Amazing Facts On Egyptian Wildlife.

To most people, what comes into mind when Egypt is mentioned is mostly about the ancient pharaohs and other features that are a result of an ancient civilization. But Egypt has proven to offer more when it comes to wildlife as it prides itself on having over 93 species of mammals, a migration route for birds, and over 106 reptile species. The weather in Egypt which is typically hot and dry hosts both desert and home animals. To see these amazing animals all you have to do is go on a cruise down the river Nile. To book a cruise just go and do a Google search for something along the lines of ‘Nile cruise Egypt‘.

Let’s have a look at the different wildlife in Egypt:

Mammals:

Egypt has endemic species such as the Egyptian Weasel and the pallid gerbil, the Nile Delta toad, and the famous Sinai Baton Blue and Satyrium Jebella. There are also desert animals such as gazelle, sheep, hyenas, mice, and foxes. In the rocky mountains in the South, Aardwolfs, polecats and the genet can still be found.

Birds:

Most birds are located in the Nile valley and Delta region and Egypt has over 480 bird species which include the Spotted sandgrouse, white-crowned wheaters, vultures, flamingoes, herons, eagles, hawks, and owls. What is more interesting is that Egypt is a bird migratory route for seabirds, migratory flocks, and songbirds. The Fayoum Oasis, Lake Bardawil, Cairo, Suez, and Zait Bay are great tourist destinations for bird watching as millions of birds pass through.

Reptiles and Amphibians:

There are over 106 species of reptiles and amphibians in Egypt. It is home to plenty of snakes that are nonvenomous and also venomous. The most common venomous snakes are the Saharan Horned Viper, Field’s Horned Viper, Red spitting Cobra, and the Egyptian Cobra. These are known to bury in the sand and wait for their prey. Crocodiles are considered the most dangerous reptiles in Egypt as close to two hundred Egyptians are attacked by the Nile crocodile which is Africa’s largest. As for lizards, there are over 36 species that inhabit the sand, gravel, and rocks.

Fish:

The Mediterranean and Red sea coasts are home to many fish species, not forgetting the River Nile which flows through Egypt. These species include the Nile perch, Tilapia, catfish, lionfish, and water leopard fish. Other than the fish, Hippopotamuses were a common spectacle in the waters of the river Nile but are now extinct. Always exercise caution even in your fishing expeditions since there are dangerous species of fish in the Red sea.

In as much as Egypt has a hot and dry climate, it has over 28 animal sanctuaries that house mammals such as the Cape Hyrax which is found along the Nile banks, hedgehogs, sand cats, Gazelles, caracals, buffalos, donkeys, and mongooses. We can not forget to mention the most famous animal in Egypt which is the camel. The Dromedary camel is the most popular type of camel in Egypt.

Another amazing fact about Egyptian wildlife is that they often keep the desert foxes as pets! This only applies to the small-bodied Fennec. If you travel to the desert, you will be lucky to share a meal with the Fennec. Other types of Foxes include the red fox, which settled in the Egyptian deserts and is among the biggest type of foxes scattered within the Arab region.

In conclusion

Egyptians treasure their wildlife animals which include baboons, Cats, Cobras, Hawks, Crocodiles, lions, and pigs among others as they help with sacred beliefs. When planning your trip to Egypt, be open-minded as Egypt is top on the spectrum for biodiversity and is not only a desert country.