Jake

=Ghana Wildlife by Jake Marten= Ghana is renown for its culture and traditions however there are many aspects that are overlooked such as its wildlife. However there have been problems with over hunting and poaching of now rare animals which has caused the creation of such wildlife protection groups such as the Ghana Wildlife Society. Despite such problems Ghana is rich in wildlife ranging from baboons to the green mamba.

__Mammals__ One of the most common mammals found among Ghana is the baboon. The Olive Baboon is the most predominant species found in Ghana known for its long snout and tendency to fling feces and predators. Baboons reside in open woodland and hills as well as open savannah but only dwell on ground. They have a omnivorous diet but due to their surroundings are mostly vegetarian.

Among the mammals of Ghana there is the elephant which ranks as the largest land mammal found in the world. There is one type of elephant found in the wild of Ghana and that is the African Bush elephant. The African Bush elephant is shaded either the typical grey or a light brown and is known to be very intelligent. It is a herbivore, meaning it only eats plants, and eats mainly tree or shrubbery leaves.

__Reptiles__ The green mamba is one of the scariest snakes around and is of the genus “Dendroaspis” which means tree snake. It is incredibly fast, and its venom is very potent. Luckily though they are not as aggressive as its relative the black mamba. Its diet consists mainly of birds lizards and small rodents.

The Agama is a lizard that dwells among the rainforests of Ghana but is also known to survive in dry desert areas of Africa. It can be spotted easily by its orange head and its bright blue striped tail. At night however they will change to a dark shade of brown allowing them to blend in with fallen leaves and dirt.

__Birds__ The male African Golden Oriole may not seem as vibrant in the perched position but when it spreads its wings it reveals an animated assortment of black and gold. The female has shades of dark green and black and has much more contrasting feathers. It is found in bushy and well-wooded areas and has a similar call to that of a blue jay. It is difficult to spot however and is very shy.

__Insects__ Aside from the obvious density of mosquitoes there are also many other interesting insects to be seen in Ghana, such as the African Praying Mantis. The praying mantis got its name from the way its arms tend to push together in a praying position. They are found mostly in trees in the rainforests, but are hard to detect because of their color.

This is not all of the interesting animals and insects to see however, there is much more to discover among the trees and grasses of Ghana. The rainforest is full of vibrant colors and creatures. So be sure to be on the lookout for some of these amazing animals and bugs. Enjoy the trip!