Eritrea is in eastern Africa in a region known as the Horn of Africa. It borders Sudan to the west and Ethiopia to the south. It has an extensive coastline on the Red Sea and includes the Dahlak Archipelago.
Eritrea’s landscape includes three distinct regions. It has the green highlands, the hot, dry western lowlands, and a long coastal plain. These areas are home to many unique animal and bird species.
Wildlife in Eritrea
Like other African countries, Eritrea has buffalos, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and leopards. It is home to several rare species only found in this region, including the Nubian ibex and the African golden wolf.
Eritrea has a healthy population of northern African elephants. It is also home to the world’s only population of free-ranging African wild donkeys.
The African wild ass or African wild donkey (Equus africanus) is a wild member of the horse family. It is related to both zebras and domestic donkeys. This adorable animal looks like a donkey with gray fur and zebra-striped legs. African wild donkeys are endemic to Eritrea and other eastern African countries.
Zoo Basel in Switzerland has created a successful captive breeding program for African wild donkeys. The zoo manages the wild donkey studbook for the world’s captive breeding programs.
Deforestation, the war for independence, and border disputes with Ethiopia have led to diminished numbers of the country’s native animals. The Eritrean government has passed laws to protect the country’s native flora and fauna.
The coastal waters are home to whales, dolphins, dugongs, and five species of sea turtle, including the green turtle and hawksbill turtle.
What Animals Are Endangered or Extinct in Eritrea?
Erirea’s endangered animals include the Dorcas gazelle and Soemmering gazelle.
Eritrea has two native animals who “came back” from extinction.
The Eritrean Gazelle (Eudorcas tilonura) or Heuglin’s Gazelle: This rare gazelle was listed as extinct until a conservationist came across a small herd of them 90 years later. Biologists confirmed they were Eritrean gazelles. The Eritrean government has set aside land to conserve these rare, beautiful gazelles.
Eritrea side-neck turtle (Pelomedusa gehafie): Like the Eritrean gazelle, this turtle was declared extinct. Scientists had not seen one for almost 100 years. In 2016, conservationists discovered a small population of the turtles.
The Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana): This wild goat lives in the mountain regions and deserts of Africa and the Middle East. It stands about two feet tall and has long curving horns.
These goats were hunted almost to extinction for their meat, but conservation laws have allowed Nubian ibexes to rebound. Today, they are listed as “vulnerable” because their population is declining.
The government of Eritrea has taken several important steps to address wildlife conservation. The country was one of the first in the world to ban the production, sale, and distribution of plastic bags. It has outlawed the hunting and trapping of wild animals and banned the cutting of live trees. It has also set aside areas as wildlife preserves, national parks, and marine reserves. Eritrea instituted a tree planting program to reverse the effects of deforestation.
Where to See the Top Wild Animals in Eritrea
There are many places to see wildlife in Eritrea. Visitors can spot lions and greater kudus in the mountain regions. In the Denkalia region, elephants and gazelles roam. In the Nakfa and Gash-Setit wildlife parks, you’ll see bushbucks, duikers, greater kudus, klipspringers, leopards, oryxes, and crocodiles.
Eritrea has more than 500 native bird species. The country is on a widely used migratory bird path that links the Middle East and Africa. You can see many of these unique birds at reserves like Semnawi Bahri National Park, the Dahlak Islands and along the coast of the Red Sea.
Yob Wildlife Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Red Sea and Anseba regions of northern Eritrea. It was established in 1959 to protect populations of Nubian ibex.
The Flag of Eritrea
The flag of Eritrea was adopted in 1995 and displays triangles in red, green and blue. The red triangle is a reminder of the bloodshed endured during the country’s fight for freedom. The green triangle represents Eritrea’s agricultural sector and the blue triangle, the sea’s abundance. The vertical olive branch surrounded by a golden olive wreath inside the red triangle symbolizes their independence.