 Threatened Birds in Africa
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Sept. 15, 2003 — Almost one fifth of endangered bird species in Africa are dangerously vulnerable to extinction because they do not live in protected areas, BirdLife International said at an environmental event in South Africa Friday.
"A total of 43 out of 225, or 19 percent, of globally threatened bird species are found only in Important Bird Areas that at present have no protected area status," said a media statement on the status of endangered birds in Africa.
The largest unprotected bird area is the Tibesti Massif in Chad that covers 33,000 square kilometers (12,700 square miles), an area larger than the southern African kingdom of Lesotho.
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The smallest of these hot spots is a single kapok tree in Cape Verde islands off West Africa, the breeding site of the endangered Cape Verde purple heron.
The statement was released at the fifth World Parks Congress under way in South Africa's eastern port city of Durban, where thousands of delegates are discussing the future of the world's 100,000 environmentally protected areas and how to safeguard them.
The congress publicized a report earlier this week, which found that more than 700 endangered mammals, birds and amphibians worldwide were at risk of extinction because they do not live in protected areas.
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Name: Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor)
Primary Classification: Phoenicopteriformes (Flamingos) Location: Western, Central and southern Africa. Habitat: Alkaline lakes and lagoons. Diet: Microscopic blue-green algae, almost exclusively. Also small insects and crustaceans. Size: Up to 3.25 ft in length and 4.5 lbs in weight. Description: Light to dark pink plumage; black feathers on wings; long, dark-colored beak; orange eyes; long neck; large body; long legs; webbed feet. Cool Facts: It eats by holding its bill upside-down in the water and using its tongue to suck in water and mud. It flashes the black feathers on its wings to communicate with other flamingos. Conservation Status: Lower Risk (Near Threatened) Major Threat(s): Dependence on a limited number of breeding sites. What Can I Do?: Visit BirdLife International and The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust for information on how you can help. |
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