Nature in Mali by Günther Eichhorn

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In Mali there is not much wildlife left, except birds. Almost all larger animals ended up in the cooking pots a long time ago. The only exception that I saw were the elephants in the Gourma Nature Reserve. These are the northern-most elephants in Africa. The only other mammals were some monkeys. As far as smaller animals are concerned, lizards and geckos are seen frequently.

The highlight of the wildlife in Mali are the birds. There are lots of them, especially along the Niger River.

If you know the names of any of the animals that I don't know, let me know about it, I would like to include them.

Landscapes

Savannah landscape. (687k)	Mountains (378k)	Chutes de Felou. (404k)	Chutes de Felou. (469k)	Chutes de Felou. (393k)
Water-carved hollow in the Chutes de Felou. (580k)	Dust devil. (495k)	Rock formation on the Bandiagara escarpment. (537k)	Swamp lake in the Gourma Elephant Reserve. (725k)	This was the "bridge" across one of these lakes. Here is where the local guide carried me on his back. (759k)
Sunset on the Niger River. (298k)	Full moon rises over the Niger River. You can see earth's shadow against the sky, cast by the sun below the horizon in the opposite direction. (278k)	Moon rise over the Niger River. (309k)	Sunrise over the Niger River with some early birds already flying. (288k)

Plants and Land Animals

Flowering tree. (948k)	Flower. (468k)	Water lily. (518k)	Reed grass. (352k)	Palm trees. (486k)
Balanzan Tree (Acacia albida). This tree has leaves in the dry season, but sheds them in the rainy season. (538k)	Close-up of one of the Acacias. (407k)	Baobab trees (Adansonia digitata) in Sangha. (730k)	Baobab tree. (687k)	Huge Baobab tree in Sangha. (607k)
Baobab fruit. (613k)	Spider nest. (748k)	Termite mound on the shore of the Niger River. (425k)	Butterfly. (460k)	Butterfly. (519k)
Dragonfly. (489k)	Dragonfly. (379k)	Dragonfly. (561k)	Frog. (297k)	Lizard. (416k)
Lizard. (356k)	Agama lizard (Agama sp.). (427k)	Patas Monkeys (Erythrocebus patas). (698k)	Patas Monkeys (623k)	Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). They are sacred for the Dogon. (348k)
Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). (331k)	This was the first glimpse of one of the elephants after crossing through the swamps and lakes. (416k)	African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) in the Gourma reserve. These are the northern-most elephants in Africa. (447k)

Birds

Names marked with a ? are uncertain. If you know any of these more accurately, please let me know.

Bird feather. (761k)	Weaver bird nests. (626k)	Birds nests. (769k)	Flock of birds. They fly in a very coordinated fashion. (651k)	Various shore birds. (416k)
Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis). (354k)	African Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis). (376k)	Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinica). (618k)	Copper Sunbird (Nectarinia cuprea). (405k)	Red-billed Firefinch (also called Senegal Firefinch) (Lagonosticta senegala) (305k)
Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea). (421k)	Ring Necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola). (804k)	Northern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus). (426k)	Copper Sunbird. (450k)	Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) (156k)
Northern Black Flycatcher (Melaenornis edolioides)? (459k)	Northern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicus). (336k)	Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus). (485k)	Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinica). (416k)	Female Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri).. (563k)
Parakeets in flight. (388k)	Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus senegalus). (607k)	Pied Crow (Corvus albus). (402k)	Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) (277k)	Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) in flight (344k)
Little Tern in flight (330k)	Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) in flight (405k)	Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)? (438k)	Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)? (424k)	Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus). (484k)
Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus). (595k)	Pied Kingfishers (Ceryle rudis). (446k)	Pied Kingfisher. (711k)	Pied Kingfisher. (409k)	Pied Kingfisher in flight. (587k)
Fishing Pied Kingfisher. (389k)	Pied Kingfisher with fish. (388k)	Male Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis). (385k)	Flock of White-faced Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna viduata) in flight. (337k)	Flock of White-faced Whistling Ducks in flight. (359k)
Flock of geese in flight, maybe Bean Geese (Anser fabalis). (268k)	Ibis in flight. (262k)	Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus). (687k)	Cormorant taking off from the river. (414k)	Cormorant in flight. (392k)
Cormorant in low flight. (530k)	Perched Cormorant and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). (400k)	Cormorants in flight over a Little Egret. (485k)	Egrets taking off in all directions. (511k)	Black sheep leading the flock (a cormorant and a flock of egrets). (308k)
Flying over the moon. (263k)	Flock of egrets on their way to their night roost. (355k)	Night roost of egrets and cormorants. (491k)	Flock of Intermediate Egrets over the Niger River. (368k)	Perched Intermediate Egrets (Ardea intermedia). (594k)
Perched Intermediate Egrets. (987k)	Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia). (721k)	Intermediate Egret taking off over a cow. (482k)	Intermediate Egret and a herd of sheep. (463k)	Intermediate Egrets feeding around a cow carcass. (487k)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). (1056k)	Little Egret taking off. (583k)	Little Egret just after take-off. (603k)	Little Egrets in flight. (336k)	Little Egret in flight. (359k)
Little Egret in flight. (552k)	Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea). (538k)	Grey Heron taking off. (446k)	Grey Heron in flight. (466k)	Grey Heron in flight. (387k)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). (503k)	Great Blue Heron in flight. (444k)	African Gray Hornbill (Tockus nasutus). (442k)	Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius) looking for fish. (318k)	Yellow-billed Kite looking for fish. (340k)
Yellow-billed Kite talons down in preparation for striking a fish. (336k)	Yellow-billed Kite looking for fish. (325k)

All pictures are © Günther Eichhorn

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