Mali animals are mostly of the sub Saharan type because of the geographical location of Mali. Mali shares its northern border with the Sahara Desert. So, the climate of Mali is very much influenced by the desert climate. 40% of the total landmass in Mali is desert or semi desert. Hence the animals in Mali have learnt to take advantage of the short span of wet season when it arrives. The fauna of Mali not only includes interesting species of antelopes and other predatory animals, but also involves animals like the crocodiles and hippos living around the river Niger and river Senegal.
Some of the major Mali animals include:
- Lemurs
- Crocodiles
- Meerkat
- Ball Pythons
- Mandrill Baboons
- Warthogs
- Rock Pythons
- Giant Pangolins
- Elephant
- Leopard
- Bush Baby
- Giraffes
- African Lions
- Chimpanzee
- Hippopotamus
- Dromedary Camels
- Black Rhinoceros
- Spotted Hyenas
The birdlife in Mali is also diverse. Various species of birds can be found in the country. However, some of these species are getting affected by the pollution and are slowly becoming extinct. Few of such bird species in Mali are mentioned below:
- Greater Spotted Eagle
- Lesser Kestrel
- Marbled Teal
- Aquatic Warbler
- Lappet-faced Vulture
- Corncrake
- Mali Firefinch
The geographical location and the climatic conditions of Mali necessarily demand a highly heterogeneous fauna, whether of the feathered bipeds or furred quadrupeds. In the sub Saharan desert region, the meerkats and the desert elephants can be found. On the other hand, the grassy savanna and tropical wetlands of the south are crowded with hippopotamus and crocodiles along with a variety of other wild creatures.
