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[email protected]. Image rights belong to the original contributors. Search by: Animal (e.g., Giraffe, Eagle), Category (e.g., Big, Special), or Conservation Status (e.g., Endangered, Vulnerable)
SWAHILI NAME: Simba
CATEGORY: Big 5
CONSERVATION STATUS: Vulnerable
POTENTIAL LOOKALIKES: N/A
DISTINGUISHED BY: Male’s majestic mane, unpatterned coat unlike other big cats
1. Super prides can range from 40-60 members
2. Lions have tongues covered in backward-facing spines called papillae, made of keratin. These help them strip meat from bones, groom efficiently, and even aid in drinking water—just like all cats.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jotham A
SWAHILI NAME: Mbega Mweupe
CONSERVATION STATUS: Vulnerable
POTENTIAL LOOKALIKES: Other monkeys
DISTINGUISHED BY: Black fur with long white mantle and a flowing white tail
1. Like other colobus monkeys, it has no thumbs—its name comes from the Greek word kolobós, meaning mutilated.
2. Has a four-chambered stomach, like cows, allowing it to digest tough leaves, including some that are toxic to other animals.
PHOTO CREDIT: Roy Wangui
SWAHILI NAME: Tumbili
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
POTENTIAL LOOKALIKES: Other Monkeys
DISTINGUISHED BY: Small size, grey fur, black face
1. Display human-like traits such as hypertension, anxiety, and alcohol use
2. Uses specific alarm calls for predators, e.g., leopards, eagles, and snakes, triggering precise escape responses.
PHOTO CREDIT: George Kamau
SWAHILI NAME: Choroa Beisa/Bara Bara
CATEGORY: Special 5
CONSERVATION STATUS: Endangered
POTENTIAL LOOKALIKES: Fringe-eared Oryx
DISTINGUISHED BY: Long, straight horns and greyish coat with no fringes on the ears
1. Its pale coat helps reflect sunlight, and it can sense distant rainfall
2. Can go weeks without drinking water by extracting moisture from plants
PHOTO CREDIT: Jotham A
SWAHILI NAME: Mbuni
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
POTENTIAL LOOKALIKES: Somali ostrich
DISTINGUISHED BY: Larger size and longer neck
1. Fastest bird on land, running up to 70 km/h
2. Lays the largest eggs of any bird
PHOTO CREDIT: Jotham A
SWAHILI NAME: Mbuni/Mbuni Somali
CATEGORY: Special 5
CONSERVATION STATUS: Vulnerable
POTENTIAL LOOKALIKES: Common ostrich
DISTINGUISHED BY: Blue neck and legs
1. Slightly smaller than the common ostrich
2. Adapted to very hot, dry environments, able to survive without water for long periods
PHOTO CREDIT: Jotham A
SWAHILI NAME: Askari wa Kifaru
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
POTENTIAL LOOKALIKES: Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Buffalo Weavers
DISTINGUISHED BY: Red bill, yellowish eyes, and brownish body
1. Feeds on ticks, dead skin, and parasites from mammals like rhinos and buffalos, benefiting both itself and its host
2. Known for aggressive feeding behavior, sometimes pecking at the wounds of its host
PHOTO CREDIT: Jotham A
SWAHILI NAME: Mwari/Miari
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
POTENTIAL LOOKALIKES: Marabou Stork, Stork
DISTINGUISHED BY: Large throat pouch.
1. One of the largest flying birds, with a wingspan of up to 3.6 meters (12 feet), soaring effortlessly on warm air currents.
2. Its gular pouch is for scooping fish, not storing them—it drains water before swallowing its catch.
PHOTO CREDIT: Luvai Gohar