Wildlife in Mali

Wildlife in Mali

Unfortunately, the lions have all been exploited from Mali. This is quite the joke used by the locals during PC training “No you will not be eaten by a Lion here in Mali” – which is true, but in reality our situation is worse… we have a greater probability of catching a microscopic bug or worm that will eat us from the inside out.

I think there are some Lions not too far away in a Niger reserve and that my sister Normandy actually new a PCV during her service in Niger who raised two baby Lions for that reserve. I also think Giraffes can be seen in Niger and that my parents saw them when visiting my sister.

Since the Malian ecosystem once possessed these massive beauties, one might think that they could eventually be reintroduced, but with human population on the rise along with habitat destruction, there is room to be skeptical in Mali’s ability regain all of the splendor it once had.

So, what does Mali still have that’s worth holding on to. Well, chickens, roosters, goats, cattle, horses and donkeys are not on the endangered or even threatened list – only the rare sub-species of these farm/herd animals, the ones that try to make a living in the middle of human roads are having a rough time surviving. Otherwise, donkeys live in abundance here in Mali…

I know of at least two populations of Elephants in Mali. One is a nomadic population I believe is mentioned in BBC’s Plant Earth (in the desert episode) and this population only migrates through the northern most tip of Mali during part of the year. The other herd of Elephants, a much larger herd, lives in a protected wildlife refugee right outside of Gossi - hey that’s our site. Natalie, a Natural Resource Management Volunteer (NRM) living in Gossi with Bess and I, will be working with an Elephant conservation program running out of Gossi. Another Peace Corps friend, named Derrick, lives right by some Mopti cliffs on the far side of the same Elephant reserve. Derrick’s job as a PC volunteer is specifically to work with this herd of Elephants. There is also a female PC volunteer in southwestern Mali (Kaye Region) who’s job is specifically to work with a conservation group that protects a population of cliff dwelling Chimpanzees. Although this volunteer lives about as far away from Gossi as humanly possible without crossing a boarder (she lives on the Senegal boarder) I am hoping to make a voyage to see these cliff dwelling primates – at some point in time. Also in Mali, there is a rare species of river dwelling Manatee that live in the Niger River just shy of the Niger boarder. Other animals of interest might be: Hyenas, Jackals, Scorpions, Vipers, Cobras, and Rattlesnakes. These are the species more localized to Gossi – so one better travel on top of a camel I reckon… I’ll let you know what wildlife actually shows up…