Gambia Plants And Animals

Rahim Tabet | 6:42 PM | Gambia

Gambia has a great variety of vegetation. In 1980, The Gambia had about 50,000 hectares of forest. Eight years later, only 10,000 ha. some reforestation projects are there started the last decade. Different types of palm trees are found in Gambia, especially the coconut palm. Striking is the cotton or kapok tree that can be over 50 meters high. The kapok which comes from the seeds, is used as stuffing for mattresses and cushions.

The kolaboom provides the raw material for the soft drink cola. The mahogany tree provides beautiful but very expensive mahogany on. By many caps does this tree still rare in The Gambia. In the more humid areas are bamboo forests. Of bamboo are fences, furniture and various utensils made. Mangrove forests are found in the river deltas and can reach far inland.

In the dry areas are acacias and the most characteristic tree of Africa, the baobab or monkey bread tree. The baobab is about 20 meters high and can be over 1000 years old. The tree plays a role in many African myths and legends. The bark, fruits, leaves, wood, almost all of this tree is used by the population.

In the wetter south grow mango, cashew and citrus trees. For beautiful colors create poinsettias, lilies, wild orchids, oleander, hibiscus and bougainvillea. The kinineplant produces juice that protects against malaria, among others. The elephant grass is very tall grass species and is considered weeds by the peasantry.

Gambia is a bird paradise for birdwatchers. There have so far been counted about 450 different species, and are still discovering new species. As was observed snake eating laughing falcon for the first time in 1995. Some species occur only in Gambia. There are in The Gambia therefore no ordinary safari place, but bird safaris.

Large birds include the marabou, vultures, spoonbills, cranes, eagles, owls and the remarkable ground hornbills. Large mammals are almost all extinct. Giraffes, lions, buffaloes, large antelopes, one seeks them in vain. Far inland are still hippos and crocodiles in the Gambia River for.

Several small species of monkeys such as the fluweelaap and Patas can be found everywhere. Chimpanzees live only in the Baboon Island National park.Verder there are small antelopes, warthogs and aardvarks.

Both on land and in water come hoses, some are highly toxic. Giant lizards and chameleons are also common. In the Gambia River live several rare species such as the guitarfish, the tadpole, the lungfish and the loach.

Because the water of the Gambia River about 150 to 180 kilometers inland salt or brackish, there are in the river even to observe dolphins. In the coastal waters of The Gambia will include sea turtles, rays, sea snakes, crabs, sharks, squid, swordfish and tuna for. The almost extinct manatee can be seen occasionally in estuaries. In the mangrove swamps of life, inter alia, various crab species, many waterbirds and mudskippers. Mangrove Oysters grow on the roots of the mangrove trees.

Gambia has six national parks and reserves that together cover 3.7% of the Gambian territory.

Gambia 6:42 PM