What Are The Endangered Animals in Kenya
Endangered animals are categorized into different levels. The International Union on the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorized it into 7 levels. The number of population and geographic range determine these levels and how fast is the estimated decline.
These 7 levels for the list of endangered animals are:
- Least concerned
- Near Threatened
- Vulnerable
- Endangered
- Critically endangered
- Extinct in the Wild
- Extinct
Kenya is a country found in the southern part of the central east coast of Africa. This place has highlands with low plains around it. IUCN has a list of endangered animals for this country.
The list includes:
1. The Black Rhinoceros. This animal is dark brown to gray skin in color. The Black Rhinoceros has two horns. This animal is in the 5th level of the IUCN list of endangered animals. This means the Black Rhinoceros is considered critically endangered.
2. The Hartebeest or also called the Hirola. This animal is an antelope that lives in the grassy plains of Kenya. There are only 300-estimated Hirola left in the plains of Kenya, making it a critically endangered species or the 5th level in the IUCN list.
3. The Blue Whale. This is considered to be the biggest animal in the world. There are only an estimated 5,000 blue whales left in the world, 400 of it can be found in the Southern Hemisphere.
4. The Grevy’s Zebra. There are only an estimated 4,300 left of this zebra living in the grasslands of Kenya.
5. The African Elephant. This endangered animal is considered vulnerable or under the 3rd level of the IUCN list of endangered animals. There are only 22,000 to 29,000 left of these animals in Kenya.
To save these species, the Congress of the United States enacted the US Endangered Species Act. This act has two categories, namely, the endangered and the threatened category. There is a list of endangered animals made by this act. If ever an animal becomes included in this list, the Endangered Species Act will make sure that the species is protected. This Act makes sure that that species is not harmed or hunted down in any way. There will be prohibitions to be implemented to develop the natural habitat of that certain animal. If the animal species has recovered from being endangered, then it will be removed from the list.