Animals you didn't know exist in Morocco

[Hamilcar]

The Atlas deer

This deer is the only representative of Cervidae in Africa and recent genetic analyzes indicate that the North African deer populations are virtually indistinguishable from that of Sardinia (Italy) and the population reintroduced in Corsica (France), generally attributed to Cervus elaphus corsicanus.






The Barbary macaque

It is the only macaque living on the African continent, in the wild in the relict forests of Morocco and Algeria, as well as on the rock of Gibraltar, where it was introduced several centuries ago and represents with the human (Homo sapiens) the only primate in Europe in the wild

The Barbary macaque presents a certain number of morphological adaptations to the cold linked to the mountain environment where it lives, temperate in summer and severe in winter. Such adaptations are rare in primates and testify to the great adaptability of macaques, since another famous example is known with the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata), capable of surviving in thick snow.






I took a picture with one of them when I was younger :




Boars

They are quite numerous in North africa because eating their flesh is prohibited






Wolves (Golden african wolf/Canis anthus)







The Leopard of Barbary

The leopard is now almost extinct in North Africa. There remains a small population in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and recent sightings were also reported for 2007 in the border area between Morocco and Algeria. Compared to other leopards, this subspecies has very thick fur, suitable for a colder mountain environment.

the mountain dwellers of the area bordering the provinces of Midelt - Béni Mellal and Azilal (Tribes ait Abdi, Ait Yahya ...) as well as the foresters who worked in this area know well that the Atlas panther is not extinct and that individuals still roam in these regions with an orography and a difficult climate beyond an altitude of 2800m, the forest (Tazguzaout, Fazaz, etc.) gives way to Asylvatic mountains (deserted area, altitude around 3000 m, mountains steep rocky slopes ……). The testimonies collected attest to the existence of this species in this area through traces left on the snow, by dog attacks, and by the famous sign of eating on a perch.

According to the EFE agency, there are around thirty specimens in the wild

[Tooting Carmen]

Lovely animals.

[Hamilcar]

bump

[Trouble]

Before they went extinct, the Atlas mounts were also home to Barbary lions, believed to be the largest subspecies of lion. They were also home to Atlas bears, a group of brown bears although they were probably not a subspecies but introduced there from Spain.

In any case the fauna of the Atlas mountains is closer to that of Eurasia than Sub-Saharan Africa. Even the Barbary lion is closer to Asiatic lions than Sub-Saharan ones. Human migrations also mirror this trend with Maghrebis being West Eurasian.

[Hamilcar]

Before they went extinct, the Atlas mounts were also home to Barbary lions, believed to be the largest subspecies of lion. They were also home to Atlas bears, a group of brown bears although they were probably not a subspecies but introduced there from Spain.

In any case the fauna of the Atlas mountains is closer to that of Eurasia than Sub-Saharan Africa. Even the Barbary lion is closer to Asiatic lions than Sub-Saharan ones. Human migrations also mirror this trend with Maghrebis being West Eurasian.

We also had our own elephant specie but it disappeared 2000 years ago because of intensive hunts (especially in the context of the "africanae" for the Amphitheatres in the roman world)

[Trouble]

We also had our own elephant specie but it disappeared 2000 years ago because of intensive hunts (especially in the context of the "africanae" for the Amphitheatres in the roman world)

Yep. Along with North African aurochs and Bubal Hartebeest. Thankfully Barbary sheep are still alive.

A meeting point between Africa and Eurasia...