What marine life can you see in Kenya on a safari?
What marine life can you see in Kenya on a safari ? : Kenya’s coast is made up of about 600 kilometers of the Indian ocean which is a diverse home to marine life. More than 35 species of marine mammals, 105 species of bony fish and 5 species of marine turtles that inhabit these waters are classified as endangered.
This marine eco system is threatened by a number of factors such as illegal fishing, loss of mangrove cover among other factors.
Threats are causing the local community to have less options for a living, the loss of endangered, threatened, and protected species, and the unsustainable use of coastal resources. In Kenya, the most extreme poverty is found around the coast. Due to this, marine ecosystems are being destroyed, and the long-term sustainability of resources that are essential to local livelihoods, food security, and community well-being is in jeopardy.
Building local fishing communities’ capacity to manage marine resources sustainably and providing them with alternatives to destructive, illegal, and unsustainable fishing practices is imperative, as is improving our understanding of biodiversity, species distribution, and the threats they face.
What marine life can you see in Kenya on a safari? : Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
The colour of the fat that lies in a layer between a green turtle’s shell and internal organs gives them their name. The majority of their diet consists of seagrass, and they can weigh up to 300 kg, compared to the 110–190 kg norm for adult turtles.
Found: Mangrove creeks and shallow lagoons. Fact: During incubation, the temperature of the eggs determines the gender of sea turtles.
What marine life can you see in Kenya on a safari? :Humpback Whale.
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). An animal well-known for its daring performances, frequently jumping out of the water and smacking it. Having a ridged head and long pectoral fins, it has a distinctive shape. Amazingly, humpback whales can grow up to 16 metres in length.
Found: Waters in and surrounding the Watamu Marine National Park
Fact: Each humpback whale tail is unique and individual to the mammal.
What marine life can you see in Kenya on a safari? : Common Bottle Nose Dolphin.
Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
These clever animals, who can live in social groups of up to 100, are experts in self-recognition and mimicry. They also speak artificial languages. Grey in appearance, bottlenose dolphins range in size from two to four metres.
Found: Watamu Marine National Reserve waters.
Fact: They search for prey primarily using echolocation.
What marine life can you see in Kenya on a safari? : Parrotfish.
Parrotfish (Scaridae).
Parrotfish are found in about 80 species, with sizes ranging from less than 1 to 4 feet. The vibrantly coloured scales of parrotfish, which are widely distributed in and around the tropical reefs of the world’s oceans, make them easy to identify.
Found: Watamu Marine National Reserve waters.
Fact: Certain species of parrotfish cocoon themselves in a transparent mucous at night, just like pyjamas.
What marine life can you see in Kenya on a safari? : Whale Shark.
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus). The whale shark, a filter feeder that lives in tropical waters, consumes plankton and small fish that pass in front of it as they pass near the top of the water. Because of the El Nino Mantis Shrimp invasion, whale shark populations in Kenyan waters have significantly increased recently.
Found: southern Kenya coast.
Fact: Whale Sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, reaching lengths of 40 feet or more.
Approximately 600 kilometers’ of the Indian Ocean make up Kenya’s coast, which is home to rich and diverse marine life that sustains the lives of 2.7 million people. In addition to more than 35 species of marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and dugongs, and 105 species of bony fish, such as sharks and rays, these waters are home to five species of marine turtles, all of which are classified as endangered or critically endangered.
