Kenya - Fauna

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Antelopes
The eland is the largest of Kenya's antelope. Some weigh up to a ton and measure six feet tall. As large as they are, they can still jump six feet in the air. They can be distinguished by their tufted dewlap hanging down from the neck. The greater kudu weighs around 600 pounds and is distinguished by its long spiral horns, over four feet long. Kudus have excellent hearing with ears that can turn in any direction. Long hair grows on their front from the throat down to the chest. They have six to eight white stripes on the flanks over a gray background. The lesser kudu is a smaller version with up to fifteen stripes, and lacks the hair on its throat seen on greater kudus. Waterbucks also have long horns over two feet with a glossy brown coat. Usually seen in small herds, a single bull may be accompanied by several cows and calves. They are identified easily by the strong musky smell they give off. The bongo is a broad, chestnut color antelope with vertical white stripes down its flanks. Their lifespan is about 12 years and they live in pairs. Bongos are rarely seen, due to their nocturnal behavior and mountain habitat. 

The topi is a common species in the Maasai Mara. They are known for standing watch on rocks and termite hills, guarding their territory. Dark patches mark their face, legs, thighs and hips. These large, reddish brown antelopes are a prime source of food for the savannah predators. Hartebeest can also be found on the plains. Although there are several species, only the Coke's hartebeest is common. It’s characterized by humped shoulders with short horns. Males often move in groups together, while dominant males may have several females.

African Buffalo
The African buffalo is found            throughout Kenya, from savannah to mountain forest, usually close to bodies of water. They move in herds of five hundred to two thousand. The buffalo's horns are wide and curve downwards. Their lifespan ranges from fifteen to twenty years. Buffalo are big eaters, grazing on almost any grass, leaves and twigs. Their unpredictable behavior and tempers make them potentially dangerous to humans on safari. 

Baboon
Baboons spend their days wandering in search of food. They walk on all fours and can bark like dogs. They feed on anything from plants to small animals. They are social animals, living in groups, which stay together throughout their lifespan. One dominant male rules the group till they grow old and are usurped by a younger baboon. If threatened, they will defend themselves ferociously. Baboons spend most of their time on the ground, climbing into the trees only at night to sleep. 

Cheetah
The cheetah is the smallest of the big   three cats, weighing only 100 to 140 pounds. Their bodies are sleek with long legs, designed for speed. Cheetahs are the fastest animals in the world, recording speeds of over 70 miles an hour. This speed comes only in bursts saved for the hunt, and expends a great deal of the animal's energy. Once captured, the cheetah uses its claw to bring down its prey. Cheetahs can be found in Aboseli, Maasai Mara, Nairobi National Park, and Samburu.

Crocodile
Crocodiles are cold blooded and regulate their body temperature by moving in and out of water depending on temperature and the time of day. During the hottest part of the day, they stay in the water to keep their body temperature down. Morning and evening, they warm themselves in the sun on rocks. While in the water, they can stay submerged up to an hour. Although their mouths appear imposing, they don't actually chew their food. Instead, they clamp on to their prey and twist back and forth using their strength to rip their victims apart. Then they swallow their food whole. Crocodiles can be found in many of the rivers, lakes and swamps including the Uaso River in Samburu, Mzima Springs in Tsavo, the Mara and Tana rivers, and Lake Turkana. 

Elephant
Elephants are known  for their keen sense of smell and hearing, compensating for their poor eyesight. Even though they are the largest and most powerful land mammals, they are gentle and peaceful. Females live in family units. Young males are driven from the family when they reach puberty to live in bachelor herds. Adult males live alone joining family units only to mate. African elephants weigh between 3 and 6 tons and measure 10 feet to the shoulders. The lifespan of an elephant lasts between 50 and 70 years. 

Elephants are vegetarians, feeding on grass, foliage, fruit, branches and twigs. Its massive body requires 200 to 600 pounds of food per day and around 50 gallons of water. Herds can cover distances of over 50 miles a day, but never move far from water. Both male and female African elephants have tusks. These tusks can weigh 50 to 100 pounds or more and continue to grow throughout the elephant’s lifetime. The tusks are used as tools for carrying and clearing. The teeth are used to grind their food. When the elephant loses all its teeth, it can no longer feed and starves to death. The trunk has a multitude of functions. It is used for drinking and eating, washing, carrying, scent, and communicating with other elephants.

During pregnancy, the mother carries her baby almost two years before delivery. At that time, the birth takes place in privacy attended by two other females. A newborn elephant can weigh up to 300 pounds and stand close to 3 feet tall. The young are aggressively defended. Elephants are widely distributed throughout Kenya. They can be seen in Amboseli, the Aberdares, Maasai Mara, Meru National Park, Mount Kenya, Samburu and Tsavo.