Wildlife of Gabon

The wildlife of Gabon is composed of its flora and fauna. Gabon is a largely low-lying country with a warm, humid climate. Much of the country is still covered by tropical rainforest and there are also grasslands, savannas, large rivers and coastal lagoons.

Overview

Plant growth is rapid and dense. About 85 percent of the country is covered by tropical humid forest. The dense green of the vegetation never changes, since the more than 6,000 species of plants flower and lose their leaves continuously throughout the year according to species. Tree growth is especially rapid; some trees tower as high as 60 m, and the trunks are thickly entwined with vines. There are about 300 species of trees. In the coastal regions, marine plants abound, and wide expanses are covered with tall papyrus grass.

Wildlife includes forest elephants, buffalo, various antelope and monkey species, sitatungas, leopards, three species of crocodiles, chimpanzees and gorillas, and several marine turtle species which nest along the coast. As of 2002, there were at least 190 species of mammals.

Fauna
Forest elephants

Mammals
Main article: List of mammals in Gabon

Gabon has important populations of many mammals including about 35,000 gorillas, 50,000 forest elephants and 64,000 common chimpanzees. About a quarter of Africa's gorillas live in Gabon. Other large mammals include the hippopotamus, forest buffalo, bongo and red river hog. A variety of monkeys occur, including the endemic Sun-tailed monkey, and the near-endemic mandrill and white-collared managabey (here near-endemic meaning most of the individuals of these species are in Gabon, but that they also occur in the neighbouring countries as well). . Carnivorous mammals include the leopard, golden cat, and various jackals, mongooses, genets and civets. The last lion was killed in 1996 in the savannahs of the east of the country. The West African manatee is found along coasts and large rivers while the humpback whale breeds offshore.

Birds
Hartlaub's duck
Main article: List of birds of Gabon

There are 604 species of birds throughout the country (data from BirdLife International, 2013). None of these are endemic but some such as the Dja River warbler, Verreaux's batis, African river martin and black-chinned weaver are restricted to Central Africa and have only small ranges. The grey-necked picathartes and Loango weaver are classed as vulnerable species by the IUCN.

Reptiles

A variety of snakes are found including the Gaboon viper. Sea turtles breed along the coast, particularly the leatherback turtle.

Mangroves such as Rhizophora mangle line parts of the coast.

Flora

There are over 7000 species of native vascular plant in Gabon. About 22% of these are endemic. New species are still being discovered such as the tree Cola lizae which was first described in 1987.

Conservation

Wildlife in Gabon faces a number of threats including logging and poaching. However 11% of the country's area is now protected in a recently established (September 2002) network of 13 national parks.

References
  • African Bird Club (2008) Birds and birding in Gabon. Accessed 18 June 2008.
  • Warne, Sophie (2003) Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe: the Bradt Travel Guide, Bradt. ISBN 1-84162-073-4
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