Kenya has a variety of wildlife not only in national parks and game reserves, but also in the open grassland where game has co-exists with communities for hundreds of years.
The zebra, hippopotamus, wildebeest, rhinoceros and elephant are some of the wildlife Kenya is famous for the world over. The Big Five, too -lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and
buffalo.
Birds, too, the big and small, are prominent, including flamingoes, vultures and ostriches. Birds are special in helping identify rich biodiversity and Kenya has more than 1,000 species. It has at least 60 Important Bird Areas (IBAs). These are places of global importance for bird conservation. They have threatened and special species.
Today, there are many animal varieties, but some have become extinct. Wildlife is a leading tourist attraction. The areas hosting game are protected in 33 national parks and reserves. Kenya’s fauna comprises more than 80 major species of animals.
Rain forests are home to Kenya’s unique species of animals – chameleons, squirrels, bats, frogs, monkeys and birds.
Forests in the central highlands are mostly mountainous and have afro-alpine vegetation.