Wildlife of Awash National Park

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Awash National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia, established in 1966. Located at the southern tip of the Afar Region, this park is 225 kilometers east of Addis Ababa and covers at least 756 square kilometers of acacia woodland and grassland. In the south of the park the Awash River gorge has amazing waterfalls. In the upper Kudu Valley at Filwoha are hot springs amid groves of palm trees. Wildlife in this park include the East African Oryx, Soemmerring's Gazelle, Dik-dik, the lesser and greater Kudus, and Warthogs. Anubis baboons and Hamadryas baboons are present, as well as over 350 species of native birds.

TEXT FROM WIKIPEDIA, cba SOME RIGHTS RESERVED.

Published: 2012-03-10 11:00:00 UTC

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Flying African Sacred Ibis

The African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) is a wading bird of the Ibis family. The Sacred Ibis breeds in sub-Saharan Africa, southeastern Iraq, and formerly in Egypt, where it was venerated and often mummified as a symbol of the god Thoth, and occurs in marshy wetlands and mud flats, both inland and on the coast.

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Hamadryas baboon

The Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) is a species of baboon from the Old World monkey family. It is the northernmost of all the baboons, their range extends from the Red Sea in Eritrea to Ethiopia and Somalia in semi-desert areas, savannas and rocky areas, requiring cliffs for sleeping and finding water. These regions provide habitats with the advantage for this species of fewer natural predators than central or southern Africa where other baboons reside. The Hamadryas baboon was a sacred animal to the ancient Egyptians and appears in various roles in ancient Egyptian religion, hence its alternative name of 'sacred baboon'.

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Leopard tortoise

The Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape. This turtle is a grazing species of tortoise that favors semi-arid, thorny to grassland habitats, although some leopard tortoises have been found in rainier areas. The leopard tortoise is the fourth largest species of tortoise in the world, with typical adults reaching 46 cm and weighing 18 kg. The African Leopard Tortoise typically lives 80 to 100 years.

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Waterbuck

The Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa. Waterbuck are found in scrub and savanna areas near water where they eat grass. Despite its name, the waterbuck does not spend much time in the water, but will take refuge there to escape predators.

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Tawny Eagle

The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) is a large bird of prey. It breeds in most of Africa both north and south of the Sahara Desert and across tropical southwestern Asia to India. Throughout its range it favours open dry habitats, such as desert, semi-desert, steppes, or savannah, plains. This is a large eagle, 60–75 cm in length and has a wingspan of 159–190 cm.

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East African Oryx

The East African Oryx (Oryx beisa), also known as the Beisa is a species of antelope from East Africa. East African Oryx live in semi-desert and steppes where they eat grass, leaves, fruit and buds and are able to store water by raising their body temperature.

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Abyssinian Roller

The Abyssinian Roller, Coracias abyssinicus, is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds across tropical Africa in a belt south of the Sahara, known as the Sahel. The Abyssinian Roller is a large bird, nearly the size of a Jackdaw at 28–30 cm. This is a common bird of warm open country with some trees, and has adapted to farmland and human habitation. These rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the large insects and rodents on which they feed.

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Soemmerring's Gazelle

Soemmerring's Gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii; formerly Gazella soemmerringii) is a tall gazelle that lives in eastern Africa. They inhabit open steppes with brush and acacia, as well as steppes with few trees. Soemmerrings are very understudied due to their small numbers. In their former ranges, they are extinct due to over-hunting, trophies, and food.

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Long-crested Eagle

The Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) is a bird of prey. A relatively small eagle (about 55 cm), found in Africa south of the Sahara, except in the arid zones. It inhabits woodlands, exotic plantations, forest edges and mainly lives off rodents and shrews.

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Warthog

The Warthog or Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. The common name comes from the four large wart-like protrusions found on the head of the warthog, which serve the purpose of defence when males fight as well as a fat reserve.