Featured Species

Barbary lion (Panthera leo leo) 

The story of the extinction of the barbary lion shows us that even when sightings of a species seem to have ended, conservation efforts should continue. The barbary lion was elieved to have been extinct by 1925, but a female lioness was encountered in 1942.

Extinct due to:

  • Exploitation (kept by individuals)
  • Romans killed thousands in the Coliseum gladiator spectacles
  • Fragmented population was finished off by European hunters in the 19th century

Habitat & Range: Once roamed throughout the deserts and mountains of northern Africa, ranging from Morocco to Egypt, far to the north of their sub-Saharan relatives.

 

Hill’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hillorum) 

These bats use echolocation to detect insects, which they then eat while in flight.

Conservation Status: Vulnerable, populations are decreasing

Habitat & Range: Endemic to the major highland areas of the Upper (Guinea and Liberia) and Lower (Nigeria and Cameroon) Guinean Forest of West Africa

Threats

  • Forest fragmentation and habitat degradation due to wildfires, farming, logging, and human development
  • Severe weather caused by climate change

 

Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) 

Conservation efforts, such as, population monitoring, and education and involvement of local communities have helped to keep populations of Grevy’s zebra stable from 2008 to 2016, when the population was last assessed.

Conservation Status: Endangered, populations are stable

Habitat & Range: live in arid and semi-arid grass/shrubland where they can gain access to permanent water; only found in the Horn of Africa, specifically Ethiopia and Kenya

Threats

  • Habitat degradation and loss
  • Drought
  • Competition for limited resources with livestock
  • Poaching

 

Lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) 

Lesser flamingos are social animals that are most active at dusk and dawn when they feed.

Conservation Status: Near Threatened, populations are decreasing. Conservation efforts are focused on their breeding grounds at Lake Nakuru, in hopes of stabilizing and even increasing their population.

Habitat & Range: breeds in large undisturbed alkaline and saline lakes, salt pans, or coastal lagoons (usually far out from the shore) in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Three smaller breeding congregations occur in West Africa, in southern Africa, and in India and Pakistan. When not breeding, it occurs in nearly every sub-Saharan country and from the Arabian Peninsula to Pakistan.

Threats

  • Breeding site destruction due to deforestation, farming, drainage, pollution, and industry
  • Land-claim, water pollution, and collisions with electric wires

 

Black rhino (Diceros bicornis) 

These large herbivores use their horns to gain access to more food by breaking off branches or knocking down plants.

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered, populations are increasing

Habitat & Range: occur in a wide variety of habitats from desert areas to wooded areas in southern Africa

Threats

  • Poaching to supply the illegal rhino horn trade (Chinese medicine and ornamental use)
  • Habitat and population fragmentation

 

White rhino (Ceratotherium simum) 

These beneficial herbivores help reduce the chance for wildfires with their grazing.

Conservation Status: Near Threatened, populations are decreasing

Habitat & Range: found in grassland in savanna habitats in central and south Africa

Threats

  • Poaching to supply the illegal rhino horn trade (Chinese medicine and ornamental use)
  • Civil wars causing habitat and population fragmentation

 

Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) 

These vibrant colored lizards have some fascinating adaptations, such as their eyes that can rotate and focus separately, allowing them to focus on two different items at the same time.

Conservation Status: Least Concern, populations are stable

Habitat & Range: Endemic to Madagascar where it is widespread in lowland scrub and forest habitat of the northeast and east

Threats: Although this is the most sought-after Malagasy chameleon in the international pet trade, current levels of exploitation are not thought to represent a threat.

 

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) 

These social primates travel on the ground, but rest and eat in trees. Their larger community can split into smaller groups that vary and change regularly.

Conservation Status: Endangered, populations are decreasing

Habitat & Range: Chimpanzees have by far the widest geographic distribution of any great ape, with a range of over 1.6 million square miles. They have a fragmented distribution from southern Senegal across the forested belt north of the Congo River to western Tanzania and western Uganda. Found in a range of forest habitats and segmented forested areas near farmlands.

Threats

  • Even though all killing, capture or consumption of great apes is illegal, poaching is the greatest threat to most Chimpanzees.
  • Habitat loss and degradation (slash-and-burn agriculture, industrial agriculture, logging, mining, and oil)
  • Disease from humans as their habitats continue to overlap

 

Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis ssp. reticulata) 

A giraffe’s height provides them with the opportunity to spot predators from a distance and stay in visual contact with their herd.

Conservation Status: Endangered, populations are decreasing

Habitat & Range: most often found in savanna/woodland habitats in north-eastern Kenya, and across the borders in south-eastern Ethiopia and south-western Somalia

Threats

  • Habitat loss and fragmentation
  • Poaching
  • Habitat degradation and loss, drought
  • Competition for limited resources with livestock

 

African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) 

A leopard's pattern varies geographically possibly due to their assorted habitats. As ambush predators, their camouflage helps them surprise their prey and hide from their own predators.

Conservation Status: Vulnerable, populations are decreasing

Habitat & Range: The African subspecies is found in a wide range of habitats, including desert and semi-desert regions of southern Africa in Namibia and Botswana, rainforests of West and Central Africa, and suburban/urban environments in parts of sub-Saharan Africa

Threats

  • Habitat fragmentation
  • Reduced prey animals and conflict with livestock and game farming
  • Poaching and illegal trade

 

Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) 

These antelopes search great distances throughout the Sahara Desert for grasses to eat.

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered, populations are decreasing. They're listed as Critically Endangered because the total population is estimated to be under 100.

Habitat & Range: The only known remaining population thought to be viable is in Niger, although there are sporadic records of small groups or individuals in other areas.

Threats

  • Uncontrolled hunting over many years, especially in the 20th century due to increased efficiency in hunting technology
  • Drought and competition with livestock
  • Disturbance by oil exploration and production
  • Political instability in the area and violence
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Conservation in Action

Twiga Wetu, Kenya

This project is coordinated by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF). The Masai giraffe is an iconic species found in Kenya. It faces many threats including poaching, road killings, and electrocution. Unfortunately, no reliable data currently exists to accurately assess the effect of these threats on giraffe numbers and their distribution. This information is necessary to create population management plans and legislation to protect giraffes. While community scouts and rangers currently patrol the Athi-Kapiti communal conservancies (AKWCA), few have been adequately trained in data collection and reporting, as well as conducting snare sweeps. This capacitation project is part of the Recovery and Action Plan for Giraffe in Kenya (2018-2022). The goal of our partnership with GCF for the Twiga Wetu project is to help the rangers learn these important skills which will contribute to giraffe conservation. 

Partners In Conservation (PIC)

Collaborating with its partners in East Central Africa, Partners in Conservation raises and distributes funds that benefit both wildlife and people. Founded in 1991 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Partners in Conservation’s work is driven by a vision for the coexistence of all living things.

Akagera National Park Rhino Trackers, Rwanda

In 2007, the last Eastern black rhino living in Akagera National Park was poached. After much consideration and planning, a reintroduction effort to bring the critically endangered Eastern black rhinos back to Rwanda began in 2017. Because of the threat of poaching, the reintroduced rhinos are now monitored and protected by park rangers all day, every day. The Columbus Zoo has had a long relationship with Akagera National Park and is providing funds to purchase uniforms and rations for the rhino patrol units. Zoo staff will also help create conservation messaging that they can share with their guests to teach visitors about the value of saving rhinos.

Taking Action at Home

Habitat loss is not limited to Africa. You can help wildlife in this part of the world by fostering a healthy habitat in your neighborhood. Wildlife-friendly backyards, community gardens, and supporting greenspace provide homes for the animals here.