The Society has photographs of most of the mammals from 27 categories, ranging from ocean going mammals to land mammals. The categories are in Latin, but some of them look similar to their English names so you can tell what they are (eg. Cetacea and Monotremata). For the others, click on the category and look at the first photo and that should help you realize what category you’ve chosen.

Have a safe and happy long weekend!

According to the Guardian (and a study in Biology Conservation), this includes the famous tourist safari destinations Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Western African parks averaged an 85% decrease in wildlife.  Human activities including the bushmeat trade have taken a heavy toll on the wildlife.  But one hopes that protected areas would keep the animals safe, particularly where tourist dollars pour into the local economy by people wanting to see the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino.

Outside the parks, the news is even worse.  There, in many cases the African animals including the rhino are close to extinction.  Of special concern are migratory animals such as the wildebeest, who venture through unprotected areas every time they migrate.  The African Conservation Foundation has an online article about why the lack of dry and wet season habitat is depleting the migratory mammals populations.

A beacon of hope shines from South Africa, whose 35 reserves averaged an increase of 25% in wildlife populations.  South Africa has more money to invest in conservation, more staff to patrol and stop poaching, and better preservation of park habitats and boundaries.

Another ray of hope is that many of the declines have slowed over time. Park management has improved.  Now, urgent efforts are needed to better protect the animals and secure the future of the parks.