Niger

Located on the border between the Sahara and sub-Saharan regions, Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa. The country has approximately 8.5 million hectares of protected areas, representing 6.6 percent of its territory, with the goal of reaching the IUCN goal of eleven percent as more areas become protected. Wildlife conservation is guaranteed by laws and regulations of the Niger government, which has established a lasting ban on hunting to ensure the safety of animals like lions, hippos and giraffes in the wild. With 136 mammal species, including one near-threatened, nine vulnerable, two endangered, and two critically endangered, Niger is truly a treasure trove of biodiversity. It is clear that Niger is a country that values and protects its natural heritage. Although one of the species previously listed for Niger can no longer be found in the wild, Bird Life International has reported 528 bird species, including one introduced and three globally threatened. Despite thin vegetation, the rich avifauna in Niger suggests that many more species may be discovered. Due to the country's topography and climatic conditions, its fauna is characterized by rare species such as the African Bush Elephant, the Striped Hyena, the North African Cheetah, the waterbuck, the African Leopard, the West African Lion, antelopes, the Common Warthog, the Scimitar-Horned Oryx, the Niger River Hippopotamus, crocodiles, horned vipers, lizards, pythons, manatees, the endemic Niger Giraffe, which is now endangered, the critically endangered Dama Gazelle, the national symbol of Niger, along with Soemmerring's Gazelle, Grant's Gazelle and Slender-Horned Gazelle.