The wildlife of Niger is composed of its flora and fauna. The protected areas in the country total about 8.5 million hectares (21 million acres), which is 6.6 percent of the land area of the country, a figure which is expected to eventually reach the 11‑percent target fixed by the IUCN with the addition of more areas under the reserve category. Conservation of wildlife is ensured by laws and regulations enacted by the government of Niger, which has enforced a permanent ban on hunting so that animals such as lions, hippos and giraffes are safe in the wild. There are 136 mammal species in Niger, of which two are critically endangered, two are endangered, nine are vulnerable, and one is near-threatened. One of the species listed for Niger can no longer be found in the wild. Bird Life International has reported 528 species of birds of which three are globally threatened and one is introduced; many species may yet be discovered in the rich avifauna here in spite of thin vegetation. The Iullemeden, a rich underground aquifer, underlies Niger and its neighbors Mali and Nigeria. It is closely monitored and these countries are trying to stop overexploitation lowering round water levels and reducing storage in Lake Chad and perennial flows of the Niger River. The wildlife is largely dependent on those sources. The dama gazelle (Nanger dama) has become a national symbol. Under the Hausa name meyna or ménas the dama appears on the badge of the Niger national football team, who are popularly called the Ménas.
Legal provisions
French colonial laws were the initial basis for environmental legislation. Hunting was officially banned in 1974. Since independence, laws have been enacted and a large number of wildlife reserves and national parks have been established by the government of Niger.
Local social attitudes towards the environment While the country is not lacking laws about water, forests and trees on arable land, flora and fauna, the main issue is of establishing proper implementation mechanism. A general sense of lack of any utility of the wildlife persists. However, some of the local people in some regions feel the need to preserve a few species of birds and sacred forests for posterity. In the Air Mountains near Tchirzorone, a local marabout (a religious leader)) prevents destruction of trees and animals. They are also preserved for their medicinal qualities. In fact, the arrival of Abdim's stork (Ciconia abdimii) is an indication of the arrival of monsoon season which farmers take as a signal to prepare their fields for the rains and new season crops. Its dependence on international institutions and NGOs for assistance for wildlife conservation is quite large as the finances of the state are inadequate to meet the annual expenses.
Geography
As a landlocked country of the sub-Saharan region, its topography is covered with sand dunes, deserts, uplands and so forth, spread over three broad regions: the northern desert zone; the middle zone comprising the semi-arid zone; and the southwest zone which has fertile terrain. It shares international borders with Nigeria, Chad, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Libya. Wildlife crosses the borders freely, so national parks and reserves are managed under joint cooperation programs where possible. Niger is comparatively flat with the lowest point at 200 metres (660 ft) on the Niger River. Tertiary sediments in horizontal layers is the common geological formation in the lowlands. Plateaux created from the sediment deposits are superimposed by laterite formations not subject to erosion. Sand deposits are a common feature in low-lying areas. The upland areas have the scenic Aïr Mountains in the central north with Mount Greboun (2,310 metres (7,580 ft)), the Djado plateau in the north-east with elevation varying between 800 metres (2,600 ft) and 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), and the Termit Massif which forms the central east part of the country, the maximum elevation is 710 metres (2,330 ft). In these hilly areas rainfall is heavy compared to the lowlands surrounding them. This condition also dictates the vegetation in the hilly areas, and even Mediterranean and Afromontane species are reported. Apart from the Niger River, the other sources of perennial surface water is the Yobe River. In the southern region of the country where rainfall is adequate and has fertile and wooded landscape, dry-land agriculture is practiced. Drainage from this mountain ranges flows into the Niger River, the only perennial source in the country, which flows in the southwest. It is a crucial source of water for the wildlife of the country. Another source of surface water is Lake Chad, which is an ephemeral lake as it gets filled only during rains, and during the dry season (January to May) puddles of water are seen. Over the years its size has reduced. Another source of water is ground water from a rich aquifer called the Iullemeden which extends into the neighboring countries of Mali and Nigeria and it is overexploited. Laws have been put in place by the three countries to prevent over extraction to avoid lowering of water table and also affecting flows into the Niger River. Oases is also a source of water in the desert region of the country.
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