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Wild Life in Eritrea

In the past, Eritrea was home to a large range of animals, including buffaloes, cheetahs, elephants, colobus monkeys, elephants, giraffes, hippos, Nubian ibexes, leopards, lions and waterbucks. With the loss of the forests and decades of colonization and war, many of these animals have disappeared. But after the country’s independence, as a result the peace that reigned some of these animals are showing a coming back.

Mammals commonly seen today include the Abyssinian hare, African wild cat, black-backed jackal, common jackal, genet, ground squirrel, pale fox, Soemmering’s gazelle and warthog. Primates include the velvet monkey and hamadryas baboon, the sacred baboon of the Egyptians.

Lions and greater kudus and Torah arte-beests are said to occur in the mountains of Gash-Barka Region. Besides, Eritrea’s large population of elephants roams in this region. A dik-diks and dorcas gazelles as well the endangered African Wild Ass can be seen in Denakalia Region. Others include bushbucks, duikers, greater kudus, klipspringers, leopards, oryxs and crocodiles.

The ostriches can be seen on journeys south of Massawa. This is the northern ostrich race, and mature breeding males will have extraordinary blue legs.

Perhaps the most thrilling sighting on the desert coastal plain is of the rare wild ass. This is a relative of the zebra’s and is easily mistaken for a donkey. Numbers are diminishing, partly because they interbreed with local domestic donkeys. The ass is found throughout the Dankalia area but is rarely seen, and then only in small, cautious groups. The animal’s main features are long ears and a grayish-buff colour. It has a white belly, a dark band on the shoulders and usually dark transverse stripes on the lower legs.

It must not be forgotten, however, that, although many visitors only see the land inhabitants, the majority of animals in this area are in the sea. Perhaps more striking, though, are creatures such as the whale, dolphin, dugong and turtle.

There are five recorded turtle species in the Eritrean waters but only two have been seen regularly in recent times. Most often sighted are the green turtle and the hawksbill. The green has a heavier, thicker shell and the hawksbill a thinner shell with a more fluted edge. They can be seen by snorkellers in almost any area and are known to nest on many beaches of the mainland and island.

Perhaps what most visitors would like to see, though, is the legendary dugong, or sea cow. This massive sea mammal is supposed to be the source of mermaid stories! It feeds on sea grass, which it grazes, much as a cow does.