Page 67 - World of Animals - Issue #33

Giant African land snail

Nearest
neighbours
Land snails live alongside these
forest dwellers in East Africa

Mountain gorilla
Land snails play an important role
in the conservation of the mountain
gorillas in Uganda. Former gorilla
poachers make money by farming
snails and selling them for a premium
in neighbouring countries.

Aldabra giant tortoise
Another large-shelled animal that
shares its East African home with
the giant land snail is the Aldabra
giant tortoise. This lumbering reptile
originates from the Seychelles, but a
small population resides in Zanzibar.

Leopard
While giant snails nibble away at
foliage on the forest floor, leopards

lounge in the trees between hunts.
These big cats drag dead animals into
the branches, preventing other meat
eaters from stealing their food. © Donald Hobern; David Burdick/NOAA; Jim Whitehead; Rod Waddington; Marie-Lan Nguyen; Dreamstime; FLPA; Corbis

Regal sunbird
Many amazing birds can be found in
East Africa’s tropical forests, including
the vibrantly coloured regal sunbird.
Like hummingbirds, they feed on

nectar from flowers, which explains
the bird’s family name, Nectariniidae.

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