Page 36 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 2

AFRICA’S WILD LIFE

Ethiopia’s

ENDEMIC six

Ethiopia is one beautiful and amazing country. The Msingi Afrika Magazine crew rates Ethiopia as
their favorite country in Africa. Known for her beautiful and rich history, its easy to think Ethiopia is
only about ancient monuments, but no, she is also a home for animals that are endemic to Ethiopia
, which means they are not found anywhere else in the world. We give you six out of the many.
MSINGI AFRIKA MAGAZINE TEAM

The Mountain Nyala (Ye Dega Agazen or Gadamsa)
The spiral-horned Mountain Nyala is unique to the Oromia
region of Ethiopia and, it is thought, is likely to be a type of
kudu. Like their name suggests, they tend to dwell at high
altitudes of between 9,800ft to over 13,000ft, while sometimes
being found at altitudes of 5,900ft. For their own safety, their
young remain hidden, with their mothers coming to them to
nurse from time to time. Later, when they are more confident
on their feet, they come out into the open more.

The Gelada Monkeys or ‘Bleeding heart’ monkeys
Another unique, Ethiopia-only animal. The Geladas are also known
as the ‘bleeding heart’ monkey because of their uniquely designed
chest area. These lion-maned primates are omnivores and, according
to one source, are the last grass eating primates on earth. They keep
a close watch for predators and sound an alarm that’s beneficial to
all who have an ear to hear. Dining together by day, and huddling
together by night in the very cold - even icy - highlands they make
their home.

The Simien Fox or Ethiopian Wolf
The Simien Fox is found both in northern and southern Ethiopia, in
drastically reducing numbers due to poaching and shrinking habitat.
This long legged carnivore feeds on a paricular rodent and lives
exclusively on high mountain plateaus. They have reddish fur, which
grows long in the winter months and is shorter in the summer.