All About Facts About Africa
Looking at the world as a whole, it is interesting to note that animal life is unique to the continents on which they live. Everyone knows about the poverty in Africa, but not many know about the good things about the country. In fact, some of the most unique information is found when researching Africa and its unique animal populations. For example, did you know that four out of the five fastest land animals reside on the African continent? Three out of four of these animals, the lion, wildebeest and Thomson’s gazelle can move as quickly as fifty miles per hour. The fourth, the cheetah can attain speeds of up to seventy miles per hour! Think about driving at these rates of speed for some perspective of just how fast they can move!
In addition to the fastest land mammals, there are also other records to be set in animal population. One of the interesting facts about Africa is that it contains the world’s largest living animal on land. The African elephant can weigh between six and seven tons and stand as high as twelve feet tall at the shoulder. Elephants are a matriarchal society, with the mothers and babies forming an extended family unit where all of the females care for the babies, making sure they are protected and nurtured in a harsh and often unforgiving landscape where many predators abound.
While you would think that the animal population in Africa is growing or at least remains constant, it is apparently tied into funding and is being effected by the warfare caused from blood diamonds in Africa. One of the most interesting facts is that where national parks are most amply funded, populations of the large mammals are increasing, however in the protected parks lacking in funding, populations including lions, zebras and giraffes had fallen fifty nine percent between 1970 and 2005. This study took into account sixty eight key species in seventy eight protected parks, mainly in the North. Southern parks tended to be better funded, with the resources to protect against poachers and other population-decimating influences.
In addition to the fastest land mammals, there are also other records to be set in animal population. One of the interesting facts about Africa is that it contains the world’s largest living animal on land. The African elephant can weigh between six and seven tons and stand as high as twelve feet tall at the shoulder. Elephants are a matriarchal society, with the mothers and babies forming an extended family unit where all of the females care for the babies, making sure they are protected and nurtured in a harsh and often unforgiving landscape where many predators abound.
While you would think that the animal population in Africa is growing or at least remains constant, it is apparently tied into funding and is being effected by the warfare caused from blood diamonds in Africa. One of the most interesting facts is that where national parks are most amply funded, populations of the large mammals are increasing, however in the protected parks lacking in funding, populations including lions, zebras and giraffes had fallen fifty nine percent between 1970 and 2005. This study took into account sixty eight key species in seventy eight protected parks, mainly in the North. Southern parks tended to be better funded, with the resources to protect against poachers and other population-decimating influences.