Wildlife Narrative
Zambia has diverse flora and fauna, most of which is located within the country’s protected areas. Zambia has 20 national parks, which protect about 6.4% of the country’s total area. Each park is also surrounded by larger game management area (GMA), which serves as a buffer zone that helps in the regulation of hunting and timber harvesting. GMAs cover over 15% of the country, while forests cover about 7%. Together, approximately 22% of the country is protected.
Zambia’s diverse wildlife makes it a popular destination within Africa, and as a result, tourism is one of the country’s largest employers and foreign exchange earners. Zambia is home to the “big five” game animals (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo), which live exclusively in the parks, except for the buffalo, which can sometimes be found beyond the parks. Other animals that live outside the parks include the spotted hyena, hippopotamus, and Nile crocodile. However, Zambia’s wildlife has diminished in the recent past due to several factors including expanding human habitats, land clearance for agriculture, and poor environmental management. In fact, 5 of the 20 national parks have lost significant wildlife due to poor management.