Wildlife of Benin
Benin has varied resources of wildlife comprising flora and fauna, which are primarily protected in its two contiguous protected areas of the Pendjari National Park and W National Park. The former is known for many species of avifauna and the latter park is rich in mammals and predators. In addition, many other forest reserves are noted in the country but are not easily accessible, well protected or adequately surveyed for its wildlife resources. The protected area system of Benin defined as National Protected Area System is situated in the northern Benin, mostly with a woody savanna ecosystem. It covers 10.3% of the national territory and is part of the three nation transboundary W-Arly-Pendjari complex.
Forests of particular note are the Riparian forests which form a dominant ecosystem, accounting for ⅓ of the estimated flora of 3,000 species in Benin. These forests are found along river banks consisting of semi-deciduous, dry, and open forest and woodland savanna. However, these systems have been subject to severe misuse by way of deforestation, which necessitated the enforcement of a Law, which imposes restrictions on cutting of these forests.
In south Benin, where malaria is a common disease as in the rest of Africa, medicinal plants are used for treatment as an alternative to allopathic medicine.
National parks
W National Park
W National Park, IUCN Management Category II, a transboundary park among Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso, as a part of the Niger River, encompasses an area of in Benin; the prefix "W" is after the W-shaped bends in the Niger River that border's the park and which is fed the Tapoa River in the north, and the Mékrou River in the south. It is set in attitudinal range of 170 to 338 m. In addition, the buffer zones are the hunting zones of Mékrou, Djona and Kompa, apart from transition areas in a zone. This area in the West African savanna belt covers terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic ecosystems. Primarily of semi-arid to semi-humid Sudanese wooded savanna, 500 plant species have been identified. Sudanese savanna fauna consists of 70 diurnal mammals and more than 112 species of fish including monkfish Squatina aculeata. The park has about 200,000 people living within it and on its periphery, which creates conflicts between park managers, herders and farmers.Pendjari National Park
The Pendjari National Park is an area of, located entirely in Benin, in the far north-west of Benin. In addition it has buffer zones namely, the Pendjari that incorporates the hunting zones of Pendjari-Porga, Batia and Konkombri. Initially known as forest reserve, it was declared a National Park on May 6, 1961 after the independence of Benin. In June 1986, it was classified as a MAB Biosphere Reserve and in February 2007, the Pendjari River Valley was recognized as a Ramsar Site of wetland importance. The park is part of the W-Arli-Pendjari complex, which is a vast protected area in Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. The hills and cliffs of the Atakora range make the north-west one of the most scenic areas of Benin. They provide a wonderful backdrop to the Pendjari National Park, which, in its isolation, remains one of the most interesting in West Africa.Riparian forests
s in Benin are important conservation sites that need more care than is currently available. These forests, which are flood-dependent and the flora that is dependent on this source of water, are seen in many parts of Benin. However, forest and savanna species are also part of this ecosystem as they have a combination of plants from various forest and savanna types. Hence, the riparian forests have been found to be more diverse than those of the single one-ecosystem-based vegetation. They also provide the needed categories of food for many animal and other forest species to survive.The riparian forests ecosystem is in a limited area and spread in a linear shape. The forests account for at least one-third of the estimated 3,000 species of flora of Benin, with several valuable, rare or even endemic species. These forests are woodlands of semi-deciduous, dry, and open forest, and woodland savanna that occur along riverbanks or along streams. The physiognomy of this type of forest is highly variable with trees of average height of and some places as high with dense understorey. Adjacent more open ecosystems also affect the vegetation in these forests.
However, this ecosystem of hygrophile and edaphic freshwater forests is of general structural complexity and extent. It was in a state of extinction due to "shifting cultivation, grazing, selective cutting of valuable or rare tree species, road and dam construction, and over-exploitation of non-timber forest products" to meet the basic needs of rural community. This misuse also resulted in degradation of the ecosystem of rare plants and animals. It reached a chronic stage when indigenous multilayered plant communities became extinct in several areas with resultant creation of open fields, shrubs or grass savanna of least value. Thus, degradation of the ecologically rich system necessitated intervention at the Government level through enabling legislation to stop further damage to the ecosystem. The government of the Republic of Benin enacted a new forest law in July 1993, under which the uniqueness of riparian forests as refuge ecosystem for plant and wildlife of many kinds, was duly recognized. The rules enacted clearly defined that "clearance of wood and shrubs is not allowed within at both sides of any waterway. Moreover, in the management plans of most forest reserves in Benin, gallery forests are to be left uncut, and rare species, Milicia exelsa ) outside the gallery forests will not be cut either." In spite of such a legislation the enforcement is not effective as it is reported that uncontrolled and unplanned, mostly illegal utilisation of the forests resources continues, particularly in non-protected areas.
Fauna
The major faunal groups in Benin are mammals, birds, reptiles and many more.Mammals
Predators include: the lion ', the largest predator of Africa ; the leopard ' a secretive large African cat ; the cheetah ' is in the national parks but is a rare sight; several ', a smaller cat; the caracal ', the African wild cat '; the African hunting dog ' said to be in W. Park ; side-striped jackal '; the black-backed jackal '; the spotted hyena found in both parks.Nocturnal predators include: the African civet – a bulky long haired animal; small-spotted genet ' and the large-spotted genet ' found in both parks; the spotted-necked otter ', ratel or honey badger '; many mongoose species such as the marsh mongoose ', the Egyptian large grey mongoose ', cusimanse ', the white-tailed mongoose '; slender or pygmy mongoose ', solitary inhabitant of the savanna; and Gambian mongoose '.
Mammals found here include: African bush elephant ' found widely in savannas, deserts, rainforest, and in the national parks; hippopotamus ' found in rivers of both parks; the African buffalo ' an ox like animal in large herds in savannas and in smaller groups in parks; warthog ' in both parks; the aardvark insectivore found in savannas; pangolins; hedgehogs; porcupine species; rock hyrax '; Cape ground squirrel '.
;Antelopes
The parks and other areas have a major population of antelope. 17 species are identified, out of which the endangered species are sitatunga ', bongo ' and korrigum '. Other species of various status are: grey duiker '; bushbuck; Maxwell's duiker '; red-flanked duiker '; black duiker '; yellow-backed duiker ' ; grey duiker '; bohor reedbuck '; waterbuck ' found near water sources; Buffon's kob '; roan antelope ' found more in both parks but more in Pendjari; western hartebeest ' ungainly in appearance; red-fronted gazelle '; and oribi ', more abundant in Pendjari Park than in W National Park.
;Primates
Primates reported include: olive baboon ' of large size with inverted “U” shaped tail; the green monkey , the most common monkey species; the red monkey or patas '' found in Northern Benin.
Reptiles
s ' the largest living reptile seen in river banks and ponds in the two protected parks, the dwarf caiman, smaller and docile species of chameleons in 100 colour variations.Tortoises are: leopard tortoise ', several species of terrapin and turtles – out of eight species of marine turtles four are found in Benin coast, namely, the green sea turtle ', olive ridley sea turtle ' and leatherback sea turtle. The indigenous hawksbill sea turtle .
Lizards found are harmless and of two types, the water and savanna monitors – Varanus niloticus and Varanus exanthematicus – both are predatory species; house gecko '', a translucent white lizard; agama species in large size of varied mixed colours and the skinks.
Birds
Birds are a special feature in all types of habitats ranging from rainforest to deserts in Benin, which have two main climatic zones, namely the thick tropical vegetation in the south and the dry savannas and light woodlands in the north. The birding sites for coastal waders are the coastal lagoons of Les Bouches du Roi and the backwaters of Ouidha beach. Water birds and forest birds are found in Lake Nokoué and Lake Ahémé. Feathered birds are found in granite rock hills near Dassa-Zoume. The national parks are full of savanna specific birds.The weaver species reported are: 12 species of weavers of family Ploceidae are found in Benin, out of the overall 111 of the genus Ploceus identified; they are larger than a sparrow, males are more colourful than female species. Other reported species are golden weaver, masked weaver ', common Vieillot's black weaver ', black weavers ', grosbeak weaver, sparrow and buffalo weavers dideric cuckoo ', a handsome white cuckoo ' which lays its eggs in weavers nests. More species of birds are: guinea fowl ', black-and-white-chicken-like cuckoo found in North Benin, Abyssinian ground hornbill ', a large distinctive bird; the marabou stork ; the crowned crane ', a tall grey-black bird; the saddle-billed stork ', a large white bird with black wings. Birds also include puff adder and mamba.
Raptors are vultures ' species found in both parks, which are carion-eating birds. A common sight is the African fish eagle species, which is black and white in colour.
Molluscs
Insect
species found in Benin include the tsetse fly and many vectors of epidemic diseases.Flora
Dense forests are not recorded in Benin. Along the coastal areas coconut, palmyra palms, oil palms are seen up to Abomey, where after vegetation is savanna merged with that of Guinea and Sudan. Other tree species noted are ebony, shea nut, kapok, fromager, and Senegal mahogany trees.The W National Park constitutes the southern limit of tiger bush plateau distribution. Riverine and gallery forests are noted on the banks of the Mekrou River, and other tributaries of the Niger River. The plains have extensive coverage of grasses. In the savanna woodlands, grassland and stunted savanna woodlands, the plant species recorded are the Terminalia avicennioides, Anogeissus leiocarpus, hackberry Clematis integrifolia clematis, Boscia senegalensis, Balanites aegyptiaca, kapok tree, African locust ', camel's foot tree, Senna reticulata, baobab ', tamarind ', Prosopis africana, '. In the evergreen gallery forests, sausage tree, and African mahogany are found. Orchid species recorded are the Eulophia cucculata and Eulophia guineensis.
The Pendjari park consists of; grasslands which have no trees or shrubs; shrub lands which are fully covered by grass; Arborous savanna vegetation; wooded savanna formations with contiherbaceous layer but with no undergrowth; forests along the river, thin forests with plenty of trees of size of 8–16 m; and gallery forests which are dense with shrubs. The rocky cliffs of the Pendjari National Park are sparsely wooded. The Volta depression has savanna ecosystem with woodlands and rare species such as Burkea africana, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Detarium microcarpum, Lannea acida, Sterculia setigera, Combretum ghasalense and Acacia spp. On the deep soils of some of the summits and the Atakora escarpment one finds a greater variety of plant species with Isoberlinia doka and Afzelia africana. The Pendjari River has an impressive gallery forest and river forest. The park includes both Sudan and North Guinea savannas, with areas of grassland dominated by Acacia sieberiana and Terminalia macroptera.
The most common species found in the "riparian forests" are: Pterocarpus santalinoides, Cola laurifolia and Syzygium guineense, out of which a few species are endemic and valuable.
;Herbal cure
Malaria, which is a virulent disease in Benin as in the rest of Africa, is treated by alternative medicines. The alternative treatment locally practiced in southern Benin is based on several plant species that are extracted and administered orally. Such extracts are also used for bathing. Plant species listed for treatment are 85, which are used to make 35 mixtures for treatment.
;Botanical garden
The phytodiversity of Western Africa is being preserved at the Papatia Botanical Garden in northern Benin. This garden, which is spread over an area of 12 ha, is a species-rich savanna area where an inventory of hundred woody plants and several hundred of herbaceous species has been maintained. A tree-nursery is part of this garden created to increase rare species.