Cote d’Ivoire or the Ivory Coast is found in West Africa. It’s bordered to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by Liberia and Guinea, to the north by Mali and Burkina Faso, and to the east by Ghana. Though these other countries have unique and abundant wildlife, the Ivory Coast has the greatest biodiversity in all of West Africa. It contains 702 species of birds, 223 species of mammals, 125 species of reptiles, 111 species of fish, and 38 types of amphibians. It also has nine national wildlife parks to protect these animals.
The Official National Animal of Cote d’Ivoire
The national animal of the Ivory Coast is the elephant. The country’s coat of arms features an elephant’s head, and the country itself is named for the ivory that was taken, and still is taken, from the elephant. Because of this, ironically, the elephant is endangered and extinct from many of its traditional habitats on the African continent.
Where To Find The Top Wild Animals in Cote d’Ivoire
The Ivory Coast has nine national parks.
- They are Assagny National Park, which is found on the coast and was established in 1981.
- Abokouamekro National Park is the home of the white rhino and other species that were extirpated from the country.
- Banco National Park encloses a rainforest, grasslands, and savannas.
- Comoé National Park has a variety of habitats, including areas of tropical rainforest, forest islands, and savannas that are homes to a multiplicity of wildlife.
- Ivory Coast also has Îles Ehotilés National Park, which is, as its name says, a group of islands in Aby Lagoon that’s home to birds such as the western reef heron and whistling duck and mammals such as manatees, bush pigs, and spotted-necked otters.
- Marahoué National Park, founded in 1968, still exists but is in a bit of trouble, as much of it has been deforested. It used to be the home of chimpanzees, but now these primates appear to be extinct in this habitat.
- The good news is that Mont Péko National Park has a good number of chimpanzees.
- Mont Sângbé National Park has a variety of primates, including chimps and monkeys, including the Diana monkey and the king colobus. It’s also home to oribi, waterbucks and duikers, and the endangered slender-snouted crocodile.
- Taï National Park is home to endangered animals such as leopards, chimps and the pygmy hippopotamus. Birds found there include the Sierra Leone Prinia, the Green-tailed bristlebill, and the rufous fishing owl. There are also amphibians, reptiles, and insects such as dragonflies and scarab beetles.
The Most Dangerous Animals In Cote d’Ivoire Today
- African buffalo — When it comes to dangerous Ivoirean beasts, the African buffalo is pre-eminent. Every year at least 200 people are gored or trampled to death by the buffalo. A wounded buffalo will lie in wait to take revenge on a hunter and recruit members of its herd to help. It’s not called the “Widowmaker” for nothing.
- Hippopotamus — Hippos kill at least 500 people every year and some believe they kill as many as 3000. One popular way is to upend boats on the rivers. The occupants are then killed outright by the hippo or drown.
- Nile crocodile — The Nile crocodile is unique among these dangerous animals in that it actually hunts humans for provender. Between 175 and 469 of them are killed by Nile crocodiles yearly.
- Elephant — Elephants can be dangerous, especially males in musth. About 500 people a year are killed by elephants. The shrinking of their habitat has made elephants even more aggressive.
Endangered Animals In Cote d’Ivoire
Despite the efforts placed into protecting the animals of the Ivory Coast, some are still endangered, and a few may be on the brink of going extinct, at least in their traditional habitat. Endangered animals include:
- Red colobus monkey. This monkey is endangered.
- Chimpanzee. The chimpanzee, the primate most closely related to humans, is also endangered.
- Hooded vulture. This vulture with its naked, bright red face is critically endangered.
- Atlantic humpback dolphin. This dolphin who swims off the Cote d’Ivoire’s coastline is critically endangered thanks to being accidentally caught in gill nets, habitat loss, pollution and climate change.
- Home’s hinge-back tortoise. This tortoise is considered vulnerable.