Gabon's wildlife diversity is truly exceptional. With over 88% of its territory covered by forest, Gabon is the second most forested country on the planet, providing a refuge for a multitude of exciting species within its myriad of habitats.
The country’s 885km-long coastline is the largest nesting site of leatherback turtles. Its waters shelter humpback whales. It is the best place in the world to see mandrills, and those intrepid enough to go to Lope National Park might see troops with over 1,300 individuals at once. Discounting us humans for a moment this is the largest primate gathering in the world.
Here's a glimpse into some of the remarkable creatures that call Gabon home:
- Stunningly elegant Sitatunga antelope
- Red River Hogs full of charm and character
- Forest Buffalo, who also visit the beach
- Enchantingly pretty Leopards
- Rare Pangolins with their armor-like scales
- Snakes of varying sizes and toxicity (beware of these, especially the Gabon Viper!)
- A whole host of intriguing beetles, bugs, spiders (non-toxic), lizards, and more! All keeping the rainforest alive.
The national animal of Gabon is the black panther. Of course, the black panther is not a separate species. It’s a leopard with extra black pigmentation that gives it a black coat.
Primates of Gabon
Primates in Gabon bring the forests to life, from the trees to the floor. Colourful monkeys such as Mangabeys & Guenons, and cute little Talapoins travelling through dense canopies can be heard from afar as the branches they use to swing from tree to tree rustle and crack loudly. The rainforest’s apes - Gorillas and Chimpanzees -share these territories and can move surprisingly quietly, especially the shyer & more majestic of the two…the Gorilla.
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At other times the chimpanzees pant hoot (a hooting vocalisation) and hit trees to make impressive displays that carry though the jungle, impossible not to be heard.
A gorilla surprised by a human on a jungle hike will most likely run, unless this is a silverback, who may deploy a running charge while screaming. This is a display of strength and courage, designed to scare you away from his family, who he will protect at all costs. Run and the gorilla will give chase and the aggression may become heightened. Nocturnal primates, Pottos and Galagos, with their enormous bulging eyes can be spotted in the forests at night, out on their hunts for insects to devour.
Mandrills roam in huge hordes containing well over 100 individuals. Lopé National Park is home to the largest recorded horde of Mandrills that was recorded... 1,300 individuals! There is only one other place in Gabon where you can be guaranteed to see Mandrills: Lekedi Private park, which offers the chance to get very close to these stunning primates. Here, there is a mixture of wild-born and introduced mandrills who receive food from staff when they are tracked. The Private park of Lekedi is fenced and divided by sectors which are visible when moving through the park, a very different experience to Lopé.
Equatorial Birds
Equatorial Birds are thriving in Gabon. In just one area alone there are 190 Guinea-Congo Forest biome-restricted species. More widespread species include Congo Serpent Eagle, Vermiculated Fishing-owl, Hartlaub’s Duck, Blue Cuckoo-Shrike, Yellow-capped Weaver, and many more. In the more coastal areas with blackwaters and lagoons there are famous breeding sites for African River Martins and Rosy Bee Eaters. The African River Martins can visit in their millions and once year create incredible displays in the sky at dusk. These same areas attract the African Finfoot.
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Elephants in Gabon
Elephants are hard to miss in Gabon, where 50-60% of the world’s remaining 45,000 forest elephants reside, largely thanks to their protection inside the national parks, and also thanks to Gabon’s rainforest which still cover 88% of the country. In 1999 a group of researchers walked all the way across central Africa to document its rainforests. This unprecedented trip, called the ‘MegaTransect’, took 456 days, covered 3,220 km, and finished on Gabon’s Atlantic coast.
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The research findings from this epic adventure were presented to the president of Gabon. Within a month, Gabon’s total number of national parks went from zero to 13. The USA pledged $53 million towards conservation. What had they found that caused such a stir?
Hippos Surfing the Waves
Hippos in Gabon were famous for their beach visits at Petit Loango some years back when National Geographic documented them surfing the waves. This is a rare yet unforgettable spectacle and no one really knows why they do this. It is unlikely that you will see hippos on the beach, just a small handful of incredibly lucky people see this each year. In the parks that border the coast you can observe hippos in the lagoons and bais. The hippo above was discovered while director, Donna Honey, was following gorillas through a swamp. A little too close for comfort!
Dangerous Animals of Gabon
Gabon has a diverse collection of unusual wildlife that includes both mild-mannered and potentially dangerous animals. In certain situations, some animals act more aggressively than others. Some of the most dangerous animals include:
- Gaboon Viper: These snakes have two-inch fangs and release the second-highest amount of venom of all poisonous snakes.
- Hippopotamus: Known for their unpredictable behavior, hippos can weigh from 3,000 to 4,000 pounds and are very dangerous when someone enters their territory.
- Forest Elephant: These elephants can charge and trample a human under their tremendous weight and are especially aggressive if they feel their young are being threatened.
- African buffalo: With their large horns and strong bodies, African buffalos can injure or kill a human fairly easily and are known to have an aggressive nature.
Conservation Efforts and Challenges
In the 2000s, Gabon put itself on the tourism map, hoping to diversify from its reliance on its oil industry. So many leatherback turtles have been found off its coast that their conservation status was questioned. Then came reports of surfing hippos, which took the world by storm.
To see some of Gabon’s most famous wildlife, such as its mandrills, tours need to take place with researchers, so researchers rely on tourism, and tourism on researchers. By visiting Lope National Park and tracking the mandrills you are directly helping the continued conservation and research of this iconic animal. And like with all gorilla tracking in various places, the high fees to do so are nearly all funnelled back into conservation.
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With more than 88% of its territory covered by forest, it is the second most forested country on the planet. Gabon’s waters are equally rich, home to critically endangered humpback dolphins, humpback whale calving grounds, and over 60 species of sharks and rays. It also hosts the largest nesting population of leatherback sea turtles in the world -- studies have indicated that up to 30% of the global population of this critically endangered species use Gabon’s now highly-protected beaches as their nesting sites. At peak nesting times 20 females lay nests each night within a single sq km of beach.
In total it is home to 13 national parks, including two World Heritage Sites, covering 11% of the country, as well as a series of wildlife reserves, cultural protected areas and wetlands sites recognised as of international importance under the RAMSAR convention, bringing its total terrestrial protected area cover to 21%.
The Congo Basin contains the planet’s second largest forest zone and constitutes one of its richest areas on terms of biodiversity. But the region is also home to 130 million people, most of whom depend directly on forest resources. Every year 5 million tons of game is harvested in the Congo Basin, demand which is fuelled by increasing urbanization, lack of other sources of protein, high prices of meat from livestock, and preferences among urban consumers for bushmeat.
That heavy and unsustainable harvest threatens many vulnerable species, as well as the food security and livelihoods of many tropical and subtropical forest dwellers, including indigenous communities. In Gabon, the key lies in the cities, where four in five Gabonese now live. While rural populations depend on hunting, Gabon's urban population actively choose to eat bushmeat despite having other options.
In 2020, Gabon changed its laws on bushmeat following the Covid-19 pandemic, prohibiting the exploitation of all species of pangolin and bats. Enforcement measures were also taken at markets in the capital Libreville. However, governmental agencies still need help to raise awareness, publicize these changes and explain the reasons behind them.
Gabon's rich biodiversity and commitment to conservation make it a unique and valuable ecosystem in Africa. Despite the challenges, the country's efforts to protect its wildlife offer hope for the future.
Table: Key Wildlife Species in Gabon
| Species | Habitat | Conservation Status |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Elephant | Tropical Rainforests | Vulnerable |
| Western Lowland Gorilla | Tropical Forests | Critically Endangered |
| Leatherback Sea Turtle | Beaches and Coastal Waters | Critically Endangered |
| Mandrill | Tropical Rainforests | Vulnerable |
| Hippopotamus | Rivers and Lagoons | Vulnerable |
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