon currently has the most stable population of African forest elephants.
Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
A hippo with its impressive mouth open in Kruger National Park.
The hippo is a large and round ungulate that prefers spending most of its time in the water. While the word hippopotamus is Greek for “River Horse,” hippos and horses are not closely related. In fact, the closes living relatives to the hippo are whales, dolphins, and pigs.
Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta africana africana)
Africa’s savanna elephant
Temminck’s Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii)
The amazingly scaled Temminck’s ground pangolin
Ground pangolins are found in southern and eastern Africa. They are also known as Cape pangolins or Temminck’s pangolin.
African Conservation in Action
It’s important to note that African species classified as endangered evolves over time, generally as the impact of human wildlife conflict increases. Sadly the net number of African endangered species has been increasing over the years, but there are some conservation success stories where animal species are actually removed from the endangered list.
The Southern White Rhino is one such success story. In 1895 these creatures had been hunted into virtual extinction, with an estimated 100 left in South Africa. Rhino horn is still a valuable commodity, but after a century of wildlife conservation, anti-poaching efforts, and increasing the number of protected areas, and there are now around 20,000 of these stunning animals thriving in national parks and private game reserves across Southern Africa.
Two southern white rhinos – no longer an African endangered species.
That’s the complete list of Africa’s endangered animals (looking at mammals and birds only). What’s your take on this – any animals that surprise you by making the list, or being left off it? Let us know in the comments section below!
Thank you very much for the Article. It has been very helpful. I have been Listing African animals by Conservation status. Thanks!
Great to hear you found it useful John!