Wildlife of Niger
[1] Conservation of wildlife is ensured by laws and regulations enacted by the government of Niger, which has enforced a permanent ban on hunting so that animals such as lions, hippos and giraffes are safe in the wild.
It is closely monitored and these countries are trying to stop overexploitation lowering round water levels and reducing storage in Lake Chad and perennial flows of the Niger River.
[7] Since independence, laws have been enacted and a large number of wildlife reserves and national parks have been established by the government of Niger.
[8] While the country is not lacking laws about water, forests and trees on arable land, flora and fauna, the main issue is of establishing proper implementation mechanism.
In the Air Mountains near Tchirzorone, a local marabout (a religious leader)) prevents destruction of trees and animals.
[7] Its dependence on international institutions and NGOs for assistance for wildlife conservation is quite large as the finances of the state are inadequate to meet the annual expenses.
It shares international borders with Nigeria, Chad, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Libya.
Wildlife crosses the borders freely, so national parks and reserves are managed under joint cooperation programs where possible.
In the southern region of the country where rainfall is adequate and has fertile and wooded landscape, dry-land agriculture is practiced.
Laws have been put in place by the three countries to prevent over extraction to avoid lowering of water table and also affecting flows into the Niger River.
[8][9] Niger's climate, which dictates its wildlife distribution, is subtropical in the north and tropical in the south and data of Niamey is an indicator for the entire country.
Drought conditions are quite common as the monsoon rainy season is short and its distribution in the three geographical regions vary.
This condition coupled with high temperatures cause drought situation in many years affecting the vegetation.
It is for this that the vegetation in the wildlife of the country richness is very limited; the Savannah region recording herbaceous species of plants and trees.
Home to a dwindling population of ostriches, the Sahara conservation efforts are put in place to increase the number of this species in the reserve.
Its arid land fauna consists of addax and dorcas gazelles, cheetah, Barbary sheep and striped hyena, bustards (Nubian and Sudan) and spurred tortoises.
The floral species reported in the Savannah region consist generally of Bombax costatum, one of the kapok trees; Adansonia digitata, one of the baobabs; West African mahogany (Khaya spp.)
[1] The topographic and climatic conditions of the country has resulted in faunal species dominated by rare species such as African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), striped hyena, Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki), waterbuck, African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus), West African lion (Panthera leo senegalensis), antelope, common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), scimitar oryx (Oryx dammah), hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) in the Niger River, crocodiles, horned vipers, lizards, pythons, manatee, the endemic Nigerian giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) which is endangered,[8][10] the Critically Endangered dama gazelle, which is the national symbol of Niger (named meyna or ménas in the Hausa language)[4] as well as Soemmerring's gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii), Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti) and slender-horned gazelle (Gazella leptoceros).
[19] Four species of sympatric canids, the Egyptian wolf, Rüppell's fox, pale fox and fennec, two small cats species of Saharan sand cat and African wildcat, caracal, Striped hyena and Northeast African cheetah are also particularly reported from the Termit and Tin Toumma Reserves.
Migrant birds are a common sight during the rainy season when the arid area turns into temporary wetland.
[10] Environmental issues in Niger include destructive farming practices as a result of population pressure.
Illegal hunting, bush fires in some areas, human encroachment upon the flood plains of the Niger River for paddy cultivation are environmental issues.
