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.

White-cheeked Turaco - Eritrea

Tauraco leucotis - White-cheeked turacos are native to Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. They can be found in the podocarpus and juniper forests of those countries. Turaco chicks have a small claw attached to their wing. This feature is lost when the chicks fledge. The claws are probably used as a means of keeping the flightless chick in the nest. Turacos have a adjustable toe made to face either forwards or backwards to enable a secure grip on whatever surface the bird is perching on.

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In 100 AD, the Kingdom of Aksum was established in Eritrea and Northern Ethiopia. It was situated on both banks of the lower Red Sea. Aksum became an important trading center between the Roman Empire and India. Reaching its peak between 325 and 360 AD, while under the rule of Ezana, the Aksum Kingdom covered 1.25 million square kilometers. The eventual rise of more powerful Arab states brought about the decline and eventual displacement of the Aksum Kingdom in 940 AD.