Benin has varied resources of wildlife comprising flora and fauna, which are primarily protected in its two contiguous protected areas of the

Pendjari National Park The Pendjari National Park (french: Parc National de la Pendjari) lies in north western Benin, adjoining the Arli National Park in Burkina Faso. Named for the Pendjari River, the national park is known for its wildlife and is home to some of the ...

and

W National Park The W National Park (french: Parc national du W) or W Regional Park (french: W du Niger, links=no) is a major national park in West Africa around a meander in the River Niger shaped like the letter W (french: double v, links=no). The park includ ...

. The former is known for many species of avifauna and the latter park is rich in mammals and predators. In addition, many other forest reserves are noted in the country but are not easily accessible, well protected or adequately surveyed for its wildlife resources. The protected area system of Benin defined as National Protected Area System is situated in the northern Benin, mostly with a woody savanna ecosystem. It covers 10.3% of the national territory and is part of the three nation transboundary W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) complex (with area distribution of 43% in Benin, 36% in

Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮, italic=no) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of , bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to ...

and 21% in

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languages Forests of particular note are the

Riparian forest A riparian forest or riparian woodland is a forested or wooded area of land adjacent to a body of water such as a river, stream, pond, lake, marshland, estuary, canal Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered chann ...

s which form a dominant

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syste ...

, accounting for ⅓ of the estimated flora of 3,000 species in Benin. These forests are found along river banks consisting of semi-deciduous, dry, and open forest and woodland savanna. However, these systems have been subject to severe misuse by way of

deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated ...

, which necessitated the enforcement of a Law, which imposes restrictions on cutting of these forests. In south Benin, where

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

is a common disease as in the rest of Africa, medicinal plants are used for treatment as a form of

traditional A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

or alternative medicine.

National parks

W National Park

W National Park, IUCN Management Category II, a transboundary park among

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesBurkina Faso Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮, italic=no) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of , bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to ...

, as a part of the

Niger River The Niger River ( ; ) is the main river of West Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in south-eastern Guinea near the Sierra Leone border. It runs in a crescent shape through ...

, encompasses an area of in Benin; the prefix "W" is after the W-shaped bends in the Niger River that border's the park and which is fed the Tapoa River in the north, and the

Mékrou River The Mékrou River is a river of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. It flows through the W National Park. A tributary of the Niger River The Niger River ( ; ) is the main river of West Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in ...

in the south. It is set in attitudinal range of 170 to 338 m. In addition, the buffer zones are the hunting zones of Mékrou , Djona and

Kompa Compas, also known as compas direct or compas direk (; Haitian Creole: ''konpa'', ''kompa'' or ''kompa dirèk''), is a modern méringue dance music genre of Haiti. The genre was popularized following the creation of Ensemble Aux Callebasses i ...

, apart from transition areas in a zone. This area in the

West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, M ...

n savanna belt covers terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic ecosystems. Primarily of semi-arid to semi-humid Sudanese wooded savanna, 500 plant species have been identified. Sudanese savanna fauna consists of 70 diurnal mammals and more than 112 species of fish including

monkfish Members of the genus ''Lophius'', also sometimes called monkfish, fishing-frogs, frog-fish, and sea-devils, are various species of lophiid anglerfishes found in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. ''Lophius'' is known as the "monk" or "monkfish" ...

'' Squatina aculeata''. The park has about 200,000 people living within it and on its periphery, which creates conflicts between park managers, herders and farmers.

Pendjari National Park

The Pendjari National Park is an area of , located entirely in Benin, in the far north-west of Benin. In addition it has buffer zones namely, the Pendjari (348,000 ha) that incorporates the hunting zones of Pendjari-Porga (76,000 ha), Batia (75,500 ha) and Konkombri (25,900 ha). Initially known as forest reserve, it was declared a National Park on May 6, 1961 after the independence of Benin. In June 1986, it was classified as a MAB Biosphere Reserve (including the adjoining hunting zones of Pendjari and Atacora) and in February 2007, the Pendjari River Valley was recognized as a Ramsar Site of wetland importance. The park is part of the W-Arli-Pendjari complex (WAP), which is a vast protected area in Benin,

and

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languages

s in Benin are important conservation sites that need more care than is currently available. These forests, which are flood-dependent and the flora that is dependent on this source of water, are seen in many parts of Benin. However, forest and savanna species are also part of this ecosystem as they have a combination of plants from various forest and savanna types. Hence, the riparian forests have been found to be more diverse than those of the single one-ecosystem-based vegetation. They also provide the needed categories of food for many animal and other forest species to survive. The riparian forests ecosystem is in a limited area and spread in a linear shape. The forests account for at least one-third of the estimated 3,000 species of flora of Benin, with several valuable, rare or even endemic species. These forests are woodlands of semi-deciduous, dry, and open forest, and woodland savanna that occur along riverbanks or along streams. The physiognomy of this type of forest is highly variable with trees of average height of and some places as high with dense understorey. Adjacent more open ecosystems also affect the vegetation in these forests. However, this ecosystem of hygrophile and

edaphic Edaphology (from Greek , ''edaphos'', "ground",, '' -logia'') is concerned with the influence of soils on living beings, particularly plants. It is one of two main divisions of soil science, the other being pedology. Edaphology includes the stu ...

freshwater forests is of general structural complexity and extent. It was in a state of extinction due to "shifting cultivation, grazing, selective cutting of valuable or rare tree species, road and dam construction, and over-exploitation of non-timber forest products" to meet the basic needs of rural community. This misuse also resulted in degradation of the ecosystem of rare plants and animals. It reached a chronic stage when indigenous multilayered plant communities became extinct in several areas with resultant creation of open fields, shrubs or grass savanna of least value. Thus, degradation of the ecologically rich system necessitated intervention at the Government level through enabling legislation to stop further damage to the ecosystem. The government of the

Republic of Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Republic of Dahomey, Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burki ...

enacted a new forest law (no. 93-009) in July 1993, under which the uniqueness of riparian forests as refuge ecosystem for plant and wildlife of many kinds, was duly recognized. The rules enacted clearly defined that "clearance of wood and shrubs is not allowed within at both sides of any waterway (article 28). Moreover, in the management plans of most forest reserves in Benin, gallery forests are to be left uncut, and rare species (e.g. ''Khaya'' spp. (Meliaceae), Milicia exelsa (Moraceae)) outside the gallery forests will not be cut either." In spite of such a legislation the enforcement is not effective as it is reported that uncontrolled and unplanned, mostly illegal utilisation of the forests resources continues, particularly in non-protected areas.

Fauna

The major faunal groups in Benin are

mammals Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur o ...

, birds, reptiles and many more.

Mammals

Predators include: the lion ''(panthera leo)'', the largest predator of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

(found in both parks); the leopard ''(panthera pardus)'' a secretive large African cat (found even outside the two parks); the

cheetah The cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, estimated to be capable of running at with the fastest reliably recorded speeds being , and as such has evolved specialized ...

''(Acinonyx jubatus)'' is in the national parks but is a rare sight; several ''(

Felis silvestris The European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') is a small wildcat species native to continental Europe, Scotland, Turkey and the Caucasus. It inhabits forests from the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Central and Eastern Europe to the Caucasus. Its fur is ...

)'', a smaller cat; the

caracal The caracal (''Caracal caracal'') () is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and arid areas of Pakistan and northwestern India. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted e ...

''(Caracal caracal)'', the African wild cat ''(Felis sylvestris)''; the

African hunting dog The African wild dog (''Lycaon pictus''), also called the painted dog or Cape hunting dog, is a wild canine which is a native species to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest wild canine in Africa, and the only extant member of the genus '' L ...

''(Lycaon pictus)'' said to be in W. Park (may be extinct);

side-striped jackal The side-striped jackal (''Lupulella adusta)'' is a canine native to central and southern Africa. Unlike the smaller and related black-backed jackal (''Lupulella mesomelas''), which dwells in open plains, the side-striped jackal primarily dwell ...

''(Canis adustus)''; the black-backed jackal ''(Canis mesomelas)''; the spotted hyena (''Crocuta crocuta'') found in both parks. Nocturnal predators include: the

African civet The African civet (''Civettictis civetta'') is a large viverrid native to sub-Saharan Africa, where it is considered common and widely distributed in woodlands and secondary forests. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 200 ...

(''civettictis civetta'') – a bulky long haired animal; small-spotted genet ''(Genetta genetta)'' and the

large-spotted genet The Cape genet (''Genetta tigrina''), also known as the South African large-spotted genet, is a genet species endemic to South Africa. As it is common and not threatened, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Like other genets, it ...

''(Genetta tigrina)'' found in both parks; the

spotted-necked otter The spotted-necked otter (''Hydrictis maculicollis''), or speckle-throated otter, is an otter native to sub-Saharan Africa. Description The spotted-necked otter is a relatively small species, with males measuring from nose to rump, and weigh ...

''(Lutra maculicollis)'',

honey badger The honey badger (''Mellivora capensis''), also known as the ratel ( or ), is a mammal widely distributed in Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Because of its wide range and occurrence in a variety of habitats, it is liste ...

''(Mellivora capensis)''; many

mongoose A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae. This family is currently split into two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae. The Herpestinae comprises 23 living species that are native to so ...

species such as the

marsh mongoose The marsh mongoose (''Atilax paludinosus''), also known as the water mongoose or the vansire, is a medium-sized mongoose native to sub-Saharan Africa that inhabits foremost freshwater wetlands. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red L ...

''(Atilax paludinosus)'', the

Egyptian mongoose The Egyptian mongoose (''Herpestes ichneumon''), also known as ichneumon (), is a mongoose species native to the coastal regions along the Mediterranean Sea between North Africa and Turkey, tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrub ...

''(Herpestes ichneumon)'', cusimanse ''(Crossarchus obscurus)'', the

white-tailed mongoose The white-tailed mongoose (''Ichneumia albicauda'') is a species in the mongoose family Herpestidae. It is the only member of the genus ''Ichneumia''. Taxonomy ''Herpestes albicaudus'' was the scientific name proposed by Georges Cuvier in 1829 ...

''(Ichneumia albicauda)''; slender or pygmy mongoose (''Galerella sanguinea''), solitary inhabitant of the savanna; and

Gambian mongoose The Gambian mongoose (''Mungos gambianus'') is a mongoose species native to the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic from Gambia to Nigeria. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2008. Taxonomy ''Herpestes gambianus'' was the scie ...

''(mungos gambianus)''. Mammals found here include: African bush elephant ''(loxodonta Africana)'' found widely in savannas, deserts, rainforest, and in the national parks;

hippopotamus The hippopotamus ( ; : hippopotamuses or hippopotami; ''Hippopotamus amphibius''), also called the hippo, common hippopotamus, or river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extan ...

''(Hippopotamus amphibius)'' found in rivers of both parks; the African buffalo ''(Syncerus caffer)'' an ox like animal in large herds in savannas and in smaller groups in parks;

warthog ''Phacochoerus'' is a genus in the family Suidae, commonly known as warthogs (pronounced ''wart-hog''). They are pigs who live in open and semi-open habitats, even in quite arid regions, in sub-Saharan Africa. The two species were formerly co ...

''(Phacochoerus africanus)'' in both parks; the

aardvark The aardvark ( ; ''Orycteropus afer'') is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, although other prehistoric species and genera of Tubulidentata are known. Unlik ...

(''Orycteropus afer'') insectivore found in savannas; pangolins;

hedgehog A hedgehog is a spiny mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introductio ...

s; porcupine species;

rock hyrax The rock hyrax (; ''Procavia capensis''), also called dassie, Cape hyrax, rock rabbit, and (in the King James Bible) coney, is a medium-sized terrestrial mammal native to Africa and the Middle East. Commonly referred to in South Africa as the da ...

''(Procavia capensis)'';

Cape ground squirrel The Cape ground squirrel or South African ground squirrel (''Geosciurus inauris'') is found in most of the drier parts of southern Africa from South Africa, through to Botswana, and into Namibia, including Etosha National Park. The name ' ...

''(Xerus inauris)''. The parks and other areas have a major population of antelope. 17 species are identified, out of which the endangered species are

sitatunga The sitatunga or marshbuck (''Tragelaphus spekii'') is a swamp-dwelling antelope found throughout central Africa, centering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, parts of Southern Sudan, Equatorial Guinea ...

''(Tragelaphus spekii)'', bongo ''(Tragelaphus eurycerus)'' and

korrigum The korrigum (''Damaliscus lunatus korrigum''), also known as Senegal hartebeest, is a subspecies of the topi, a large African antelope. Taxonomy An 1822–1824 British expedition across the Sahara to the ancient kingdom of Bornu, returned with ...

''(Damaliscus korrigum korrigum)''. Other species of various status are: grey duiker ''(Sylvicapra grimmia)'';

bushbuck The Cape bushbuck (''Tragelaphus sylvaticus'') is a common and a widespread species of antelope in sub-Saharan Africa.Wronski T, Moodley Y. (2009)Bushbuck, harnessed antelope or both? ''Gnusletter'', 28(1):18-19. Bushbuck are found in a wide ra ...

;

Maxwell's duiker The Maxwell's duiker (''Philantomba maxwellii'') is a small antelope found in western Africa. Taxonomy The scientific name of Maxwell's duiker is ''Philantomba maxwelli''. It is classified in the genus ''Philantomba'' along with the blue duiker ...

''(Philantomba maxwellii)'';

red-flanked duiker The red-flanked duiker (''Cephalophus rufilatus'') is a species of small antelope found in western and central Africa in countries as far apart as Senegal and Sudan. Red-flanked duikers grow to almost 15 in (35 cm) in height and weigh up to ...

''(Cephalophus rufilatus)'';

black duiker The black duiker (''Cephalophus niger''), also known as ''tuba'' in Dyula, is a forest-dwelling duiker found in the southern parts of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria. Black duikers stand around tall at the ...

''(Cephalophus niger)'';

yellow-backed duiker The yellow-backed duiker (''Cephalophus silvicultor'') is a forest dwelling antelope in the order Artiodactyla from the family Bovidae. Yellow-backed duikers are the most widely distributed of all duikers. They are found mainly in Central and West ...

''(Cephalophus silvicultor)'' (vulnerable); grey duiker ''(Sylvicapra grimmia)'';

bohor reedbuck The bohor reedbuck (''Redunca redunca'') is an antelope native to central Africa. The animal is placed under the genus '' Redunca'' and in the family Bovidae. It was first described by German zoologist and botanist Peter Simon Pallas in 1767. ...

''(Redunca redunca)'';

waterbuck The waterbuck (''Kobus ellipsiprymnus'') is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. It is placed in the genus '' Kobus'' of the family Bovidae. It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1833. Its 13 subspecies ar ...

''(Kobus ellipsiprymnus)'' found near water sources; Buffon's kob ''(Kobus kob)''; roan antelope ''(Hippotragus equinus)'' found more in both parks but more in Pendjari;

western hartebeest The western hartebeest (''Alcelaphus buselaphus major'') is an antelope native to the medium to tall grassland plains of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, ...

''(Alcelaphus buselaphus major)'' ungainly in appearance;

red-fronted gazelle The red-fronted gazelle (''Eudorcas rufifrons'') is widely but unevenly distributed gazelle across the middle of Africa from Senegal to northeastern Ethiopia. It is mainly resident in the Sahel zone, a narrow cross-Africa band south of the S ...

''(Eudorcas rufifrons)''; and

oribi The oribi (; ''Ourebia ourebi'') is a small antelope found in eastern, southern and western Africa. The sole member of its genus, it was described by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1783. While this is the only ...

''(Ourebia ourebi)'', more abundant in Pendjari Park than in W National Park.Butler (2006), pp. 3–5 Primates reported include

olive baboon The olive baboon (''Papio anubis''), also called the Anubis baboon, is a member of the family Cercopithecidae Old World monkeys. The species is the most wide-ranging of all baboons, being native to 25 countries throughout Africa, extending fr ...

''(Papio anubis)'' of large size with inverted “U” shaped tail; the

green monkey The green monkey (''Chlorocebus sabaeus''), also known as the sabaeus monkey, is an Old World monkey with golden-green fur and pale hands and feet. The tip of the tail is golden yellow as are the backs of the thighs and cheek whiskers. It does n ...

''(Cercopithecus sabaeus)'', the most common monkey species; the common patas monkey ''(Erythrocebus patas)'' with an orange tinged coat occur in northern Benin.

Reptiles

Nile crocodile The Nile crocodile (''Crocodylus niloticus'') is a large crocodilian native to freshwater habitats in Africa, where it is present in 26 countries. It is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, occurring mostly in the central, eastern, ...

s ''(

Crocodylus niloticus ''Crocodylus'' is a genus of true crocodiles in the family Crocodylidae. Taxonomy The generic name, ''Crocodylus'', was proposed by Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in 1768. ''Crocodylus'' contains 13–14 extant (living) species and 5 extinct spe ...

)'' the largest living reptile seen in river banks and ponds in the two protected parks, the dwarf caiman, smaller and docile species of

chameleons Chameleons or chamaeleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015. The members of this family are best known for their distinct range of colors, bein ...

in 100 colour variations.Butler 2006, p.12-13

Tortoise Tortoises () are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin: ''tortoise''). Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like oth ...

s include

leopard tortoise The leopard tortoise (''Stigmochelys pardalis'') is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape. It is the only extant member of the genus ''Stigmochelys'', althou ...

''(Stigmochelys pardalis)'', several species of

terrapin Terrapins are one of several small species of turtle (order Testudines) living in fresh or brackish water. Terrapins do not form a taxonomic unit and may not be closely related. Many belong to the families Geoemydidae and Emydidae. The name ...

and

turtle Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked t ...

s – out of eight species of marine turtles four are found in Benin coast, namely, the green sea turtle ''(Chelonia mydas)'',

olive ridley sea turtle The olive ridley sea turtle (''Lepidochelys olivacea''), also known commonly as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Cheloniidae. The species is the second-smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in ...

''(Lepidochelys olivacea)'' and

leatherback sea turtle The leatherback sea turtle (''Dermochelys coriacea''), sometimes called the lute turtle or leathery turtle or simply the luth, is the largest of all living turtles and the heaviest non-crocodilian reptile, reaching lengths of up to and weight ...

(''Dermochelys coriacea''). The indigenous hawksbill sea turtle ''(Eretmochelys imbricata)'' is the source of traditional

tortoiseshell Tortoiseshell or tortoise shell is a material produced from the shells of the larger species of tortoise and turtle, mainly the hawksbill sea turtle, which is a critically endangered species according to the IUCN Red List largely because of its ...

).Butler 2006, p.14 Lizards found are harmless and of two types, the water and savanna monitors – ''

Varanus niloticus The Nile monitor (''Varanus niloticus'') is a large member of the monitor family (Varanidae) found throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa and along the Nile, with invasive populations in North America. The population in West African forests and sa ...

'' and '' Varanus exanthematicus'' – both are predatory species;

house gecko __NOTOC__ ''Hemidactylus'' is a genus of the common gecko family, Gekkonidae. It has 189 described species, newfound ones being described every few years. These geckos are found in all the tropical regions of the world, extending into the subtrop ...

''(

Hemidactylus mabouia The tropical house gecko, Afro-American house gecko or cosmopolitan house gecko (''Hemidactylus mabouia'') is a species of house gecko native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is also currently found in North, Central and South America and the Caribb ...

)'', a translucent white lizard; agama species in large size of varied mixed colours and the

skinks Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, a family in the infraorder Scincomorpha. With more than 1,500 described species across 100 different taxonomic genera, the family Scincidae is one of the most diverse families of lizards. Sk ...

.Butler 2006, p.15-16

Birds

Birds are a special feature in all types of habitats ranging from rainforest to deserts in Benin, which have two main climatic zones, namely the thick tropical vegetation in the south and the dry savannas and light woodlands in the north. The birding sites for coastal

wader 245px, A flock of Dunlins and Red knots">Red_knot.html" ;"title="Dunlins and Red knot">Dunlins and Red knots Waders or shorebirds are birds of the order Charadriiformes commonly found wikt:wade#Etymology 1, wading along shorelines and mudflat ...

s are the coastal lagoons of Les Bouches du Roi and the backwaters of Ouidha beach. Water birds and forest birds are found in

Lake Nokoué Lake Nokoué is a lake in the southern part of Benin. It is wide and long and covers an area of . The lake is partly fed by the Ouémé River and the Sô River, both of which deposit sediments from throughout the region in the lake. The city o ...

and Lake Ahémé. Feathered birds are found in granite rock hills near Dassa-Zoume. The national parks are full of savanna specific birds.Butler 2006, p.10-12 The weaver species reported are: 12 species of weavers of family

Ploceidae Ploceidae is a family of small passerine birds, many of which are called weavers, weaverbirds, weaver finches and bishops. These names come from the nests of intricately woven vegetation created by birds in this family. In most recent classifica ...

are found in Benin, out of the overall 111 of the genus ''

Ploceus ''Ploceus'' is a genus of birds in the weaver family, Ploceidae. They are native to the Indomalayan and Afrotropical realms. Taxonomy and systematics Phylogeny The genus ''Ploceus'' was introduced by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier ...

'' (true weavers) identified; they are larger than a sparrow, males are more colourful than female species. Other reported species are Holub's golden-weaver, southern masked weave ''(Ploceus velatus)'',

Vieillot's black weaver Vieillot's black weaver (''Ploceus nigerrimus'') is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in southern Nigeria to Uganda, west Kenya, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The common name is after the French ornitholog ...

''(Ploceus nigerrimus)'', black-billed weave ''(Ploceus melanogaster)'', grosbeak weaver (''Amblyospiza albifrons''), sparrow and buffalo weavers dideric cuckoo ''(Chrysococcyx caprius)'', a handsome white-breasted cuckooshrike ''(Coracina pectoralis)'' which lays its eggs in weavers nests. More species of birds are: helmeted guineafow ''(Numida meleagris)'', black-and-white-chicken-like cuckoo found in North Benin,

Abyssinian ground hornbill The Abyssinian ground hornbill or northern ground hornbill (''Bucorvus abyssinicus'') is an African bird, found north of the equator, and is one of two species of ground hornbill. It is the second largest species of African hornbill, only surpas ...

''(Bucorvus abyssinicus)'', a large distinctive bird; the marabou stork (''Leptoptilos crumeniferus''); the

black crowned crane The black crowned crane (''Balearica pavonina'') is a part of the family Gruidae, along with its sister species, the grey crowned crane. It is topped with its characteristic bristle-feathered golden crown. It is usually found in the shallow we ...

''(Balearica pavonina)'', a tall grey-black bird; the

saddle-billed stork The saddle-billed stork or saddlebill (''Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis'') is a large wading bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south ...

''(Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis)'', a large white bird with black wings.Butler 2006, p.11-12 Raptors are

vultures A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including Condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to North and ...

''(

Gyps ''Gyps'' is a genus of Old World vultures that was proposed by Marie Jules César Savigny in 1809. Its members are sometimes known as griffon vultures. ''Gyps'' vultures have a slim head, a long slender neck with downy feathers, and a ruff aroun ...

)'' species found in both parks, which are carion-eating birds. A common sight is the

African fish eagle The African fish eagle (''Haliaeetus vocifer'') or the African sea eagle, is a large species of eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply occur. It is the national bird of Malawi, Na ...

''(Haliaeetus vocifer)'' species, which is black and white in colour.

Molluscs

Insect

Insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three ...

species found in Benin include the

tsetse fly Tsetse ( , or ) (sometimes spelled tzetze; also known as tik-tik flies), are large, biting flies that inhabit much of tropical Africa. Tsetse flies include all the species in the genus ''Glossina'', which are placed in their own family, Glos ...

and many vectors of epidemic diseases.

Flora

Dense forests are not recorded in Benin. Along the coastal areas coconut,

palmyra palm ''Borassus'' (palmyra palm) is a genus of five species of fan palms, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Papua New Guinea. Description These massive palms can grow up to high and have robust trunks with distinct leaf scars; in so ...

oil palms ''Elaeis'' () is a genus of palms containing two species, called oil palms. They are used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The African oil palm ''Elaeis guineensis'' (the species name ''guineensis'' referring to its cou ...

are seen up to

Abomey Abomey is the capital of the Zou Department of Benin. The commune of Abomey covers an area of 142 square kilometres and, as of 2012, had a population of 90,195 people. Abomey houses the Royal Palaces of Abomey, a collection of small traditional ...

, where after vegetation is savanna merged with that of Guinea and Sudan. Other tree species noted are

ebony Ebony is a dense black/brown hardwood, coming from several species in the genus '' Diospyros'', which also contains the persimmons. Unlike most woods, ebony is dense enough to sink in water. It is finely textured and has a mirror finish when ...

shea nut ''Vitellaria paradoxa'' (formerly ''Butyrospermum parkii''), commonly known as shea tree, shi tree (), or vitellaria, is a tree of the family Sapotaceae. It is the only species in the genus ''Vitellaria'',kapok, fromager, and Senegal mahogany trees. The W National Park constitutes the southern limit of

tiger bush Tiger bush, or brousse tigrée in the French language, is a patterned vegetation community and ground consisting of alternating bands of trees, shrubs, or grass separated by bare ground or low herb cover, that run roughly parallel to conto ...

plateau distribution. Riverine and gallery forests are noted on the banks of the Mekrou River (with seasonal flows), and other tributaries of the Niger River. The plains have extensive coverage of grasses. In the savanna woodlands, grassland and stunted savanna woodlands, the plant species recorded are the ''

Terminalia avicennioides ''Terminalia avicennioides'' ( bm, Wolobugun) is a tree species in the genus '' Terminalia'' found in West Africa. Castalagin and flavogallonic acid dilactoneThe use of microfluorometric method for activity-guided isolation of antiplasmodial co ...

'', ''

Anogeissus leiocarpus ''Anogeissus leiocarpa'' (African birch; bm, ngálǎma) is a tall deciduous tree native to the savannas of tropical Africa. It is the sole West African species of the genus ''Anogeissus'', a genus otherwise distributed from tropical central a ...

'', hackberry '' Clematis integrifolia''

clematis ''Clematis'' is a genus of about 300 species within the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Their garden hybrids have been popular among gardeners, beginning with ''Clematis'' × ''jackmanii'', a garden standby since 1862; more hybrid cultivars ...

, '' Boscia senegalensis'', ''

Balanites aegyptiaca ''Balanites aegyptiaca'' (also known as the Egyptian balsam) is a species of tree, classified as a member of either the Zygophyllaceae or the Balanitaceae. This tree is native to much of Africa and parts of the Middle East. There are many comm ...

'',

kapok tree Kapok tree can refer to several plants Malvales with one exception with seeds that grow long hairs: *''Bombax ceiba'', an Asian tree with red flowers *''Calotropis procera'' (Asterid), a shrub with white and purple flowers, native to Asia and ...

('' Bombax costatum''), African locust ''(

Parkia biglobosa ''Parkia biglobosa'', known in English as the African locust bean, is a perennial deciduous tree in the family Fabaceae. It is found in a wide range of environments in Africa and is primarily grown for its pods that contain both a sweet pulp and ...

)'', camel's foot tree, '' Senna reticulata'', baobab ''(

Adansonia digitata ''Adansonia digitata'', the African baobab, is the most widespread tree species of the genus '' Adansonia'', the baobabs, and is native to the African continent and the southern Arabian Peninsula (Yemen, Oman). These are long-lived pachycauls; ...

)'',

tamarind Tamarind (''Tamarindus indica'') is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is probably indigenous to tropical Africa. The genus ''Tamarindus'' is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. It belongs to the family Fabaceae ...

''(Tamarindus indica)'', ''

Prosopis africana ''Prosopis africana'' is a flowering plant species in the genus Fabaceae. It is found in Africa. Its common names include African mesquite, iron tree, ''gele'' (Malinke) (traditional djembe wood) or ''somb'' tree. In the Serer creation myth, i ...

'', ''( Piliostigma reticulatum)''. In the evergreen gallery forests,

sausage tree ''Kigelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae. The genus consists of only one species, ''Kigelia africana'', which occurs throughout tropical Africa. The so-called sausage tree grows a poisonous fruit that is up to long ...

, (''

Kigelia africana ''Kigelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae. The genus consists of only one species, ''Kigelia africana'', which occurs throughout tropical Africa. The so-called sausage tree grows a poisonous fruit that is up to long ...

'') and

African mahogany African mahogany is a marketing name for several African trees whose wood has properties similar to New World mahogany species. * genus '' Entandrophragma'' of the family ''Meliaceae'' * genus '' Khaya'' of the family ''Meliaceae'' * genus ''Afzeli ...

''(Khaya senegalensis)'' are found.

Orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowerin ...

species recorded are the '' Eulophia cucculata'' and '' Eulophia guineensis''. The Pendjari park consists of; grasslands which have no trees or shrubs; shrub lands which are fully covered by grass; Arborous savanna vegetation; wooded savanna formations with contiherbaceous layer but with no undergrowth; forests along the river, thin forests with plenty of trees of size of 8–16 m; and gallery forests which are dense with shrubs. The rocky cliffs of the Pendjari National Park are sparsely wooded. The Volta depression has savanna ecosystem with woodlands and rare species such as '' Burkea africana'',

Pterocarpus erinaceus ''Pterocarpus erinaceus'' is an endangered species of tree that is native to the Sahelian region of West Africa. It is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is used for fu ...

'', Detarium microcarpum'', '' Lannea acida'', ''

Sterculia setigera ''Sterculia setigera'' is a deciduous tree species within the Malvaceae family. It commonly occurs in the Sahelo-Sudan and Guinea savannah zones of Tropical Africa. Among the Hausa people it is known as Kukkuki. It is an important tree crop in S ...

'', '' Combretum ghasalense'' and '' Acacia'' spp. On the deep soils of some of the summits and the Atakora escarpment one finds a greater variety of plant species with ''

Isoberlinia doka ''Isoberlinia doka'' is a hardwood tree native to African tropical savannas and Guinean forest-savanna mosaic dry forests where it can form single species stands. The tree is exploited for its economic value as a commercial timber. The leaves ...

'' and ''

Afzelia africana ''Afzelia africana'', the African mahogany, afzelia, lenke, lengue, apa, or doussi, is a tree species in the family Fabaceae. Range It occurs in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, DRCongo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gui ...

.'' The Pendjari River has an impressive

gallery forest A gallery forest is one formed as a corridor along rivers or wetlands, projecting into landscapes that are otherwise only sparsely treed such as savannas, grasslands, or deserts. The gallery forest maintains a more temperate microclimate above th ...

and river forest. The park includes both Sudan and North Guinea savannas, with areas of grassland dominated by '' Acacia sieberiana'' and '' Terminalia macroptera.'' The most common species found in the "riparian forests" are: ''

Pterocarpus santalinoides ''Pterocarpus santalinoides'' is a tree species in the legume family (biology) (Fabaceae); it is locally known as ''mututi''. It has a remarkable bi-continental distribution, native to tropical western Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gam ...

'' (Papilionaceae), '' Cola laurifolia'' (

Sterculiaceae Sterculiaceae was a family of flowering plant based on the genus ''Sterculia''. Genera formerly included in Sterculiaceae are now placed in the family Malvaceae, in the subfamilies: Byttnerioideae, Dombeyoideae, Helicteroideae and Sterculioideae. A ...

) and '' Syzygium guineense'' ( Myrtaceae), out of which a few species are endemic and valuable. ;Herbal cure Malaria, which is a virulent disease in Benin as in the rest of Africa, is treated by alternative medicines. The alternative treatment locally practiced in southern Benin is based on several plant species that are extracted and administered orally. Such extracts are also used for bathing. Plant species listed for treatment are 85, which are used to make 35 mixtures for treatment. ;Botanical garden The phytodiversity of Western Africa is being preserved at the Papatia Botanical Garden in northern Benin. This garden, which is spread over an area of 12 ha, is a species-rich savanna area where an inventory of hundred woody plants and several hundred of herbaceous species has been maintained. A tree-nursery is part of this garden created to increase rare species.

Organizations

According to the Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Management of Protected Areas approved in 1994, organization such as the National Centre for Wildlife Management (or Centre National de Gestion des Réserves de la Faune – CENAGREF) was created in 1996 for the sole purpose of the conservation and management of national parks including the buffer zones and the transition areas. The Direction of Pendjari National Park set up in 1996 and the Direction of W National Park set up in 1999 are administrative organizations under the CENAGREF that are responsible for the management of the parks. The Association of Civil Communities in the Protected Areas of the W National Park and the Séri Zone (Association des Communes Riveraines aux Aires Protégées du Parc W et de la Zone de Séri – ACRAP/WS) and Village Associations for the Management of Wildlife Reserves (or Associations Villageoise de Gestion des Reserves de Faune -AVIGREF) were also set up with the responsibility community training and promoting multi-level communication between farmers and other stakeholders and capacity building and the development of effective governance following decentralized resource management. IUCN has associated with these organizations to address all aspects of management of the natural resources of the W National Park.

Notes

References

* *

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wildlife Of Benin Biota of Benin

Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the nort ...