Spotted Hyena - Benin

Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, was a West African kingdom emerging in 1600 to became a regional power. It survived for 3 centuries; 1600 to 1904. France began to take control in the 1850’s and by 1904, had included the former kingdom within its French West Africa colonies. Benin achieved independence in 1960.

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Crucuta crucuta - Hyenas were the dominate animal in the carnivore niche. Their fossil remains have been found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Four species, limited to Africa and Asia, remain in existence today. They range from 1 to 1.4 meters in length and weigh 30 to 80 kilos. Usually dismissed as opportunistic scavengers, hyenas are one of the most adaptable and skillful carnivores. The spotted hyena has the highest population of the larger carnivores in Africa and can be found throughout the regions of sub-Saharan Africa.

Mound Building Termites - Benin

Mound building termites can be found in Africa, Australia, and South America. Using grains of sand mixed with saliva, mound building termites are able to construct impressive colonies towering up to 5 meters over the African savannah. A typical mound requires 4 to 5 years of construction and can host over 2 million termites. Termites share a common feature with ants, bees, and wasps; their colonies are divided into castes consisting of workers, soldiers, drones, and the queen.

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The Dahomey Kingdom existed from 1600 until 1900. The kingdom was founded in the Abomey Plateau area by the Fon people, a prominent tribe of Western Africa. During the reign of Houegbadja, 1645 to 1685, the kingdom began to expand beyond its original borders and became more centralized. The kingdom continued to prosper and reached its zenith under King Agaja, Houegbadja’s grandson. By the 1870’s, France had begun to take control of the kingdom’s coastal areas and Dahomey fell into decline.