There are several species of wild cats in Africa, including big cats like the lion, cheetah and leopard, as well as several small wild cats – the African golden cat, caracal, serval, African wildcat, sand cat, jungle cat and the black-footed cat.
More About Africa
Africa covers approximately 6% of the earth’s surface. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean (west) Mediterranean Sea (north), the Suez Canal, Red Sea and Sinai Peninsula (northeast) and the Indian Ocean (southeast).
The largest country in Africa is Algeria. The country with the highest population is Nigeria.
The climate of Africa is extremely diverse, including tropical and subarctic regions. The northern part of Africa is mostly desert and extremely dry. The southern part of Africa consists of jungles, plains and steppes. Africa is believed to have more wildlife than any other place on earth. However, deforestation (cutting down wide areas of trees) is resulting in significant wildlife habitat loss.
Key geographical features of Africa include the Kalahari and Sahara Desert, Serengeti grasslands, Ethiopian Highlands, Mount Kilimanjaro and the Atlas Mountains.
According to recent studies, Africa is losing its forests twice as fast as other countries in the world – an estimated 4 million hectares a year. One hectare is the equivalent of 2.471 acres. Some researchers believe that the country may lose up to 30% of its animal and plant species by the end of the century.
The Big Cats of Africa
The cheetah, leopard and lion are the big cats in Africa. Cheetahs and leopards can be found throughout most of Africa in isolated populations.
Lions once roamed all over Africa as well, but their population has been on a steep decline. They can no longer be found in North Africa, and less than 400 lions remain in West Africa.
Leopards are a big cat with fur covered in spots called rosettes. They live in many different habitats, such as deserts, mountains, forests and grasslands.
Cheetahs inhabit scrub forests and savannahs. They are extremely fast, reaching speeds up to 75 mph.
Lion
Panthera leo
Conservation Status Vulnerable
Lions used to inhabit southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of India. Although a small population still exists in India, the species now mainly resides in various parts of Africa. While it was previously believed that there were numerous lion subspecies, as of 2017, only two subspecies are considered valid.
Leopard
Panthera pardus
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Leopards inhabit Africa, India, Asia, the Middle East, and the Malay Peninsula. They can be found in different regions, from grassland areas to rainforests. Their fur ranges in color from yellow to golden brown.
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubalus
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals in the world. They used to inhabit areas across India, Pakistan, Russia, Iran, and the Middle East. However, due to declining populations, most cheetahs can now only be found in the eastern and southern parts of Africa, as well as Iran. Currently, there are approximately 7,000 cheetahs left in the world.
Small Wild Cats
The small wild cats in Africa are the caracal, African golden cat, serval, black-footed cat, jungle cat, African wildcat and sand cat.
The caracal is considered a relatively common cat in Africa. It has a strong build, long legs and tufted ears.
African golden cats can be found primarily in rainforests. They have an unusual ridge of fur in the front of their shoulders.
The serval, a relative of the caracal and African golden cat, can be found throughout the Sahara, usually in savannas (grasslands with occasional trees). The serval has excellent hearing and can leap several feet.
The smallest wild cat in Africa is the black-footed cat. These cats inhabit the Southwestern part of Southern Africa. Males weigh a little over 4 lbs.
Jungle cats inhabit Africa’s Nile River Valley, usually in areas with tall grass, brush or reeds. You can find them in desert regions, forested areas and near riverbeds.
The African wildcat is roughly the size of a domestic cat and can be found throughout most of Africa. The cat has extremely long legs and walks somewhat like a cheetah.
Sand cats live in the deserts of North Africa. They can also be found in some areas of West Africa. They are one of the smallest wild cats.
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