The African country of Burundi has a great variety of native wildlife, with 17 species of mammals, 56 species of amphibians, 52 species of reptiles, and 22 species of birds. There are also 215 species of fish, most of which live in Lake Tanganyika, and about 150 species of butterfly. Since animals recognize no national boundaries, many can also be found in Burundi’s neighboring countries of Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Wildlife found in Burundi include zebras, leopards, African buffalo, the red-faced barbet, the lesser kestrel, cranes, crocodiles, chimpanzees, the blue monkey, and the tailed green-banded swallowtail butterfly.
The Official National Animal of Burundi
Burundi appears to have two national animals. They are the spotted hyena and the Transvaal lion. The Transvaal lion, whose scientific name is Panthera leo melanochaita is subspecies of a lion that’s found in parts of eastern and southern Africa, though it does not seem to have much of a presence in Burundi. In fact, it is considered extinct in its native habitats of Eritrea, Djibouti, and Lesotho. Extinct means the lion is no longer found in these places in the wild.
Though the lion is protected in some African countries, its population is declining in the east and the south due to loss of its habitat and the prey that live there as well as trophy hunting. The lion is also killed by local people because it’s been known to kill and eat livestock. Despite this, Burundi’s coat of arms features the head of a lion.
On the other hand, the spotted hyena’s conservation status is of least concern. This animal is the largest type of hyena and like its sometimes rival the lion, lives in family groups. In the case of the hyena, the groups are dominated by females, who are bigger than the males and are more competitive than cooperative. For example, lionesses of the same pride may nurse each other’s cubs, but females of a hyena cackle or clan do not.
Where To Find The Top Native Wild Animals in Burundi
The top wild animals in Burundi can be found in its national parks and reserves. There is Kibira National Park, Ruvubu National Park, and Rusizi National Park, with Ruvubu being the largest at 126,000 acres. The four reserves are Kigwena Forest Nature Reserve, Lac Rwihinda Nature Reserve, Bururi Forest Nature Reserve, and Rumonge Nature Reserve.
The Most Dangerous Animals In Burundi Today
The most dangerous wildlife in Burundi include:
- Mosquitoes — As of March 2021, Burundi is experiencing an epidemic of this disease that is spread by mosquitoes. Since 2019, half the population of 12 million Burundians have been infected, and 1800 have died.
- Black mamba — this snake is one of the most dangerous on earth and kills 20,000 people a year in Africa.
- Hippopotamus — though a semi-aquatic herbivore, this animal kills about 500 people every year in Africa.
- Nile Crocodile — According to legend, there’s a monster Nile crocodile called Gustave who lives around the shores of Lake Tanganyika and the Ruzizi River. He is said to have killed at least 300 people. Less storied Nile crocodiles, who seem to view humans as part of their regular diet, might cause as many as 469 deaths in all of Africa every year.
Endangered Wildlife In Burundi
Unfortunately, many animals in Burundi are endangered thanks largely to humans turning their native habitat into farmland, hunting, poaching and the increasing human population. A number of animals, such as the gorilla and the elephant that once roamed the country are now extinct or extirpated. Animals that are endangered include:
One spot of good news is that the Bururi long-fingered frog, thought to be extinct, was rediscovered in 2011. It is now “near threatened.”
Burundi’s Flag
The flag of Burundi features a large white X that divides four colored triangles, two red and two green. The red stands for the blood of those who died fighting for independence. Green represents progress for the country, as well as hope. Lastly, the white X stands for peace. The stars included on the flag represent the country’s motto, which is “Unity, Work, Progress.”