Wildlife of
Tunisia

Tunisia is a small North African country, situated between Algeria to the west, Libya to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Historically it was the seat of the Carthaginian Empire, still remembered today for its rivalry with Rome. The coast of Tunisia is marked by a pleasant Mediterranean climate and plenty of rich farmland, while the interior is mostly comprised of dry deserts and hills. One of the longest ranges is the Tunisian Dorsal or High Tell. It’s comprised of low rolling hills that extend from the Saharan Atlas mountains of Algeria. The country is also rich in wetlands and forests (although much of this has been converted into farms).

The Official National (State) Animal Of Tunisia

Tunisia doesn’t necessarily have a national animal, but it does have a few traditional symbols, including the dromedary, which, unlike the camel, only has one hump. Also known as the Arabian camel or the one-humped camel, the dromedary is the tallest of the camel species, with males standing at over 9 feet and females standing at almost 6 feet tall. The males can weigh over 1300 pounds while females can weigh up to 1200 pounds.

This one-humped camel has an average lifespan of 40 to 50 years and can be found in the Sahara Desert, although this species of camel is no longer found in the wild, they do comprise 94% of the world’s camel population.

Where To Find The Top Wild Animals In Tunisia

Tunisia has set aside some 17 unique national parks to protect its natural wildlife, amongst them are two that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• Ichkeul National Park, which derives its name from the nearby lake, is located just outside the city of Bizerte, near the northernmost point in all of Africa. This wetland area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its importance as a winter bird sanctuary. Among the most interesting birds here are the graylag goose, coot, and wigeon.
• The Zembra and Zembretta National Park encompass two Mediterranean islands located in the Gulf of Tunisia. Officially declared an important UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977, the park hosts thousands of migrating birds every year, including the threatened Mediterranean shearwater.
• The El Feijda National Park, located in the northwest governorate of Jendouba, encompasses almost 7,000 acres of forests, mountains, natural springs, and lakes. Visitors might be able to find the Barbary stag, Barbary boar, African golden wolf, and other mammals here.
• Chambi National Park, located in the western Kasserine governorate, is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve surrounded by the country’s highest peak, Mount Chambi, which rises some 5,000 feet above sea level. Here one can find the Barbary sheep, Cuvier’s gazelle, Egyptian vulture, peregrine falcon, Tunisian crossbill, Bonelli’s eagle, and plenty of reptiles and snakes.
• Finally, the Boukornine National Park, located less than 10 miles away from the capital city of Tunis, encompasses nearly 5,000 acres of Aleppo cedar and pine forests at the foothills of the Jebel Boukornine. Both the mountain gazelles and Etruscans shrews (one of the smallest mammals in the world) are found here.

The Zembra and Zembretta National Park is located on two islands – Zembra and Zembretta. They are both located in the northeastern gulf of Tunis and comprise a national park that is a haven for people that want to appreciate the breathtaking landscapes and enjoy hiking, and camping. Zembra has 911 miles of rocky cliffs while Zembretta, the smaller of the two, has almost 5 miles to explore.

The Most Dangerous Animals In Tunisia Today

The dry arid regions of Tunisia are home to several kinds of dangerous wildlife that pose a risk to people’s health. They should be avoided at all costs.

• Horned Viper – Easily identified by the presence of unique horns above the eyes, the horned viper will sometimes lie submerged in the sand, waiting for prey to come by. The venom itself can cause pain, swelling, nausea, vomiting, and necrosis, and death can sometimes occur if the venom is left untreated.
• Egyptian Cobra – These reptiles are easily identified from their large hood and brown and black-colored body. The toxic venom affects the nervous system by stopping the nerves from signaling each other. In the short term, it can cause several unpleasant symptoms such as pain, swelling, blistering, and dizziness. Death can occur in untreated cases from complete respiratory failure.
• Fat-tailed Scorpion – The fat-tailed scorpion should be completely avoided. The venom can result in pain, swelling, and internal bleeding. If left untreated, it can eventually lead to heart or respiratory failure.

The fat-tailed scorpion is one of the most dangerous groups of scorpions in the world. Because of their aggressive temperament and lethal venom, they are potentially deadly to humans. Their toxins can attack the central nervous system and acts very quickly, causing paralysis and respiratory failure. They have a length of 3 to 4 inches and can be black, dark brown, or reddish in color.

Endangered Animals In Tunisia

Over the centuries, hunting and habitat loss (particularly from the spread of agriculture and farmland) have taken their toll on the local wildlife. While the country has made great strides in extending the protection of its animals, the following species are still endangered.

• Rhim Gazelle – This endangered species has been hunted relentlessly for sport and for its meat and horns. It’s also losing habitat at a precipitous rate. It’s estimated that no more than 2,500 individuals now remain in the wild.
• Addax – Also known as the white antelope or the screwhorn antelope, this species is native to the Sahara Desert. At some point in the recent past, it became completely extinct in Tunisia as a result of overhunting and habitat loss. More recently, conservationists have made some attempts to reintroduce it into the country.
• Dama Gazelle – The history of this Saharan antelope is quite similar to the addax. After being hunted to local extinction, it was then later reintroduced into the country in an effort to preserve it.
• Mediterranean Monk Seal – Once common throughout the Mediterranean Sea, this seal is now seldom seen near the shores of Tunisia. Less than 700 remain in the wild.

The Addax is an extremely rare deer due to unregulated hunting and poaching, although it is a common species in captivity. It is the most desert-adapted African antelope with a weight between 220 to 300 pounds, a height of 4 feet, and long spiraled horns. Current efforts to restore their populations in Tunisia are ongoing.

The Rarest Animal In Tunisia

The serval is a wild cat only found in Africa. They have a small population in Tunisia and prefer wetter habitats where the rodent population is higher. They have a lifespan of 10 years in the wild, although that is doubled when in captivity. Servals stand at 2 feet tall, with weights between 17 to 40 pounds, with males being heavier than females. Although they are currently not listed as endangered, their habitat is in danger. Servals were reintroduced to Feijda National Park in Tunisia.

The Largest Animals In Tunisia

The Barbary stag, also known as the Atlas deer and the African elk, is the only species of surviving deer native to North Africa. It lives in the humid, dense forests of Tunisia. This stag is an herbivore and survives on plants and leaves. With weights between 180 and 240 pounds, and heights of up to almost 4 feet, it is smaller than a typical red deer.

The Barbary Lion, which was once one of the largest animals to exist in Tunisia, is now extinct. Also referred to as the African lion, the Berber lion, the Atlas lion, and the Egyptian lion, it lived off of the Barbary Coast of North Africa in the deserts and mountains. They were once one of the largest lion sub-species with weights of 507 pounds and standing at almost 3.5 feet at the shoulder. These lions are now only found in zoos and in an effort to preserve them are in protective breeding programs.