Below you can find a complete list of Ugandan animals. We currently track 261 animals in Uganda and are adding more every day!
The African country of Uganda is a treasure trove of unique wildlife. The African bush elephant, the mountain gorilla, the African lion, and the Cape buffalo are some of the most well-known animals living there. Furthermore, there are 142 reptile species, 501 fish species, 86 amphibian species, 345 mammal species, and 1,020 species of birds in Uganda. Last, but not least, there are 1,242 butterfly species in Uganda. No wonder it’s known as one of the most picturesque countries in the world.
The Official National Animal of Uganda
Among all of the wildlife in Uganda, the Crested Crane, aka the Gray-crowned crane, was chosen as the country’s national animal almost 100 years ago. This tall bird has sleek silver feathers, slender legs, and a crest of gold feathers. After observing the slow, graceful movements of this bird it will come as no surprise that Uganda chose this bird for its beauty and elegance. It is proudly displayed on Uganda’s flag.
The Most Dangerous Animals in Uganda Today
Uganda has many timid animals that stay hidden most of the time. Alternatively, there are many animals that can pose a threat. Look at some examples of the most dangerous wildlife in Uganda:
- Hippopotamus – At first glance, hippos look fairly harmless. But these are powerful animals with jaws strong enough to break a canoe in half. Plus, when these animals stampede they can trample anything in their path. There are approximately 500 people killed each year in Africa by this large mammal.
- Cape Buffalo – This unique and weighty mammal definitely looks like more of a threat than a hippo. When it’s threatened this animal doesn’t back off. Instead, it becomes aggressive. This buffalo can charge a person or animal reaching speeds of 30 miles per hour. Not as fast as the world champion cheetah, but still very fast.
- Puff Adder – These aggressive snakes are common in well-populated areas in Uganda. Not surprisingly, it becomes an issue when snakes and people populate the same small area. This snake can’t lift its head off the ground but can strike a person’s foot with its venomous fangs. When it comes to fatal snakebites, the puff adder leads the pack in Africa!
- Mosquitoes – Mosquitoes dangerous? Yes. Uganda has a lot of low-altitude regions which are home to many mosquitoes. The danger comes if a person is bitten by a mosquito carrying malaria. Malaria is a deadly disease, especially for young people. This is why mosquito netting is so common in this region.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Uganda
The list of unique animals living in Uganda is long. Some of these amazing animals keep hidden most of the time while others are a common sight to Ugandans. Look at where to find some of the top wild animals in Uganda.
- African bush elephant – These elephants live in both the grassland and woodland areas of Uganda. Kibale National Park in Uganda is home to many African Bush elephants.
- Cape buffalo – Whether they live in a dense forest or on the open plains, Cape buffalos look for habitat near water. Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda are two places to see these unique animals.
- Hippopotamus – Hippos live in rivers, lakes, and swampy areas surrounded by grass. Hippos can be seen near the Ntungwe River in Queen Elizabeth National Park as well as near the Nile River in Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda.
- Crocodile – Crocodiles inhabit Murchison Falls National Park and can be seen on the shores of the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Leopard – The habitat of a leopard includes savannas and forest areas of Uganda. They can be seen in Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
- Giraffe -Giraffes live on savannas where they can find plenty of leaves and grass to eat. They are found in Murchison National Park as well as Kidepo National Park in Uganda. Living in the protected environment of these parks has helped this vulnerable animal from becoming extinct.
Endangered Animals in Uganda
Unfortunately, there are some animals in Uganda that are endangered. Loss of habitat through land development, loss of food sources, and disease are just some of the reasons why some animals become endangered and sometimes go extinct. Look at some of the endangered animals in Uganda.
Flag of Uganda
The flag of Uganda features several horizontal stripes in the colors black, yellow, and red, all of which hold meaning. The black represents the people of Uganda, while yellow stands for the life-giving sun. Red represents the blood that ties the people together. In the center of the flag is a crested crane, one of Uganda’s well-known birds and the nation’s national symbol.
Ugandan Animals
Can move 2ft of soil in just 15 seconds!
The aardwolf has five toes on its front paws
One of the oldest cat breeds in the world!
Can drink up to 50 gallons a day
Secretes up to 4g of musk every week!
African clawed frogs were used as pregnancy testers from the 1930s to the early 1960s.
Both male and female African elephants have tusks. In Asian elephants, only the males have tusks.
African fish eagles belong to the genus of sea eagles
The first image of an African golden cat was captured in the wild in Gabon in 2002.
The males raise the young
Solitary but gathers in groups!
Also known as the painted dog!
The agama forms small social groups that contain both dominant and subordinate males.
Despite its name, actually originated from Africa and the Middle East
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Renew their horns every year!
They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food
Can travel more than four miles a day!
People spin clothing and fishing nets out of these spiders’ silk.
There are over 1768 known species!
Found everywhere around the world!
Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.
Detects prey using echolocation!
Bat-eared foxes can run up to 35 MPH!
Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.
Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years
There are more than 350,000 different species
The bichir species is more than 400 million years old
Not all birds are able to fly!
The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast
Black mambas are the longest venomous snake in Africa, and second longest in the world.
They typically prey on insects!
The blind snake is often mistaken for a worm.
These snakes have been introduced to all continents, except Antarctica!
“Mild-Mannered Minimonsters”
Females glue egg cases to furniture
Can live its entire life indoors
"They look like you owe them money."
The most common species of bee!
In a series of leaps, this creature can cover almost 30 feet of distance in just a few seconds.
Bush vipers are predators, sinking their fangs into prey while dangling from a tree limb
There are thought to be up 17,500 species!
Some species' babies use their hooked or scraper-like teeth to peel off and eat their mother's skin
Has 20 different muscles in it's ears!
Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!
May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
There are about 3,000 documented species!
There are more than 160 different species!
The fastest land mammal in the world!
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
There are more than 2 000 known species!
Dated to be around 300 million years old!
Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.
The most common raptor in the UK!
The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood
House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.
They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.
Cosmic caterpillars have spots on their back that look like eyes to scare off predators.
There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!
There are 93 different crab groups
Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings
Many are critically endangered species!
Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together
Have changed little in 200 million years!
Crocodylomorphs include extinct ancient species as well as 26 living species today.
A group of these birds is called a Murder.
Solitary locusts are grey while gregarious locusts are yellow with stripes.
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!
The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight
They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs
There are nearly 2,000 different species!
The largest primate in the world!
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!
A duck species that resembles a goose when flying
Both females and males have horns.
The electric catfish can discharge an electric shock up to 450 volts
Spends around 22 hours a day eating!
Found exclusively on the African continent!
The fastest creatures on the planet!
False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders
The fire ball python morph is known for its rich golden and reddish-brown coloration.
The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world
Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air
There are more than 240,000 different species!
Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"
There are around 7,000 different species!
Among the largest bats in the world
Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world
They build a ramp from their nest, which leads to a nearby water source
Gaboon vipers are the largest vipers in Africa.
They make many sounds when trying to attract a mate.
Named for the Arabic word for love poems
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!
Originally known as the Desert Rat!
The most common type of urban roach
Long, black tongue can grow to 18 inches long!
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!
Males form large mating swarms at dusk
Most closely related to the Sheep!
Migrates between Europe and Asia!
Goliath beetles are the largest beetles in the world, and they can carry objects several times their weight.
The biggest of the world's primates!
There are 11,000 known species!
Found in a vairety of African habitats!
One of the most invasive species in the world
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!
Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.
Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
Has pink anti-bacterial sweat!
One of earth's bravest creatures!
There are only 8 recognized species!
Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!
Has evolved over 50 million years!
Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!
Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.
There are four different species!
Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!
Able to jump over 10 feet high
There are an estimated 30 million species!
The jacana has the ability to swim underwater
Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!
Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies
A popular pet snake that comes in dozens of morphs!
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
Klipspringers can jump as high as 10-12ft!
It's easily identified by its crest, large size, and wingspan
Lives in herds of up to 24 individuals!
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!
Lappet-faced vultures are tidy and wash their heads in a body of water after they’ve eaten
Spends much of the time high in the trees!
The most widely distributed tortoise in Africa!
The lesser jacana is nomadic, often moving in search of temporary wetland habitats.
The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!
Lives in small groups called prides!
There are around 5,000 different species!
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.
Will only live in wet areas
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!
The marabou stork does not have a voice box.
There are 2,500 known species worldwide!
They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!
There are around 260 known species!
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!
Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood
There are 250,000 different species!
Isolated populations found in the mountains!
Found on every continent on Earth!
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!
Naked mole rats don’t get cancer
Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long
Named more than 1,000 years ago!
Unlike other reptiles, the male Nile crocodile will stay with a female to guard their nest of eggs.
The Nile monitor is the world's fourth-largest lizard!
Nile perch will sometimes eat those within its own species
There are more than 5,000 species.
Olive baboons will sometimes form strong friendships with each other
Their nickname is "Orange Bitey Thing"!
Females are about four times the size of males
The tradition of hiding your face with a napkin or towel while eating this bird was begun by a priest who was a friend of the great French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.
They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!
There are 13 different species worldwide
The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees
The panda pied ball python morph is a combination of the piebald and black pastel traits.
Bad eyesight, but great sense of smell
Monk parakeets are the only parakeets that actually build nests. They’re also the only parakeets to nest in great colonies.
Can live for up to 100 years!
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.
The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees.
This large snake is so-named because it will puff up its body to appear bigger than it is when directly threatened by a predator or person.
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!
There are more than 300 different species!
Omnivores that eat anything!
Is the most populous bird in the world
They build their nests off the ground in tree holes, cavities, stone walls, and roofs
It's horns are made from keratin!
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.
Will mate with the entire flock!
Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.
Savannah monitors are one of the most popular lizards in captivity.
There are around 2,000 known species!
The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Can leap more than 1 meter into the air!
Around 35 million in the English countryside!
Adults greet each other by clattering their bills together.
The short-eared owl is one of the most widespread owl species in the world, covering five continents.
The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Sivatherium was a large giraffid and also one of the largest ruminants of all-time.
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.
They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce
Has up to 45 eggs per egg case
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
There are around 4,000 known species worldwide
There are 140 different species!
They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.
These shaggy snakes are only 2 feet long and mostly arboreal.
Spitting cobras are types of cobras that can spit venom at predators and prey.
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Because of their unique venom delivery system, stiletto snakes are almost impossible to hold safely in the usual way (with fingers behind the head) without being bitten.
They can’t sing like other birds.
The striped hyenas usually mark their territories with the help of the scent gland secretions from their anal pouch.
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.
They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite
The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!
They make music with their wings
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
Tsetse flies are large biting flies that live in the tropical regions of Africa.
Their name means “banana-eater,” but they rarely ever eat bananas.
Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.
Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted
Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Has two sets of tusks on it's face!
There are around 75,000 recognised species!
Has been domesticated for thousands of years!
Welsh Black Cattle were once used as currency in Wales and referred to as “black gold”.
There are two different types of white ferrets!
The second largest animal on the land!
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
This animal can roll up into a ball
There are 200 different species!
They feign death by making their bodies limp and closing their eyes.
Stripe patterns are unique to each individual!
There are around 75 different species!
The offspring of Zebra and Donkey parents!
The offspring of a Zebra and Horse parents!
Ugandan Animals List
Animals in Uganda FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What animals live in Uganda?
Uganda is known around the world as a country with a wide variety of unique wild animals. It is home to reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, and fish.
What is Uganda’s national animal?
Uganda’s national animal is the Crested Crane. Unfortunately, this majestic bird is also classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN). Thankfully, steps are being taken to protect this bird to keep it from going extinct.
What is the biggest animal in Uganda?
The biggest animal in Uganda is the adult African elephant. This elephant can be 13 feet tall and weigh up to seven tons. So, getting in front of one of these massive animals is always a dangerous proposition!
Are there tigers in Uganda?
Tigers are not native to Uganda or Africa as a whole. Tigers are known to live in different regions of Asia. However, there are captive tigers in the Uganda Wildlife Education Center.