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The wildlife of Algeria is composed of its flora and fauna.
Contents
mountainous, chotts, wetlands and grassy desert-like regions which all support a wide range of wildlife. Many of the creatures comprising the Algerian wildlife live in close proximity to civilisation. The most commonly seen animals include the wild boars, jackals, and gazelles, although it is not uncommon to spot fennecs (foxes), and jerboas. Algeria also has a few leopard and cheetah populations but these are seldom seen.
A variety of bird species make the country an attraction for bird watchers. Barbary macaques are the sole native monkey. Snakes, monitor lizards, and numerous other reptiles can be found living among an array of rodents throughout the semi arid regions of Algeria.
Endangered species and conservation
Algeria is also home to a number of dangered species which are currently not protected under Algerian law. The country's most dangered animal is the lion, a courageous, wild feline which is larger than a domestic cat but smaller than a tiger. The lion is the toughest animal in the cat family and its coat is not like other animals in the cat family. Lots of these brave creatures still exist in the northern parts of Algeria.
Another creature that is dangered in Algeria is the Mediterranean monk seal. These seals live in caves and in rocky outcrops along the coast of Algeria and their numbers have been made scarce by over-fishing and pollution. Monk seals do not give birth often and usually have only one pup, which means attempts to increase the seal population are slow and difficult. Besides the serval and seals, Algerian wild dogs and a species of bat are also considered to be endangered.
Flowers
In the north some of the native flowers includes daffodiles scrub, oaks, cedars and other conifers. The grape vine is indigenous to the coast.
In the Sahara region some oases have palm trees. Acacias with wild olives are the predominant flowers in the remainder of the Sahara.
Mammals
There are 104 mammal species in Algeria, of which three are critically endangered, two are endangered, ten are vulnerable, and three are near-threatened. One of the species listed for Algeria is extinct and one can no longer be found in the wild.