Winston Wild Animal Game Park

Climate change drives animals to high ground

Global warming is causing animals and plants to migrate further up mountains and away from the equator in attempts to avoid the higher temperatures associated with climate change, scientists have found in an exhaustive survey of nearly 1,400 species.

The rate of movement is on average up to three times faster than previously expected for species migrating towards the poles and about twice as fast for organisms that are migrating further up the sides of mountains, the scientists said.

A major review of the distribution of animals and plants, published in the journal Science, found wide variations between individual species but taken as a group there appears to be unequivocal evidence that climate change is the cause of the mass movement, said Professor Chris Thomas of the University of York.

"Species of animals and plants have been moving their distributions away from the equator and towards the poles much faster than previously realised. In fact species are moving northward in the northern hemisphere and southward in the southern hemisphere on average at a rate of about 16km or 17km per decade," Professor Thomas said.

"These changes are equivalent to animals and plants shifting away from the equator at around 20cm per hour, for every hour of the day, for every day of the year. This has been going on for the last 40 years and is set to continue for at least the rest of the century," he said.

"It's just a phenomenal rate of movement of the whole of biological life away from the equator towards the poles. How do we know it's related to climate change? Well partly because there is no other reasonable explanation for why everything should be moving to higher elevations and to higher latitudes, but also because we find the rate of movement is greater in the regions that have experienced the most warming," Professor Thomas explained.

"Climate change is a little bit off the political agenda at the moment but meanwhile it is still going on, species are still responding and there is a risk that many species may become extinct as a result of all these changes," he said.

Travel Content Online | The Best Way to See East Africa – On Foot!

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When you go to East Africa to work with animal conservation projects, you will have the time of your life. Working with animals here is an experience to remember in itself, but another thing you can’t fail to notice is the sheer beauty of the landscape. In fact, it may well have attracted you here in the first place.

The great thing about volunteering on animal conservation projects is that you may get some free time after your project to explore the region. If so, you should consider doing some hiking in East Africa. If you get the chance, here are three of the best places to visit.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Tanzania is a wildlife lover’s paradise. With national parks such as the Serengeti, the Selous Game Reserve and the Gombe Stream National Park (where Jane Goodall studied chimpanzees for so many years), it is the ideal place for anyone who wants to go on a conservation holiday to work with animal species such as elephants and lions.

But, once you’ve finished your project, it is also great for hiking. Probably the best place of all to get your hiking boots on and head off for an adventure is the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. There are a number of trails from which to choose, from quite simple to very challenging. If you take the high road and trek up to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres you will have made it to the highest point in Africa – something you won’t forget in a hurry.

Mount Kenya, Kenya

Kenya is an absolutely spectacular country and ideal for anyone who is interested in a conservation holiday or gap year. With the Masai Mara National Park and the beautiful Indian Ocean coastline, you won’t get a much better view than this when you work with animal conservation projects.

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