If, when you think of Africa, you picture herds roaming across the savanna or exotic animals swinging through the rain forest, you’re familiar with one of Africa’s richest resources–its dizzingly diverse variety of wildlife. There are lions, elephants, gorillas, zebras, aardvarks, ostriches, crocodiles, pythons, and sharks, just to name a very, very few.

However, the loss of habitat and poaching are threatening Africa’s animals, and many species are now in danger of being lost forever. That’s why many African countries and governments are working to create national parks and game reserves, as well as establishing large-scale conservation efforts to ensure that Africa does not lose its animals to extinction.

Learn about conservation efforts and meet Africa’s wildest residents!

Photograph of hippopotamuses in Uganda’s Ruwenzori National Park by George Mobley/National Geographic Image Collection

Don’t forget to take our Test Your Africa IQ quiz on Google Earth.

MORE ABOUT AFRICA’S ANIMALS AND CONSERVATION

Interactive Features

• Congo Trek (Michael Fay’s Megatransect walk across Africa) (National Geographic)
• Saving Africa’s Eden (National Geographic magazine)
• Okavango: Africa’s Miracle Delta (National Geographic magazine)
• Ngorongoro: Africa’s Cradle of Life (PBS)
• The Living Africa: Wildlife (ThinkQuest)
• Preying on Giants (African lions and elephants) (National Geographic magazine)
• Maneless Lions of Tsavo (National Geographic magazine)
• Zebras: Born to Roam (National Geographic magazine)
• Cats: Plans for Perfection (National Geographic)Animal Information
• Animal SuperSite (Facts, Photos, Video, More) (National Geographic)
• Animal Guides (PBS)
• Animal Creature Features (National Geographic)Live Cams
• Africam Virtual Reserve
• WildCam Africa (National Geographic magazine)Conservation Organizations
• African Wildlife Foundation
• Conservation International
• Wildlife Conservation Society
• World Wildlife Fund
• Green Belt Movement
• African Conservation Centre
• Conservation AfricaAtlas
• WildWorld Conservation Atlas (National Geographic and ESRI)In Google Earth
• Jane Goodall’s Gombe Chimpanzee Blog
  Learn more about chimpanzee champion and passionate conservationist Jane Goodall’s work and subjects in this beautifully done georeferenced blog. To view the blog entries, open Google Earth (get it free here) and click the box next to “Jane Goodall’s Gombe Chimpanzee Blog” in the Featured Content folder. Then zoom into the African continent, click on the yellow chimp and binoculars icons, and explore!Fun and Games
• Africa Adventure (Brookfield Zoo)
• Chimp Challenge (BBC)
• Serengeti Photo Safari (PBS)
• Animal Coloring Book Pages (National Geographic)
• Hippo Quest (PBS)
• African Safari (National Geographic Explorer classroom magazine)
• The Lost Elephant (National Geographic Explorer classroom magazine)
• The Termites Game (BBC)
• Mothering Underground (Africa’s Naked Mole Rats) (PBS)Family/Classroom Activities
• Backyard Safari and Biodiversity Blitz (National Geographic)Lesson Plans

  From National Geographic Xpeditions:

• Grades K-2: Forest Features
• Grades K-2: Protecting Africa’s Wildlife
• Grades K-2: Take Off on the Megaflyover Project!
• Grades K-2: Wildebeest Migration
• Grades 3-5: Ferocious Felines
• Grades 3-5: People and African Animals
• Grades 3-5: Why Does Africa Need National Parks?
• Grades 6-8: GIS: Helping to Save the African Wild
• Grades 6-8: Kings of the Kalahari
• Grades 6-8: The Human Impact on Africa
• Grades 9-12: Geographic Technology Assisting African Conservation
• Grades 9-12: Human Impacts in the African Rain Forest–What Can We Do?
• Grades 9-12: Two Threats to African WildlifeGeography Awareness Week Home | My Wonderful World Home  |  About My Wonderful World  |  Sign Up for Updates