Giant Eland - Central African Republic

Sango is one of the primary languages spoken in the Central African Republic. It has approximately 450,000 native speakers with another 1,500,000 people using it as their second language. It is sometimes classified as a Creole language based on French, but evidence points to it having deep African roots.

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Taurotragus derbianus - Of the approximately 100 species labeled as antelope, the giant eland is the largest. There are two subspecies, the western and eastern giant eland. The eastern version has 12 narrow body stripes, the western version has 15 narrow body stripes and is slightly larger than its eastern relative. In both subspecies the males are much larger than the females, sometimes twice as large. Despite their size, giant elands are able to achieve speeds of 70 km/h to escape their two main predators, lions and hyenas.

Greater Kudu - Chad

The most productive archaeological sites in Africa are located in Chad. The Borkou region in Northern Chad revealed a hominid skull dating to 7 million years ago. Being the oldest fossil find of this type in the world adds strong credibility to the “Out of Africa” theory in regards to humans having originated in Africa.

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Tragelaphus strepsiceros- Female greater kudus and their offspring form small herds rarely exceeding 40 individuals; males tend to lead solitary lives. Younger males do form bachelor herds or attach themselves to an older bull. The natural coloring of the kudu provides excellent camouflage against predators. The kudu will hold its ground when threatened and wait for the danger to pass before making any attempts trying to outrun a hyena, lion, or leopard. Despite their long legs and lean bodies, greater kudus are not fast runners.

Greater Kudu - Chad

Tragelophus strepsiceros - With heights ranging from 1 to 1.5 meters, the greater kudu is the second tallest antelope in the world; the great eland is the tallest. Males and females are equal in height, but males are much heavier. Both sexes have a short crest and the males have the addition of a tasseled dewlap hanging from their chin. Though not endangered, the kudu’s range is being reduced to smaller areas, forcing them to struggle for the fewer food sources and territory available.

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Lake Chad lies in an endorheic basin, a closed natural reservoir with no outlet to other bodies of water. The waters of Lake Chad are replenished by seasonal rains and one large river, the Chari. Water is lost primarily through evaporation and irrigation. The lake provides water for approximately 70 million people living in the four countries sharing the lake: Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. Changing climate patterns and the high demands placed on Lake Chad have caused a drastic shrinkage of the lake.

Dorcas Gazelle - Eritrea

The name “Eritrea” is derived from the Greek word Ereythreus and Latin word Erythræa. Both had been used in referring to the Red Sea. The Kingdom of Italy installed itself as the colonial ruler over most of the Horn of Africa and in 1890, King Umberto I, formally announced the creation of a new colony and named it Eritrea.

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Gazella dorcas - The dorcas gazelle is a small gazelle endemic to the arid regions of Northern Africa stretching from Morocco to the Horn of Africa. It is 55 to 65 centimeters in height at the shoulders, has a body length of 90 to 110 centimeters, and weighs 15 to 20 kilos. The dorcas gazelle is highly adapted for desert climates and can survive its entire life without drinking water directly. They have the ability to obtain their water needs from the plants they consume. Their primary diet includes the leaves and pods of the acacia tree.

Blue Wildebeest - Eswatini

The flag of Eswatini, also known as Swaziland, is one of two countries in the world incorporating a shield in its design, the other is Kenya. The flag has a Nguni shield as its centerpiece and was designed by King Sobhuza II. The flag was carried by the Emasotsha Regiment, an Allied formation active during World War II.

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Connochactes taurinus - The blue wildebeest is a tough and hardy individual. The short grasses of the African savannah are the primary food source for the large herds. Wildebeests have formed a close association with zebras. With zebras feeding on the longer blades of grass, they expose the shorter and more nutritious grass for the wildebeest. This association also provides an additional early warning system against potential predators. Blue wildebeest numbers have remained stable; there are about 1.5 million individuals.

Blue Wildebeest - Eswatini

The annual migration of wildebeests is a gathering of over 1,000,000 individuals and an additional 500,000 other animals attaching themselves to the scattered herds: zebras, gazelles, and elands. It begins with the wildebeest cows giving birth to over 250,000 calves within a time frame of 2 to 3 weeks. This massive birthing event, the changing weather patterns, and the need to find reliable food sources combine to trigger the start of the migration. Some wildebeests are sedentary; they do not migrate.

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Eswatini derives its name from King Mswati II. Under his leadership, 1840 to 1868, the kingdom expanded  to included parts of present-day Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Eswatini retained its independence until 1903; it was made a British protectorate following the Anglo-Boer War. Swazi King Sobhuza II is considered as having the longest reign of any monarch in history, 1899 to 1982. He managed to successfully and peacefully devolve his kingdom from British control; Eswatini gained complete independence in 1968.

Zebra Duiker - Guinea

The Wassoulou Empire was a short-lived state situated in West Africa. It sprang up in 1878, but became engaged with French forces intent on establishing Guinea as a French colony. Samori Touré, the head of the Wassoulou Empire, resisted the French invasion until he was captured and exiled in 1898.

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Cephalophus zebra - Zebra duikers derive their name from the band of stripes running off their backs and sides. These markings usually number between 12 and 16 stripes and as the zebra, they are different to each individual. They serve as a means of identification between individuals and to confuse predators. Zebra duikers are limited to small areas of the West African rainforests. Hunting and habitat loss have caused a sharp decline in their population. There are less than 20,000 zebra duikers remaining in the wild.

Impala - Kenya

Aepyceros melampus - Male impalas are slightly larger than the females, but are easily recognized by their horns; females lack horns. Impalas range throughout the savannahs of Eastern Africa, from South Africa to Kenya. Impalas form three distinctive groups: the female herds, the bachelor herds, and the harems formed by dominate males during the mating season. Females stay with their herds and males leave to join with bachelor herds once they are weaned, usually after six months.

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Kenya derives its name from Mount Kenya, an extinct volcano. It is the tallest mountain in Kenya and the second tallest in Africa. Mount Kenya’s last eruption occurred 3 million years ago. The Kamba, the local Bantu people inhabiting the area near Mount Kenya, refer to the mountain as Kiinyaa. Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German explorer, used the local term in naming the mountain when he saw it in 1849. Krapf mistakenly assumed Mount Kenya as being the elusive source for the Nile River.

Springbok - Namibia

Antidorcas marsupialis - When threatened, the springbok has developed an unusual behavior to deter potential predators. The springbok stiffens its legs, arches its back, and repeatedly springs up with enough force to  bring the animal 3 meters off the ground. These displays are known as “pronking” and demonstrate the strength and vitality of the individual. Should “pronking” fail, a springbok can easily outrun most predators. It is capable of reaching speeds of 100 km/h.

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Lüderitz was a German settlement established along the coast of Namibia in 1883. It became the foothold for Germany to expand its control over the region; the colony “Deutsch-Südwestafrika,” German Southwest Africa was formed in 1884. In 1909, diamonds were discovered in the vicinity and the colony enjoyed a period of prosperity. Germany lost control of Namibia following its defeat in World War I. The area was administrated by South Africa until Namibia achieved independence in 1990.

Dibatag - Somalia

Ammodorcas Clarkei - The dibatag, or Clark’s gazelle, is found in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia and the higher elevations of Northern and Central Somalia. Males have slightly curved horns ranging from 10 to 25 centimeters in length. These horns are used against other males during the mating season in establishing breeding hierarchies. Dibatags feed on leaves and new shoots from shrubs and trees and are able to balance themselves on their hind legs to reach the upper foliage.

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Somalia has been the site of several prominent Arab states: the Ajuran Empire, the Adal Sultanate, the Geledi Sultanate, and the Warsangali Sultanate. By the 19th century these sultanates had fallen under the control of British and Italian rule. The sole exception to foreign domination was the Dervish State. It was able to repeal European attempts of colonization until 1920, when Great Britain assembled a powerful force, including airplanes, to bring about the defeat of the Dervish State.

Gemsbok - South Africa

The Amphitheatre Escarpment is the site of Tugela Falls, the world’s tallest waterfall. It has five drops, the longest being 411 meters, Tugela Falls measures 948 meters in total drop distance. Venezuela’s Angel Falls has the longest single drop of any waterfall, but the total drop of Angel Falls amounts to 800 meters.

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Oryx gazella - Gemsboks form herds numbering between 50 to 200 individuals; higher number are relative to the abundance of a reliable food source. A dominate male leads a group consisting primarily of females and dependent young males. In larger herds, the dominate bull may tolerate the presence of a beta male. Females hide new offspring in nearby brush for the first six weeks, visiting the calf 2 to 3 times each day for feeding and cleaning. When weaned, females stay in the herd; males disperse to join or form other herds.

Blue Antelope - Western Cape

Cape Agulhas, located in the Overberg region of the Western Province, is the southern most land tip on the African Continent and serves as the dividing line between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Portuguese navigators traveling to the Spice Islands name it “Cabo das Agulhas” in reference to the needle readings of their compass. 

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Hippotragus leucophaeus - When first encountered by Europeans in the 17th century, the blue antelope was restricted to a narrow band across South Africa; fossil records indicate a larger range. The blue antelope became extinct in 1800; it was the first large African mammal to succumb to extinction. Two close relatives from the same genus, the roan and sable antelope, can still be found on the African savannahs. Measuring 120 centimeters at the withers, the blue antelope was the smallest of the three species and was named for the blueish-grey tint of its coat.  

Cape Buffalo - KwaZulu

KwaZulu was the 8th Bantustan created by the South African government and achieved self-government status in 1977. It was created as a homeland for the Zulu people. The Zulus are of Bantu origin and with a population of approximately 13 million people, they are South Africa’s largest ethnic group.

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Syncerus caffer - The Cape buffalo is one of Africa’s most dangerous animals. The number of people killed or injured by encounters with the Cape buffalo exceeds those killed or injured by lions, elephants or crocodiles. The horn base of an adult male has a spread of almost 1 meter and is fused to the skull to form a continuous bone shield across the top of the head, a boss; female horns are smaller and are not fused. A fully grown male can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms, stand 1.7 meters at the shoulders, and reach 3.4 meters in length. 

Sitatunga - South Sudan

Tragelaphus spekii - The sitatunga is a medium-sized animal found in the swampy regions of Central Africa. Males are easily recognized; they are much larger than the female and have horns. Both sexes have white stripes and spots along the facial area and body, with mature males developing shaggy manes and a white dorsal stripe. The hooves of the sitatunga are elongated and splayed to allow the animal to walk and stand without sinking into the muddy ground.

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The Sudd is a wetland region formed by the White Nile. It was this massive region of thickets and swamps hindering the quest in finding the source of the Nile River. The size of the wetland varies by season. During the rainy season, it can cover over 130,000 square kilometers and then shrink down to 30,000 square kilometers during the dry season. The Sudd provides the local people with the means to sustain their pastoral lives and serves as a wildlife sanctuary for migrating and resident animals.

Addax - Tunisia

Tunisia is the northern most country in Africa and the smallest in the Maghreb region, an area also referred to as the Barbary States. In 1998, Tunisia became the first African country to enter into an “Association Agreement” with the European Union. Since then several other African countries have also joined the program. 

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Addax nasomaculatus - Also known as the white antelope, the addax once ranged throughout the desert regions of Northern Africa. They had adapted well to their arid environments. An addax can go indefinitely without water by restricting water loss and absorbing additional liquids through their food and lapping up the dew found on plants. The white coat helps to reflect heat. The density and shape of the coat can also regulate body temperature as it changes through the seasons. The addax is critically endangered.

Mountain Goat - Yukon Territory

The Klondike Gold Rush occurred from 1896 to 1899 and was centered in Dawson City. The harsh climate and rugged landscape was not a deterrent for the more than 100,000 prospectors trekking into the Canadian wilderness in search of gold. The brief stampede lasted only until gold was discovered in Nome, Alaska.

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Oreamnos americanus - The mountain goat is a species of antelope found in the higher mountain regions stretching from the northwestern United States through western Canada and into Alaska. They have a sturdy body, narrow frame, are tall at the shoulders, and shout legs with sharp-edged hooves. These features allow the mountain goat to safely climb the steepest cliffs and crags. Both sexes have short beards and horns; the male’s being longer for both features. The male is also considerably heavier and more robust than the female.

American Bison - United States of America

Fernandina Beach, founded by the French in 1562, is the oldest European settlement in the continental United States. Saint Augustine, also in Florida was founded in 1565 by the Spanish and is the second oldest. Both cities were established almost fifty years before Jamestown, Virginia, the first English settlement.

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Bison bison - The American bison has 14 pairs of ribs instead of the 13 found in true buffaloes. Great herds of bison once roamed over the vast North American grasslands. The bison was the primary food source for the Native American tribes living in the central plains area. By 1889, the bison herds had been exploited to the brink of extinct, only 541 remained alive in the United States. Through conservation efforts, the American bison has successfully recovered and is now thriving in national parks and protected reserves.

Bighorn Sheep - Colorado

The Four Corners is a quadripoint, a site where four American states touch: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It is the only point in the United States where the boundaries of four states meet. The area is situated on the Colorado Plateau, a sparsely populated region covering about 337,000 square kilometers.

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Ovis canadenis - The bighorn is a species of North American wild sheep. It migrated into the Americas about 750,000 years ago using the Bering Land Bridge. The size and curvature of the horns varies by sex and region; the Rocky Mountain subspecies has larger horns than those found in the Sierra Nevada variety. Females also have horns, but they are smaller and lack the bold curvature of the male’s. The horns of an adult male can weigh 14 kilos, amounting to 10% of an male’s weight or as heavy as the rest of the skeleton.

Marco Polo Sheep - Afghanistan

Afghanistan has reaped rewards and suffering based on its geographic location in Central Asia. The “Silk Road” served as a vital connection in the advancement of prosperity between European and Asian merchants, but unfortunately it also attracted ancient and modern invaders determined to control Afghanistan.

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Ovis ammon polii - The Marco Polo sheep is a sub-species of the mountain goat, a wild sheep found throughout Central Asia. Marco Polo sheep are known for their long spiraling horns. Attaining lengths of 55 centimeters, they have the longest horns of any sheep. The horns have the greatest growth during the first year of the ram’s life. Each new season produces an offset from earlier seasons and creates a ring pattern similar to trees. This allows the age of male sheep to be accurately determined; females do not carry horns.

Wild Goat - Armenia

Early humans achieved an important milestone 25 to 40 thousands years ago when they began making shoes. In 2008, a leather shoe was found in a cave near the village of Areni in Southern Armenia. Scientists have dated the shoe to being about 5,500 years old, making it the oldest leather shoe ever discovered.

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Capra aegagrus - The ancestor of the domesticated goat can be found in Europe and Central Asia. Wild goats prefer mountainous regions, especially areas with scree slopes, slopes with a mass of loose stones. It is an agile animal and uses the rocky cliffs when escaping from predators such as leopards or wolves. It is usually found in arid environments, but the wild goat of the Caucasus region inhabits wooded areas. Herds are large, consisting of females and their young. Males are solitary, but join the herds during the rutting season.