Africa
Guinea-Bissau is a low-lying country, indented by estuaries and covered by one of the most extensive mangrove systems in West Africa. Its most singular feature is the Bijagós archipelago, eighty-eight islands and islets of sedimentary origin, most of them uninhabited, declared a biosphere reserve. Its shallows, palm groves and coastal forests sustain African manatees, crocodiles, otters and an extraordinary birdlife of migratory waders that winter there after crossing from Europe. On the mainland, the rainforests of Cantanhez keep western chimpanzees at the northern limit of their range, as well as colobus and Campbell's monkeys. The sandy beaches of the southern islands are green turtle nesting grounds of continental importance, and the waters of the archipelago hold dolphins and coastal sharks.
National animal: No official national animal
In Orango National Park, in the Bijagós, lives a population of hippopotamuses that has adapted to salt water: they swim across the channels between islands, submerge in the sea and then feed on the grasslands and rice fields inland. They are one of the very few documented cases in the world of hippopotamuses making regular use of a marine environment.
The island of Poilão holds one of the largest green turtle nesting colonies in Africa and is also protected by traditional Bijagó prohibitions. Foreign industrial fishing and mangrove felling are the main pressures.
Orango in the dry season for hippopotamuses and waterbirds. Poilão between July and October for turtle nesting, with very restricted access. Cantanhez at dawn for chimpanzees.
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Same region: West Africa
Same region: West Africa
Same region: West Africa
Same region: West Africa
243 species found
Based on what we already know about Guinea-Bissau.