History and Wildlife
Egypt’s
heritage has always been about its history – Ancient Egyptians, their pyramids,
temples and tombs. But Egypt’s wildlife is just as remarkable, and even more
critical. Egypt is finding that a tourist industry that doesn’t support or
consider its impact on the environment is unsustainable, and a shift toward
ecotourism is an opportunity for the country to look toward a flourishing
future.
Among
the well known United Nations UNESCO World Heritage sites in Egypt – the Great
Pyramids in Giza, the Theban Necropolis in Luxor, Abu Simbel in the south and
Saint Catherine’s in the Sinai – there is one you may not have heard of: Wadi
Al-Hitan, otherwise known as Whale Valley in the Western Desert. You won’t find
man-made structures of awe-inspiring significance, and you won’t find an ocean
of whales. An ecotour into the desert reveals a site of invaluable fossils of
prehistoric cetaceans. The extinct whale known as Archaeoceti is the earliest
ancestor of today’s whales. Yet the Archaeoceti is certainly not the only
example of extinction in Egypt. Throughout temples and tombs, carved reliefs
and the hieroglyphics of Ancient Egyptians portray an array of animals – lions
and cheetahs, oryx and ibis, papyrus and lotus flowers… All were once natives
to Egypt and thrived. But all have suffered extinction, or near extinction, in
modern times.
The Nubian Lion – which once ranged from Morocco to Egypt, was
last seen in the 1920s. The Saharan Cheetah is “possibly” extinct according to
IUCN, with rare glimpses every few years leaving a grain of hope. The Arabian
Oryx – with a similar fate to the Egyptian Barbary Sheep – went extinct in the
wild, but has been salvaged in zoos. Certain members of the ibis bird family are
gone, while others like the endangered Hermit Ibis, no longer frequent Egypt.
And in the late 1800s the infamous Egyptian Papyrus Plant disappeared, followed
by the Lotus Flower in the Nile Valley, due to the changing influences of
modern irrigation systems, dams and the loss of swamps. (Fortunately, papyrus
was reintroduced by the 20th century thanks to a few European specimens.)
Today, such plants can be seen in ornamental gardens, such as the lovely pond
in front of the Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Cairo.
Despite the losses
Egypt is still rich with an incredible array of invaluable wildlife
that is as varied as its numerous geographical terrains: from the Fennec Fox of
the Western Desert to the Cattle Egret of the lush Nile Valley, the Nile Crocodile
in Lake Nasser to the grazing Dugong of the Red Sea. Today, efforts are being
made to preserve these unique habitats and their fauna, and throughout the
country one finds optimistic conservation work being performed: coral reef
monitoring programs, Egyptian Tortoise and Green Sea Turtle preservation
projects, and Acacia Tree rehabilitation to name a few. Protected areas are
appearing all over, from the legendary Sinai Peninsula to the Great Sand Sea of
the Saharan Desert. And ecotourism is an opportunity for tourism - Egypt's most
vital industry - to become sustainable, to support and give back to the
environment, and find a means to have a lower impact.
Just
as the billions of birds that migrate through the country each year play a role
in Egypt’s ecosystem, the millions of tourist that come to Egypt also have an
impact. Ecotourism transforms the viewpoint of responsibility, empowering the
tourist with the opportunity to choose a means of travel that is positive for
the environment.
Everyone stands to gain from the benefits of responsible
ecotourism.
Here are few examples of how you can play a positive role towards
supporting the environment as a visitor to Egypt:
- Enjoy at least one wildlife excursion, whether bird watching on the
Nile or snorkeling in the Red Sea. The value you place on the environment you
are sightseeing stimulates a local interest for protection, conservation and
education. A journey to the Western Desert to catch a glimpse of the adorable
Fennec Fox will inhibit further hunting of this endangered species.
- Hire local guides to support jobs, their communities and further
education. Bird watching guides and Nile River experts abound, and park rangers
at various preserves are available for questions and advise. Be wary of tour operators
who are not sensitive to the local communities, wildlife conservation or
environmental impact.
- Utilize local transportation such as buses and trains for your
sightseeing tour. A hot air balloon over Luxor, a felluca boat journey down the
Nile, or a camel ride in the desert is a wonderful way to have a unique and
low-impact experience. Keep in mind, a slower journey will have a lower impact,
and is much more relaxing.
- Stay at an eco-lodge which are owned, constructed and managed by the
local people. There are numerous options throughout the Sinai and coastal
areas, and an excellent way to meet likeminded adventurous people. Or try to
find locally-run hotels that have water and conservation policies.
- Support conservation programs by visiting their programs or
volunteering for a few days. Red Sea monitoring and rehabilitation programs are
an incredible opportunity to explore underwater coral reefs or encounter
endangered sea turtles. Such programs can give you a unique, exciting
experience, while providing accommodations, transportation and meals.
The
ancients venerated their natural environment. From cats to cattle, crocodile to
cobras, images of wildlife are carved adoringly into the walls of temples and
tombs, allowing a glimpse into a time when man and wildlife flourished
together. Today, people – governments, locals and tourists – must work together
if the environment is to thrive and survive. Egypt’s heritage is as much about
it’s archeological past as it is about its ecological future.
Related Articles:
Exploring Egypt's Red Sea
5 Things to do before choosing a Wildlife Conservation holiday
About the Author:
Dominique
Navarro is a writer and natural history illustrator for MANTA PUBLICATIONS (http://www.mantapublications.com/)
which produces natural history books, posters, and the WEEKEND NATURALIST and TRAVELING
NATURALIST field guides, for schools, museums, eco- tourism and ecology
programs. View her website at: http://www.dominiquenavarro.com/htmldom/Ecology.html
About WorldNomads.com
WorldNomads.com keeps you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with Travel Insurance you can buy online, anytime, and the latest travel safety advice. Learn how to flirt in over 25 languages with our free language guides and have an experience of a lifetime on a travel scholarship. We'll also help you share your journey with a free travel blog, get answers from other nomads to all of your travel questions (try the new 'Ask A Nomad' iPad app) and donate to a local community development project through our Footprints program.
WorldNomads.com - an essential part of every adventurous traveller's journey.
