Kenya - Fauna

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Giraffe
The giraffe is the world's tallest       animal. Giraffes measure up to 18 feet high and can weigh over a ton. At birth, they measure over 5 feet and continue to grow for about ten years. Two types of giraffe are commonly seen in Kenya, the Masai giraffe in the south and the Rothschild giraffe around Lake Nakuru. The Masai giraffe is found around the Maasai Mara. It has two or three horns on its head and jagged edged markings. The Rothschild giraffe is paler and heaver set than the Masai giraffe. Its legs are unmarked and white below the knees. It has three or five horns. The less common reticulated giraffe is found only in the north. It’s a smaller giraffe with white markings on a darker red skin. 

Hippopotamus
The hippo is the world's third largest land animal, weighing up to four tons. Although considered a land animal, they spend much of their lives in water. They eat, mate, and give birth underwater, as well as resting and sleeping. Hippos can stay under over four minutes without coming up for air. At dusk, they leave the water in groups to forage for vegetation to satisfy their huge appetites. They can eat over a hundred pounds of food in a day. At Mzima Springs in Tsavo National Park, an observatory has been built below water level to see their underwater behavior. 

Hyena
The hyena is perhaps Kenya's most vicious predator. They hunt in large packs chasing down their prey at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. Their strong jaws allow them to tear their food apart easily and bite through bone. Any animal they can bring down is a potential food. Hyenas are not afraid to attack humans or even other hyenas. There are two types, the spotted and striped hyenas. The spotted hyena stands up to 3 feet tall with a sloping back. It has a redish brown to gray color with dark spots. The striped hyena is slightly smaller, measuring about 30 inches tall. It has long hair and a dorsal mane. Its gray color is marked with vertical black stripes. The ears are pointed. Striped hyenas are nocturnal and less likely to be seen than the spotted hyena. 

Leopard
The leopard is a solitary, secretive  cat. They weigh between 70 and 180 pounds, with sand colored fur patterned with dark spots. Leopards are more difficult to spot on safari, since they move mainly at night. During the day, they prefer to rest in the branches of a shady tree. Often they will capture their prey by leaping from the branches onto another animals back. Solitary animals, they defend their kill from scavengers by dragging it up into the branches of a tree. Their prey ranges from small animals to larger gazelles. Leopards prefer rocky mountain areas and forests. 

Lion
The lion is the largest of the cat     families in Kenya. A male can weigh over 600 pounds. Although the lion is a very powerful animal, it reserves most of its strength for hunting. Lion hunt in groups by stalking then chasing down their prey at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. They leap on the prey's back, dragging it to the ground. Once down, they latch on to the throat until the animal finally gives up. Zebra, wildebeest, and gazelles are all targeted by lions.

When not hunting, the lion spends its day resting. While on safari, lion are most often spotted lounging in the grass or high rocks surveying their territory. The lion lives in prides, numbering up to thirty with the majority being females and young. A pride can have a range of over 500 square miles. Lions are found in much of Kenya, including Amboseli, Maasai Mara, Nairobi National Park, Samburu and Tsavo West. 

Mongoose
The mongoose lives in savannah woodlands, hiding in hollow trees and termite hills. There are several species common in Kenya. Their sizes range from the tiny dwarf mongoose only one foot long, to the large gray mongoose, up to 4 feet long. The dwarf mongoose is reddish brown with a short tail. They live in dry savannah moving in packs of up to 15 hunting for small rodents, reptiles, and birds. The large gray mongoose is found in forests and along lakes and swamps. Another large species is the white-tailed mongoose, measuring 40 inches long. Its found in habitats ranging from forest to plains. The banded mongoose shown above is the most sociable, commonly seen traveling in groups up to several dozen at time. They can be found in Tsavo, Amboseli and Maasai Mara. 

Rhinoceros
There are two species, the white rhinoceros and the black rhinoceros. The white rhinoceros' name comes from the African word "weit", meaning wide mouthed. They are sedentary animals and graze for food. The white rhinoceros is larger than the black, weighing between two and half and five and a half tons. After the elephant, it is the largest of land animals. It is a social animal, living in families of two to five. White rhinos have been introduced into Meru National Park.

The black rhinoceros is the smaller species, weighing only one to one and a half tons. The black rhino is more of a browser for food, found in areas from savannah to mountain forests. The front horns measure up to three feet, and the rear horn can be up to two feet. The value of these horns on the black market has led to the rhinoceros' near extinction from poaching. Black rhinos are found in Amboseli, the Aberdares, Maasai Mara, Mount Kenya, Nairobi National Park, Samburu, and Tsavo. 

Zebra
The zebra is recognized       by its unique stripes. Each has its own distinct stripes, distinguishing it from other zebras. There are two species, with the Burchell's zebra being more common. It's about the size of a pony, up to 4 feet tall, with broad distinct stripes. It has short, narrow ears and a short mane. They can be found in much of the country's plains and grasslands living in herds, often mixing with other animals.

The Grevy's zebra is the larger and taller species, standing about 5 feet at the shoulders. The stripes are more numerous and closer together than the Burchell's zebra. The belly does not have stripes. The mane is thick and the ears are large and rounded. They are also found in open plains, mostly in northern parts of Kenya.