Top Countries for Wildlife Encounters: The Wildlife Index Reveals Best Destinations
Wildlife travel, focused on seeing animals in their natural habitats, is increasingly popular. Go2africa, a safari travel agency, created the "Wildlife Index" to identify the best countries for wildlife-focused tourism. The index considers various factors, revealing nations that prioritize biodiversity and offer unique wildlife experiences.
Understanding the Wildlife Index
The Wildlife Index is based on seven key factors: megafauna conservation, wildlife species richness, endangered wildlife species, prevalence of national parks, extent of protected natural areas, indigenous protected areas, and natural environment quality. Data was sourced from reliable sources like the IUCN, World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), Yale Environmental Performance Index, UN FAO, and WWF. Each country received a score out of 100.
The Top 10 Wildlife Destinations
After analyzing 161 countries with sufficient data, the Wildlife Index identified the following top 10 destinations for wildlife enthusiasts:
- United States – 90.5/100
- Brazil – 90.2/100
- Colombia – 85.5/100
- Australia – 82.1/100
- Tanzania – 81.8/100
- Canada
- Peru
- Spain
- Kenya & Panama (tied)
Spotlight on the Top 3
The United States secured the top spot due to its expansive protected land and natural areas, totaling 51,018. Alaska is particularly significant, with 32 game refuges, critical habitat areas, and wildlife sanctuaries. Animals like the black-footed ferret and American bison are unique to the US.
Brazil ranked second because of its immense biodiversity. It houses the highest number of endangered and critically endangered species, largely within the Amazon rainforest. The country encompasses approximately two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest and 20% of the world’s total biodiversity. The Amazon river dolphin and the golden lion tamarin are exclusively found in Brazil.
Colombia completes the top three, with over 14% of its land designated as national parks across 60 locations. With more than 6,000 native species, the country has 432 considered endangered. The Amazon Rainforest extends into southeastern Colombia, enriching its biodiversity. You might encounter the Colombian woolly monkey or the golden poison frog.
Other Notable Rankings
Australia boasts unique wildlife, including iconic species like the koala and platypus. Tanzania, the top African country, is known for its diverse species and high megafauna conservation score. The Index also highlighted leaders in specific criteria: Botswana (Megafauna Conservation), Sweden (Natural Environment Quality), Indonesia (Endangered Wildlife Species), and Papua New Guinea (Protected land managed by indigenous peoples).
| Criteria | Top Country |
|---|---|
| Megafauna Conservation | Botswana |
| Quality of Natural Environment | Sweden |
| Wildlife Species | Brazil |
| Endangered Wildlife Species | Indonesia |
| National Parks | Australia |
| Protected Wildlife Areas | United States |
| Protected Land Managed by Indigenous Peoples | Papua New Guinea |
The Ongoing Importance of Conservation
Go2africa emphasized the ongoing need for conservation efforts. While these countries offer excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing, continued threats to wildlife and their habitats require sustained commitment from governments worldwide to ensure protection for the future.
