Year of the African Wildlife
Our vision at the Magnetic Hill Zoo is to be Atlantic Canada’s leading zoo that educates and inspires conservation action. Join us in learning about and supporting the 2026 Year of the African Wildlife campaign by:
- Visiting our African animals at the Zoo and learning more about these amazing species,
- Supporting this year’s conservation projects,
- Following us on social media and sharing our content.
All about Africa
Africa is the second largest continent in the world and home to some of the most extraordinary wildlife on Earth. With vast savannas, dense rainforests, towering mountains, deserts, wetland, and coral coastlines, Africa supports an incredible variety of ecosystems and species found nowhere else.
For example, Madagascar is a large island located off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. More than 80% of their wildlife cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Some of its most famous animals include lemurs, chameleons, fossas and tenracs.
Why is African Wildlife so Special?
Africa is famous for its “Big Five” animals: lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo. However, the continent is home to far more than these iconic species.
- The world’s tallest land animal, the giraffe
- The fastest land animal, the cheetah
- The largest land animal, the African elephant
- Thousands of bird species, reptiles, amphibians, and insects
- Unique species found only in specific regions
Africa’s wildlife also plays a critical role in keeping ecosystems healthy. Elephants shape landscapes, predators maintain balance in prey populations and pollinators support plant life that both animals and people depend on.
Magnetic Hill Zoo’s African Animals
- African lion
- African soft furred rat
- African spurred tortoise
- Angolan Colobus monkey
- Ball python
- Barbary sheep
- Black and white ruffed lemur
- Nigerian dwarf goat
- Emperor scorpion
- Madagascar hissing cockroach
- Marabou stork
- Meerkat
- Ostrich
- Plains Zebra
- Pygmy Goat
- Ring-tailed lemur
- Serval
- Watusi
THREATS
Despite its incredible biodiversity, many African species face serious threats due to:
- Habitat loss from agriculture and development
- Poaching and illegal wildlife trade
- Climate change
Conservation efforts across Africa focus on protecting habitats, supporting local communities, combating illegal wildlife trade, and promoting sustainable development.
How you can help during your next visit
You can contribute to our conservation fund by:
- Learning more about our African species by visiting the zoo.
- Buying a zoo map for $1 at the Admissions building.
- Making a direct donation when purchasing admission tickets.
- Placing your donation in the donation bins located throughout the Zoo.
- Purchasing selected African wildlife related items At the Zoo’s Wild Things gift shop.
- Completing your gift shop purchases by rounding up to the next dollar.
100% of the proceeds from these actions will be given to many conservation organizations that we support.
How you can help African species in their natural range
- Support Accredited Zoos by visiting and learning more about African species.
- Look for the FSC Check-Tree symbol when purchasing wood or paper products.
- Support companies with ethical sourcing practices.
- Donate to a non-profit organization that helps African wildlife conservation.
- Spread awareness by sharing what you learn about African wildlife and how you can help.
The Magnetic Hill Zoo is taking action towards African animal conservation
We support many organizations who help with African species conservation on a yearly basis and with your conservation donations, we can give even more! Learn more about these organizations below and feel free to donate on their webpages :
Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group
The Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group (MFFG) is an international conservation organization dedicated to protecting Madagascar’s unique wildlife and habitats. They work alongside local communities to support research, habitat restoration environmental education, and species conservation programs to ensure Madagascar’s extraordinary plants and animals survive for future generations.
Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds
The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating seabirds along the coasts of southern Africa. Through rescue, rehabilitation, research and education, they work to conserve threatened species and restore healthy coastal ecosystems.
