Animals
National Animal
The Lion“Animals are my friends … and I don’t eat my friends.”
George Bernard Shaw
Animals commonly seen in the wild
Marine fauna:
Sea turtles, swordfish, dolphins, sardines, porpoises.
Birds:
Woodpeckers, flamingos, spoonbills, storks, gulls, wagtails, great cormorants, owls.
Land mammals:
Camels, horses, hyenas, genets, elephant shrews, crested porcupines, red foxes, sand cats, golden jackals, leopards.
Snakes and insects:
Horned vipers, geckoes, agamas, chameleons, Egyptian cobras, tortoises, beetles, butterflies.
Common sights you will not like
In the city and on the road
Stray cats and dogs can be found on the streets and are commonly poisoned. Live animals such as (chickens, ducks and others) are sold in the markets and kept in small cages. Macaques (monkeys) and snakes. are commonly used for "entertainment".
In theCountryside
Horses, donkeys, mules and camels are used for transport and carrying loads.
General animal welfare issues
Illegally-traded wildlife and wild animals are sold in wildlife markets.
Hunting or poaching:
Common animals hunted are deer, wild boars, partridges, pheasants, water birds, turtle doves, rock and wood pigeons. The barbary macaques (monkeys) are now endangered and threatened with extinction (as listed by CITES) since they are poached as pets and for tourism and entertainment purposes.
Animal fights:
Cock fighting and dog fighting common in morocco.
We have not included the treatment of animals in the meat/fur/leather industries, zoos or circuses, animal testing as it unfortunately still happens in most countries.
